The record-union., 1898-12-02
NEEDED REFORMS FOR CUBA.
REQUEST FOR A REDUCTION OF
TARIFF DUTIES.
Memorial Presented to Commits
sioner Porter by Santiago
Chamber of Commerce.

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Dec. L.
Robert P. Porter, United States Com
missioner to Cuba and Porto Rico to
study the economic conditions in these
Islands, had a long interview to-day
with General Leonard Wood, who after
ward gave him offices at the palace
This afternoon committee Of the
Chamber of Commerce waited upon Mr..
Porter and presented a memorial upon
problem of paramount Importance,
imIeratively demanding the attention
of the Government. According to The
memorial, the financial situstion Of the
country and it's very economic life de-
pends upon a reduction Of duties. SI-
gar production, for instance, has suf-
fered severe blow during recent
years, falling from one million rons in
1884 to 100000 tons@in 1897
The chamber recommends freedom
from all taxes for a reasonable num-
Der of years, the abolition of duties on
machinery and free admission to the
markets of the United States.
The chamber requests, too, an extern
sion of the privileges granted by Spain
in the Cuban mining industry for an ad-
ditioEal ten years, expiring in 1913, ow-
ing to the fact that the warfare dur
ing the last three years has seriously
injured the mining industry.
The chamber considers that many
things are greatly overcharged under
the existing tariff, and others greatly
benefited. Among. the former are Pc
troieum, and the other refined mineral
oils, and the memorial asks a reduction
to s cents gallon The chamber also
asks the entire suppression of export
duties, with a view to the development
of Cuban industries, and abolition of
the duty on passengers arriving in the
island
The memorialists, pointing out their
understanding that American currency
is an obligatory tender in all transac-
tions that take place In the territory
under American control, character:zes
the regulation as premature, because
the political situation in Cuba is not yet
settled, and there is a lack of Ameri-
can currency to meet eli transactions.
These objections arel independent of the
fact that such a regulation must depre-
ciate the Spanish gold in circulation,
this being prejudicial to- the public
wealth and commercial interests. IT,
however, this regulation is to be en-
forced, the Chamber of Commerce re-
quests the United States Government
to send enough silver fractional cur
rency to pay the army of occupation,
thus bringing small coins into circula-
ton.
Mr.. Porter, on receiving the memorial,
told the committee that he was glad to
be put in possession of such compre-
hensive report of the industrial needs
OF the island. While not prepared to
enter into details, he assured them that
general recommendation had already
been made to President Mckinley and
Secretary Gage, based upon his Por-
ter's) inquiries in four other provinces,
along the lines of the memorial just
presented
1t was gratifying, he said, to be able
to add that he was in accord with the
chamber in most of it's suggestions
Much had already been done, which
was due in no small degree to the
broadminded policy of General Wood,
who had, Mr.. Porter asserted, a COM
plete grasp of the economic social and
military problems confronting Cuba
and America. Every dollar of revenue
was now being honestly applied for the
benefit of the people of the province.
Cuba would no longer be drained by an
European Power, and under intelligent
civil government. like that given by
General Wood, the complete industrial
reconstruction of the. island was near
at hand
The committee retired much gratifed
with their reception at the hands of Mr..
Porter
General Wood a few days ago pro-
posed plan to the War Department
to mount two companies of each white
regiment in the province. and to ANAL
gamate in a regiment of mounted in
fantry. He has received by cable an
approval of his suggestion, and the in
formation that thousand soldiers.
with the necessary accoutrements, will
be formed Immediately. Each com
pany Will retain it's present officers and
remain under the order of the Colonel
of its own regiment. Such a force is
badly needed.