Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-10-14
THE SITUATION IN CUDA.
Proposed Arrangement of Duties Be-
tween This Country md the
Island.


New York, October 6.-Among the
passengers on board the Ward line
steamer Saratoga from Havana, was
Hon. Robert l.. Porter. Mr.. Porter
said: Il was sent TO Cuba TO collect
information on financial and economic
subjects in order that the president
would have access To such material in
time to consider their bearing before
preparing his message to Congress.
have been given every opportunity to
collect such information. We have
examined over 100 persons and have
been able TO collect considerable ma
terial which will have a direct bear
ing on the tariff question. The result
of these Investigations will be put in
shape in the course of the coming three
weeks and will be ready for the use
of the president. and the departments
Mr.. Porter said in reference TO pres
ent conditions in Cuba:
AT The present time | am i'm favor
of admitting cattle into Cuba free. The
present condition Of the country peo-
pie is very distressing. The rainy sea
son is almost over and il Is imperative
that the crops for the present year b.
planted at once, or else they Will be
put off for some time. TO work the
fields the people need cattle, which are
very scarce. shall recommend that
Cattl" for food Ice admitted into the
island free. Take MatanZas, for in
stance. where they had 100000 head,
according 10 III, census of 1888. Now
tit4c j. less than 1000 head in that
l4oNntc.
Il fudAd in Santiago that things
were much more satisfactory than in
Havana. for Tie reason that the Unit
eel States is in control there. The
great question il not 50 much evacua-
tion OF cuba rs il is the getting con-
troll of the custom house. When we
get control of that then thee VIII be
some chance for prosperity. hundreds
of thousands of dollars worth OF goods
are being held ont Of the country until
the rate of tariff il fixed. This is be-
cause the Spanish tariff is much high
or than that which Will probably be
fixed by this country. The new tariff
will he about one-ha.f Of that enforced
at present.
"One Of the most important subjects
that came up WAS he tariff on tobacco.
The CuEans claim That their tobacco
IS tie hes in the world and fearing
adultcration. want Us To forbid the Ell
try Of our tobacco into the island.
Strange as i, may seem. they are ask
ing Us 10 discriminate against our
product This Will never do.
The Cuhans seem To me 10 be
splendid soldiers and law-ahiding fell
lows They viii make excellent guards
and should be employed rs such. They
are anxious for peace and work and
are not becoming guerrillas. aS recent
report states.
Il am not converted 10 free trade.
but | believe that there should bc u
perfect reciprocity between the islands
and the United States.
The SpaniardS are holding on. Try
Ing to get all that they can out of the
customs before they give up the island.
However, they Will not get much. as
the receipts have dwindlcd down To Il
mere nothing. Where the customs
were formerly $30,OO0,C00 last year the
government only received $lO.0J0.OO0.
| believe that with an honest admins
tration and our reduced tariff we Will
Get $4O.OoO,Oo0 a year.