Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-17
THE CUBAN TARIFF.
President Establishes Customs
Tariff for the Island.
Based on Report and Recommendations
Of Hon. Robert P. Porter.
Rates Greatly Below Rates Of Present MiIi,ar,
Tariff: for Santiago.

Washington, Dec. 16.-Presddent Nc
Kinley, before leaving for the South,
last Tuesday, signed an executive order
establishing a customs tariff for Cuba
if is based upon the report and recon-
mendaiions made by Hon. Robert F.
Porter, special commissioner of the
United States who was sent to Cuba
for the purpose of making an investi-
CATION of the subjects of revenue and
customs of the island.
il is explained that the new tariff Is
a revision of the temporary military
aariff adopted Aug. s, by the war de-
partanent for Santiago, which was a
gensral reduction of 81 per cent. on the
tariff imposed by Spain on imports inc
Cuba from all countries except Spain
The rates in the new tariff are greatly
below the rates now in force at Santa
go. The new tariff has been framed
with a view ITO the rehabilitation of the
island. The duty on paving stones,
which are likely to cut an important
| figure in the sanitary rehabilitation of
Havana, has been abolished and the
duties on chemicals, tar and pitch and
crude oil heavily cut The iron ore and
steel rail duties have been reduced so
per cent.
| Slight changes have been made in the
| schedules relating to common soap,
perfumery and raw materials out OF
| which these articles were manufacture
| ed with a view to encouraging the
manufacture of these articles in Cuba.
| The duty on common salt has been cut
down more than two-ithirds. In cotton
and manufactures it has been advlsa-
hle to make an increase on the Santa
90 tariff so that the reduction from the
Spanish tariff will average % per cent.
| instead of So per cent.
Hemp and manila have been put on
the free list, with a view to the estab-
Iishyoent in Havana of the manufac-
! ture of sugar bags and for the prohec7
don of the rope and Irvine industry es-
| tabIished there. In the paper schedule
| 4 reduction has been made OF apout oo
nor cent. from the Spanish tariff.
In order to remove as FAR as possloie
| the impediments to supply OF cheap
| INN Der, 1t mas DceH utCiutu ~ 4i+N'' -
uniform reduction of 80 per cent, on the
entire lumber schedule. The proposed
tariff makes a nominal charge OF one
dollar per head on all imported cattie'
| The duties on other animals nave
haan reduced to a nominal rate.
/ The duties on machinery and appara-
ms employed in agricultural INDUSTRY
and locomotion have been chaiseu
from specific to ad valorenl
The food schedule has been recon-
| s,,,.,,cted so as to make it more equil-
ahle in its classifcauions and TO eFaa-
inate discrepancies in rates. the duly
~, coffee has been restored to the max
i,num Spanish rate.
Tobacco. the duty on which atioef
tba santiago tariff was too low 10 pre-
vents importation into Cuba OF inferior ,''
| gra,les and its Incorporation as W
hon 4tnbacco has been put al a ratS
which it is believed, will prevent aus
,,oneSf practices of this kind.
commissioner Porter says fhat d II
wore not for the necessity OF revenue
:, recommendation for the total aooll-
lion of the export duty on TOBACCO
would re made The export duty mas
! heen reduced more than two-thpfas Oh
Havana tobacco.