Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-16
MAKES HIS REPORT
Robert P. Porter Submits Results Of His
Investigations.
DETAILS THE CONDITIONS IN CUBA
Goes Back Over Records for Period Of
Fourteen Years
EXAMINES FIVE HUNDRED WITNESSES
It Will Be Of Interest to Prospective
American Investors.
CANNES FIVE HUNDRED WITNESSES
TARIFF LAW NOW MOST IMPORTANT
Commissioner Presents some Sugges-
ti0ns Along This Line in the
shape Of Com.
plete Bill.

ter, special commissioner for the United
States to Cuba and Porto Rico, presented
his report to the president and secretary to-
day. The report submitted contains about
SO, 200 words and goes fully into the fnan-
clal and economical condition Of Cuba, ana
liking the budget Of that island for four
teen 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 testi-
mony collected many valuable statements
relating 10 the financial, Industrial, com
mercial and social condition OF the island Of
Cuba. which form nucleus for report OF
prospects for American enterprises and the
opportunities for American capital and lato7
when the more pressing question OF the
government and revenue and taxation OF the
island have been settled
Mr.. Porter, in the opening Of his report.
testified to the consideration and courtesy
shown him by Spaniard and Cuban alike
In - both civil and military positions. in
furnishing him information for his report
The Cubans engaged In business. and the
military commanders In the field, from
Generals Gomez and Rodrigue down. alike
have shown their sympathy In the work en-
trusted to Commissioner Porter by the gov
ernment OF the United States. and proffered
their services In It's prosecution.
The following extract from letter writ
ten to Commissioner Porter by General
Gomez. under date Of October 8, will be
read with interest:
"I must congratulate you cordially for the
high mission which you have had entrusted
to you am completely identified on all
and with all concerning II. On my side
am doing all can for the immediate re-
construction Of the country Its wounds will
heal with the rapid promotion Of the work.
This il TIVE battle We are now hshting and
all men OF good will should join us In our
struggle"
Examines Many witnesses.
Mr.. por.er examiaed, beth IN tho United
States and in Cubs. some 300 witnesses, all
Of whose testimony 10 published In the up
pendix 20 the report
Mr.. Porter has also submitted for the ap-
proval Of the secretary Of the treasury
complete revision Of the tariff In the form
OF q new bill. which will be examined ny
the experts Of tho Treasury department, ana
II approved will be promulgated by the
president and take effect at the port OF
Cienfuegos December l. that being. In all
probability. the first important port TO come
into the possession Of the United States.
In the consideration OF the Cuban question
Il became apparent that the most pressing
need Of the island was a tariff that would
hear lightest in the directions where the
neonle could least afford the burden OF tax
alton and heaviest on commodities which
the we'll to- do and those engaged In large
enterprises required. Commissioner Porter
says:
The Spanish tariff was made by spaniards
for Spain. In the interests OF the SpaniarGts
That seems 70 be the only principle IN ~ i.
In adopting for an exigoncy measure the
rate of duty which Span levciei Tor IT'S own
commodities the United States acted wisely
Those rates were. however, full OF ineqnai,
ities and were not levied OF any SCUM
nrinciple, but the heads Spain wins and
Tails Cuba loses" idea prevails In the whole
II was found that the on'v WY to rerncd,
the Inequalities equal'za ths ratn OF dutv
improve the administration and 10 rcduc'
the rates OF duty on all articles > ''H?era
consumption was to practically frame u new
n has not been thought e'visable to maxi
radical changes In the administrative
Srss'ns Srss into the United States equivalent bo
cause the people OF Cuba are accustomed u
the metric system. United States currency
however has been SUI s'ituted Tor the spa
ish pezos. This will Simplify the collection
OF duties. as customs duties at the presen
time are collected In Cuban ports In POS
sesvion OF Spain In three 6ife ont classe
OF currency--gold, silver and bank notes
ali. even the gold. huctuating in value.
Reduces the Duties.
The tarifY thus proposed and tho adoption
a which by the United States when tn
military forces take hold OF the custom
houses, will reduce all duties about go pc
cent on the old Spanish rates and will aver
age two thirds less than the rates now au
thorized In ports In possession OF Spain.
Tho following table compiled by Mr.
Porter shows the general average OF reduc
tion on various articles imported into Cuba
torether with tho value Of the imports FOL
1896:
Per
Value Cent Re
C.-r.~Attv Imports, ductiou