The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-16
Budget Of the Island Analysed and the
Sources of Income and Ex-
penditures Explained.
TARIFF RATES NOW TOO HIGH
NEW SCHEDULES AND SIMPLE COL
LECTION METHODS PROPOSED.
People of Cuba Long Robbed by SPAN
ish OficiaIs-The labor and
Money Questions.

WASHINGTON, Nov 1.-THE Hon.
Robert p. Porter special commissioner for
the United States to Cuba and Porto Rico.
presented his report to the President and
secretary of the treasury to-day The re-
port submitted contains about sixty thou
sand words, and goes very fully into the
financial and economical condition of Cuba.
analyzing the budget of that island for four
teen years, showing the sources of income
ana the causes Of expenditure There are
some supplementary reports yet to be made
Ihere are also among the data and the
testimony collected many valuable general
statements in relation to the financial in
dustrial, commercial and social condition
OF the Island of Cuba, which form a nucleus
for report on the possibilities for Ameri-
can enterprise and the opportunities for
American capital and labor when the more
pressing questions of the government and
revenue and taxation of the island have
been settled.
MT Porter, in the opening Of his report,
tesufes to the consideration and courtesy
shown him by Spaniard and Cuban alike in
both civil and military positions in furnish
ing him information for his report. The
Cubans engaged in business and the mill
tary commanders in the field from Generals
Gomez and Rodriguez down have alike
shown their sympathy in the work intrustea
to Mr. Porter by the government of the
United States and proffered their services
In its prosecution. The following extract
from letter written to Commissioner Por-
ter by General Gomez, under date of Oct 8,
will be read with INTEREST,"
must congratulate you cordially for
the tne nigh mission with which you were in
trusted. l am completely identified in all
and with all concerning it. On nv side I
am doing all L can for the Immediate re-
construction of the country; it's wounds will
heal with the rapid promotion of the work.
This is the battle we are now lighting. and
all men of good will should join us in our
struggle
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
Mr.. Porter examined, both in the United
States and Cuba, some five hundred wit
nesses, all of whose testimony is published
In the appendix to the report. Mr.. Porter
has also submitted for the approval of the
honorable secretary of the treasury a COM
plete revision of the tariff in the form OF a
new bill, which will be examined by the ex-
perts Of the Treasury Department, and if
approved will be promulgated by the Presi-
dent and take effect at the port of Glen
tuegos, Dec. l, that being in all probability,
the first important port to come into pos
session of the United States. In consider
ing the Cuban question it became apparent
that the most pressing need of the island
was tariff that would bear lightest in the
direction where the people could least afford
the Duroen OF taxation and heaviest on COM
modltles which the well-to-oo and those en-
gagged IN large enterprises required. Com
missioner Porter SAYS.
The Spanish tariff was made by Span
lardS, for Spain, in the interests of the
Spanlards That seems to be the only prin-
clple IN II. On any other theory it was in
measure the rate Of duty which Spain levied
for her own commodities the United States
acted wisely. Those rates were, however,
any sound principle, but on the heads Spain
wins, and tails Cuba loses idea, which pre-
walls In the whole fiscal fabric. 1t was
found that the only way to remedy the in
equaEueS-equalize the rates of duty, i'm
prove the administration, and to reduce the
rates or duty on all articles of general con-
sunnPlloll' was 10 practically frame a new
tariff. 1t has not been thought advisable to
make radical changes in the administrative
branches, nor to change weights and meas
ureS into United States equivalents because
the people of Cuba are accustomed to the
metric system. United States currency
however, has been substituted for the Span
lsh pesos. This will simplify the collection
Of duties, as customs duties at the present
time are collected in Cuban ports in pos
session OF Spain in three different classes
of currency gold, silver and bank notes,
all (eVen the gold) f1uctuating In value. The
tariff thus proposed and the adoption of
which by the United States, when the mill
tary forces take hold of the custom houses,
reduces all duties about GO per cent. on the
old Spanish rates, and will average fully
two-thirds less than the rates now eXacted
by the authorities in Cuban ports in pos
The following table, compiled by Cons
missioner Porter shows the general average
of reduction on the various articles imported
into Cuba, together with the value of the
imports for 1886: