The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-12
SMUGGLERS BOLD
Spanish Merchants COnspire to
Reap Profits
On American Goods Under Gu
ban Tariff.
MILLIONS SECURED.
dissatisfied the Schemers Are
Plotting
To Have America Extend the
Special Tariff.
MILLIONS SECURED.

at the expense of the American tariff
system. Already an immense profit Is
assured. but to make the scheme a
complete success it is necessary to gain
time for the disposal of the goods now
being struggled into Havana. With
the great capital and influence behind
the conspiracy, that time may be gained
though honest merchants are now at
work trying to defeat the proposition to
have the American government to con-
sent to the continuance OF the present
Spanish rates OF tariff 60 days after the
United States takes charge of the GUS
toms houses.
1t is generally known that the Ameri-
can tariff will be lower than that now
supposed to be in force. Those Span
ISM and Cuban merchants in the cOnSp1-
racy have made representations in
Washington that they have loaded up
with goods upon which they have paid
the Spanish tariff. If competitors ara
allowed to bring in the same quality OF
goods under the lower American tariff
they will be undersold and ruined
Whereas, If the Americans would con-
ttnue the present schedule 60 days. ali
would have a chance to clear their
shelves and all be on basis of equal
aty without detriment to anyone.
This argument has the ring Of hon.
esty and fairness and, indeed, Ii has
all but been Endorsed by the American
commission 1t requires only a few
hours spent in the customs house, along
the docks or in the wholesale houses to
show that the whole thing Is q. fabric
of conspiracy.
One instance Of a fraudulent shipment
will suffice to illustrate the entire sys-
tenn. A steamer, which it lis not neceS-
Sary to name, left New York on NOvem-
Der 2, carrying, according to the bills
of lading, 1000 barrels Of potatoes and
$50 double drums Of Goldfish, all con-
signed to Gallon & Co. The present
duty on potatoes is $1.37 a barrel; cod
fish also Is rated low, while coffee pays
more than IS a barrel, according to
weight. On the docks a drum of fish
was broken open, revealing the finest
grade OF coffee sold in the American
market
The customs officials obIiEingly turned
their backs, While repairs were being
made. Notwithstanding that the bills
called for potatoes, there was not a po-
tato in the shipment, the barrels
marked thus containing coffee, lard,
hams, butter, and various other pro-
duets which should pay a high rate OF
duty The customs officials compla-
Gently accepted the duty for the fish
and potatoes. later pocketing their per-
sOna1 fees.
In a shipment like that mentioned af-
ter all classes of fees are paid, the
goods are laid down at about one-third
the duty contemplated by the present
laws. Every day ships are unloading
immense cargOes which go into the
warehouse for future CONSUMPTION II
rate in half, which is unlikely those in
the conspiracy will still be able to prof
it by the present deal. making large
sums and still underselIing their more
honest competitors.
IT, on the other hand, the plan to have
the Americans continue the present tar
iff go days is successful, the profits will
be multiplied, for the reason that under
the American officials the present cor
ruptiOn cannot be continued, and sta
pies will naturally advance in price.
,fr-E- ET..Frr
honest as their days of power shorten
so that the cOnspirators can easily
bring goods through the customs house
in the fraudulent manner above de-
scribed.
That there is no real necessity to
grant extension, even for one hour, of
the present tariffs is demonstrated by
the fact that the Ward line has con-
tracts for 100, 900 barrels in freight room
in the steamers after the Americans as
sumo control OF the Cuban customs.
1t is to the credit Of the American
merchant that, so far as known, not one
is engaged in the conspiracy.
On the other hand those hav-
ing representatives here have drawn up
a vigorous protest, which has been for
warded to the chambers OF commerce
of New York, Chicago, st. Louis, Phila.-
delphia, Boston, Baltimore, New Or
leans and other large American cities.
This protest says in part:
81. The uncertainty regarding the
schedule Of import duties to be levied by
| the American government has resulted
! in almost complete Stagnation in the
market here and is rendering the intro
ductiOn of American products under the
present duties almost an impoSsibility
not only in Havana, but also in the
smaller ports on this side of the island.
| The American commission has been ap-
| preached in the interests of a small
| minority Of the importers with requests
| that the American government grant a
| period of so days from the date on which
| it is intended to place the new schedule
| in operation, in order that they may
| dispose of their goods which were i'm
| ported under the Spanish tariff now
| prevailing, the rates of which are much
/ higher than the American tariff to be
put in force.
| This request Is made on the grounds
| that they are heavily stocked with
| goods upon which the higher duties were
| paid. Those unacquainted with tina
| corrupt methods practiced under the
| Spanish administration cannot conceive
| the purpose Of such q. desire to prolong
/ the Spanish tariff.
| 1T is notorious that some Of the I'M
/ pOrters, in ombinatiOn with a few OF
| the customs house officials, have been
| for years paying only a small portion
1 of the proper amount of the import du-
| ties. This practice is all the more du-
nounced in the last days of Spanish con-
/ troll, and the purpose is to stock I'D dur
| ing the extension of time requested at
| really less cost than would be incurred
| in paying fully the lower rates of the
| American schedule when forced to do
| so.
eff the American government were to
| comply with this request it would act
/ against the interests of the comm ercial
| world at large, which would be placed
| at a disadvantage, and would likewise
| be detrimental to many American pro-
| ducers and manufacturers represented
| here"
OF course, 1t remains with the admin
kstration IS to Whether Spanish GOErUp-