The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-16
ORGANIZED
ROBBERY.
Which Has Been Going on So
Long in Cuba
Is Shown Up by Commissioner
Robert p. Porter
IN OFFICIAL REPORT.
to the Government
at Washington.
Almost Entire Revenue Goes to
Spain and Spaniards.


ter, special commissioner for the United |
States to Cuba and Porto Rico, has pre- |
sented his report to the president and
secretary of the treasury. The report
submitted contains about 10000 words
and goes very fully into the financial
and economical condition of Cuba an
alyzing the budget of that island for IA
years, showing the sources of income
and the causes of expenditure. There
are some supplementary reports yet to
be made.
There are also among the data and
the testimony collected many valuable
statements relating to the financial, in
dustrial, commercial and social end of
the island of Cuba, which form
nucleus for a report on the possibilt-
ties for American enterprise and the OPP
portunitfes for American capital and Ia
Dor when the more pressing questions Of
the government and revenue and TAXA
ton of the island have been settled
Mr. Porter in the opening of his re-
port testihes to the consideration anu
courtesies shown him by Spaniard and
Cuban alike, in both civil and military
portions, in furnishing him information
for his report. The Cubans engaged IN
business and the military commanders
in the field from Generals Gomez and
Rodriguez down alike have shown their
sympathy in the work entrusted to Mr.
Porter by the government OF the united
States and proffered their services IN
its prosecution. The following extract
from a letter written to Commissioner
Porter by Gen. Gomez under date or
October % will be read with interest:
81 must congratulate you cordially for
the high mission which you have en-
trusted to you. L am completely lden I
fed in all and with all concerning IT, On
nv side I am doing all 1 can for the
immediate reconstruction OF the cOun-
try; its wounds will heal with the RAPID
promotion of the work. This is the pat
tie we are now fighting, and all men OF
GOOD will should Join us in our strug-
gle" :. 49, TIT
ted States and in Cuba some 50O WIT
nesses all of whose testimony Is pup
Hshed in the appendix to the report
Mr. Porter has also submitted Tor the
aDproval of the secretary of the treas
l1Iv a complete revision of the tariff IN
the form of a new bill, which VIII be
examined by the experts of the treasury
department and if approved VIII pc
promulgated by the president ana take
effect at the port of CienfuegOs, Decern-
Der l. that being, in all probabl1ly' the
first important post TO come INTO ne
possession of the United states IN lne
Consideration of the Cuban question II
becomes apparent that the pressing
need of the island was a tariff that
would bear Iightest in the directions
where the people could least afford the
burden of taxation and heaviest on
commodities which the well to 90 ana
those engaged in large enterprises s re-
uuired. Commissioner Porter says:
THE Spanish tariff was made by
SDaniards for Spain, in the interests or
the Spaniar6fs. That seems TO pc the
only principle in it. On any other theory
it is inexplicable.
In adopting for an eXgency measure
the rate of duty which Spain LEVIED Tor
her own commodities the united STATES
acted wisely. Those rates were now
ever full of inequalities ana We're mo-
levied on any sound principle, but on the
"heads Spain wins and talls Cupa
1oses' idea which prevails in the Whole
fiscal fabric. 1t was founa ina Ilse
eo11aIize the rates of duty, improve the
administration and to reduce the rates
of duty on all articles of general con-
Sl1n7ntiOn was to practically frame d
new tariff 1t has not been thougnt
advisable to make radical changes IN
the administrative branches nor 70
change weights ana measures - ~
limited States equivalent, because the
DaonIe of Cuba are accustomed TO lhe
metric system. United states cufren 4;
however has been substituted Ior me
Cnanish pesos This will simp1fy the
iIIao+io,, of duties as customs duties
at the present time are collected IN Gu
ban ports in possession OF SPAN Ii IILLeS
different classes of currency, Solu' sIlESh
and bank notes, all, even NHe So
f1uctl1ating in value. The taT1f1 mus
Droposed and the adoption OF MhIcn
Nv fhe United States when the Inlltary
forces take hold OF Ine CuStOAA AON'o1
will reduce all duties about gu per CENT
from the old Spanish rates ana VIII
average fully twO-thirds less tnah Cle
rates now exacted by the autnorltIeS
in Cuban ports in possession OF op an,
The reDOrt also contains an analysis
and discussion of the Cuban budget IN
which the new tariff on the revenue OIL
the country, together with the otue5
sources of revenue are explained anu
discussed. To the question with sucn a
large reduction of duties how is 1t pos
sibIe to secure revenue for the purpose
of administering the government OF the
island, the report says;
s'There are several answers TO TINS
question. The general answer IS, that
nv reason of fraudulent classification
and smuggling, most of the revenue
collected from the people OF CUBA never e1VeI
found it's way into the treasury Oh IhdI
island nor of Spain
Mr.. Porter says;
1.-THE cupidity and rapacity or the
Spanish official in Cuba is beyond con-
ceDtiOn. and if we may judge by the
results at Santiago, the United States
officers will be able to collect quite as
much revenue on a tariff the duties of
which are more than a half. or nearly
tWO-thirdS less than under the ln1qu1-
tous law now in force. The reduction
to a reasonable rate of duty in certain
schedules, such as those relating to ma
chinery, railway supplies, etc, viii in
crease the Importation and the revenue
will certainly be greater than during
the period when the duties have been
prohibitory. A railway company natural
" hesitated to import locomotive when
the duty was equivalent to the value
of the engine With a revised tariff Of
% per cent for Cuba and no locomotive
works, it may import two, or four, or
even six. The same is true of variety
of other articles. In all cases where
there are some industries in Cuba, cap
able of supplying demand for product
made by home labor care has been exer-