The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-16
Porter on Gu
ban Aafairs.
TARIFF REVISION.
Suggestions Made by Oul
Commissioner.

Washington, Nov. 15-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 today
The report goes very fully into the
financial and economical condition of
Cuba. supplementary reports are yet
to be made. Mr.. Porter testifies to the
consideration and courtesy shown him
by Spaniards and Cubans alike in both
civil and military positions in furnish
ing him information for his report.
The following is an extract from a
letter written to Commissioner Porter
by Gen. Gomez, on Oct 9.
| must congratulate you cordially on
the high mission which has been en-
trusted to you. l am completely identi
fed in and with all concerning it. On
my side, ! am doing all l can for the
immediate reconstruction of the coun-
try; its wounds will heal with the rapid
promotion Of the work This Is the bat
tie we are now fighting and allNmen of
good will should join in our struggle. .
Mr.. Porter examined both in the I'm
tied States and Cuba, about 500 wit
nesses, some of whose testimony is
published in the appendix to the re-
port. Mr.. Porter has also submitted
for the approval of the secretary Of
treasury q complete revision of the
tariff in the form of new bill which
will be examined by the experts of the
treasury department, and II approved
will be promulgated by the president
and take effect at the port of Cienfue-
gos December l. that being, in all prob
ability, the first important port to come
into possession of the United States.
Commissioner Porter says: The
Spanish tariff was made by Spaniards
for Spain, In the interests of the Span
iards. That seems to be the only peo-
pie in it. In adopting for an exigency
measure the rate of duty which Spain
levied for her own occupation, the I'm
tied States acted wisely"
A table compiled by Mr.. Porter shows
the general average of reduction of du-
ties made by his proposed tariff on the
articles imported into Caba is 63.7 per
cent. The reductions vary from 5S.7
to 76.9.
The report says: The rates were full
of inequalities and were not levied on
any sound principle but on the
Heads, Spain wins, tails, Cuba loses
idea, which prevails in the whole finan-
cial fabric.
1t was found that the only way to
equalize the rates of duty, improve the
administration and reduce the rates of
duty on all articles of general consump-
ton, was to practically frame a new
tariff 1t has not been thought advisable
to make radical changes in the admin
istrative branches, nor to change the
weight and measures into United States
equivalents because the people of Cuba
are accustomed to the metric system.
United States currency, however, has
been substituted for the Spanish pesos.
This will simply the collection of duties,
as customs duties at the present time
are collected in Cuban ports in possess
ion of Spain in three different classes
of currency-gold silver and bank
notes all (even the gold fiuctuating in
value.
The tariff thus proposed will average
fully two-thirds less than the rates now
exacted by the authorities in Cuban
ports in possession of Spain.
The report contains an analysis and
discussion of the Cuban budget. in
which the effect of new tariff on the
revenue of the country, together with
the other sources of revenue, is eX-
planned. The report states that by rea-
son of fraudulent classification and
smuggling, most of the revenue collect
ed from the people of Cuba never found
its way into the treasury of that island
nor OF SPAN. MI. Porter says.
THE cupidity and rapacity of the
Spanish officials in Cuba is beyond con-
ception, and if we may Judge by the
results at Santiago, the United States
officials viii be able to collect as much
revenue on tariff the duties of which
are more than half or nearly two
thirds less than under the ubiquitous
law now in force. The reduction to a
reasonable rate of duty in certain
1V,Tn
machinery. railway supplies etc, will
increase the importation, and revenue
VIII certainly be greater than during
the period when the duties have beer
.prohibitory.''
The report gives a table showing that
the average internal custom house re-
ceipts in Cuba from 1886 to 1897, inclu-
sive, We're 2.645,S94.
In an analysis of the Cuban budget,
Mr.. Porter says:
THE money collected from Cuba,
whether it was twenty-six millions of
dollars or less. has all gone, and moth
ing is likely to be found in the treas
ury but numerous evidences of prom
ises to pay, records or receipts given
by the government for goods not paid
for. debts of all kinds, including the
salaries of large number of the mi
nor officials The first and most inn
portant item of expenditures is for SOW
ereignty expenses. and exceeds $22, 000
O0O These expenditures are sub-di-
Nided as follows: Interest on public debt
and general acceptances, $12 574,709; re-
ligion and clergy Estate religion and
justice). $329.072; war, $5.S96, 740; navy,
81. 055. 1856; executive, $2,645, 149. Total,
500, SOC, sos.
IA study of the several items shows
that the principal expenditures for
cuba are those which have directly or
Indirectly to do with the control of the
island by Spain. 1t. is impossible at
this moment to make a satisfactory es-
innate of this new budget, nor can it
very well be done until after the Unit
ted states forces are in full possession.
OF course the large items such as inter-
est on the public debt expenditures of
spain for the purpose of conquerins
the island will disappear, making a re-
duction. il we include civil guards, o.
sis 600 900 or $20000000 How much
Of this amount will be required Tor nee
essary expenditures under the new or
der Of things, it will be impossible 70
forecast. ~,
The estimated expenditures Of the
midget of Cuba for the year 1928 9s
aggregate 26.3567S2 pesos, and the
receipts 26,S59.650 pesos, or an eN-
sass ~ receipts over expenditures OF