The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-07
Planters Anxious to Keep Ont Tobacco
Grown in the United States for
Fear of AduIteratiOn.
COLONEL RAY At MANZANlLLO
THE CITY TO BE TURNED OVER TO
AMERICAN TROOPS TODAY.
BIancO SOreIy Pressed for MOney-Em-
pIOyes and Soldiers Clnmoring
for Pay-Cubans Starving.

NEW YORK, Oct 6.-Among the passen-
gers on board the Ward line steamer Sara
toga from Havana was Hon. Robert p. Por-
ter Mr.. Porter said: II was sent to Cuba
to collect information on financial and
economic subjects in order that the Presi-
dent would have access to such material in
time to consider their bearing before pre-
pairing his message to Congress. l have
been given every opportunity to collect such
information. We have examined over $50
persons, and have been able to collect con-
siderable material which will have a direct
bearing on tariff questions. The result of
these Investigations will be put in shape in
the course of the coming three weeks and
will be ready for the use of the President
and the departments"
Mr.. Porter said, in reference to present
conditions in Cuba: "At the present time
am in favor of admitting cattle into Cuba
free The present condition of the country
people is very distressing. The rainy sea-
son is almost over and it is imperative that
the crops for the present year be planted at
once or else they will be put off for some
time. To work the fields the people need
cattle, which are very scarce. 1 shall rec
ommend that cattle for food be admitted
into the island free. Take Matanzas, for in
stance where they had 100000 head, accord
ing to the census of 1898. Now there is less
than 5000 head in that province.
Il found in Santiago that things were
much more satisfactory than in Havana,
for the reason that the United States is in
control there. The 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
@G
thousands of dollars worth of goods are be-
ing held out of 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. The new
tariff will be about one-half of that enforced
at present
zone of the most important subjects that
came up was the tariff on tobacco. The
Cubans claim that their tobacco is the best
in the world, and, fearing adulteration, want
us to forbid the entry of our tobacco into
the island. Strange as it may seem, they
are asking us to discriminate against our
product. This will never do.
1.-The Cubans seem to me to be splendid
soldiers and law-abiding fellows. They will
make excellent guards and should be en-
ployed as such. They are anxious for peace
and work. and are not becoming guerrilas
as recent report states.
II am not converted to free trade, but I
believe that there should be a perfect reci-
procity between the islands and the United
States. The Spaniards are holding on, try
ing to get all that they can out of the GUS
toms before they give up the island. How
ever. they will not get much as the receipts
have dwindled down to a mere nothing.
Where the customs were formerly $50. 900 600.
last year the government only received $1O.-
100000 / believe that with an honest admin
istration and that with our reduced tariff
we will get $40.OOO.OOO a year"