New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-07
COMMISSIONER PORTER RETURNS.
HE HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING PRESENT
CONDITIONS IN CUBA. AND WILL FOR

HE HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING PRESENT
CONDITIONS IN CUBA. AND WILL FOR
WARD HIS REPORT NEXT WEEK.
Robert p Porter. who was appointed by Presi-
dent Mckinley as a Special Commissioner TO Cuba
to report on the commercial, financial and economic
conditions on the island, arrived here yesterday on
the steamer Saratoga. Mr.. Porter said. when seen
at the pier that he had examined $50 witnesses ana
taken 1920 statements as TO the conditions existing
on the island He visited all the principal clues
and took the opinion OF people Of all classes and
conditions az 10 the situation existing in Cuba.
This testimony will be written out and sent 70 the
President together with Mr.. Porters report next
week Mr. Porter is inclined 10 believe that cattle
should be admitted to Cuba free Of duty as the sup
ply has been decreased largely by the war.
As to other conditions existing on the island ana
as to the Cubans themselves. Mr.. Porter said:
IT found In Santiago that things were much more
satisfactory than In Havana, for the reason that
the United States is In control there Inc great
question is not so much the evacuation OF cuba as
It Is the getting control OF the custom house. When
we get control of that then there will be some
chance for prosperity Hundreds OF thousands or
dollars worth Of goods being held out or the
country until the rate Of tariff is fixed. This is
because the Spanish tariff is much higher than that
which will probably be fixed by this country. Inc
new tariff will about one-half of that enforced at
present 1t must be remembered that the high
tariff which was enforced Dy tls spanish 10 aus
mented by the % per cent tax.
'One of the most important SUBJECTS tnat came up
was the tariff on tobacco. The Cubans say that
their tobacco is the best in the world, and assert
that its quantity and value will be impaired by
adulteration If tobacco from this country is adj
mitted into Cuba They us to forbid the entry
OF our tobacco into the island, and strange as IL
NAV SEEM they asking us 10 dlscr inmate
against our own product. This will never do. Inc
tobacco question, however will be adjusted; ana so
important was the subject that have taken the
testimony of more than twenty-five persons WHO
were acquainted with it, .,,
81 saw those with General Gomez and at the otner
principal camps. The Cubans seem TO me 70 pe
Splendid soldiers. lovers OF order, and la"-aoinnS
fellows They will make excellent guards, ana
should be employed as such They are anxious ior
peacn and work. and not becoming Ruerlllas' dr.
a recent report states. o
What Is being done in Cuba to-day? .
although the high tariff has practically prougnt
things 10 a standsti!l, some small industries sucn
on I was much pleased To md mat IN havana
they have an industrial school with three nulIiieu
pupils and that they are reaching out ana teaching
IT am not converted to free trade but believe
thai there should be a perfect reciprocity between
the island and the United States speaking OF us
thing reminds me of another The CUBAN people,
strange To say are pining for the Mckinney Dill.
rhon noint IN the locomotives and other machinery
as the Mckinley bill and think that II tnat rneas .
mo i in force they will get all the things they want
cbeanlv The Spanards holding on trying 10
get ali that they out OF the customs uSIole
thev give IN the island. However they VIII Ioe
GET much as the receipts have dwindled down u
nothtng'