The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-17
NEW CUBAN TARIFF RATES,
DUTIES TO BE LOWER THAN THOSE
NOW ~ FORCE At SANTIAGO.
Schedules Arranged with the Idea of
Encouraging Industry In the Island
Many Iniustices Corrected-An Increase
in the Schedule Relating to LIQUORS.


WASHINGTON. Dec. 1o.-The recommends
tons made and the schedules OF the new Cuban
tariff compiled by Special Commissioner Rob-
crt +. Porter. in conjunction with Assistant
Secretary Howell OF the Treasury Department,
were made public to-day. advance publication
being made in order to give the export
ers OF the United States and the Gu
ban importers an opportunity to prepare
for their shipments under the new rates
OF duty. The schedules submitted by Commits
sioner Porter and approved by Secretary Gage
will be adopted as a whole. and the new tariff
for Cuba based on these recommendations and
schedules will be issued by the War Depart
ment within a very few days, and will go into
effect Immediately upon the occupation Of Ha-
vana or such other Cuban port as may DO first
occupied by the United States troops. and there
after at each port so occupied until the entire
island Is in full possession Of the military au-
thorities.
The new tariff about to be promulgated is a
revision OF the temporary military tarifT
adopted on Aug. = by the War Department for
the port of Santiago. which was a general aver
age reduction OF 62 per cent. on the tariff m
posed by Spain on all imports into Cuba from
the United States and all other countries ex-
cept Spain. TIL rates in the tariff about TO go
in force, with some few exceptions. are greatly
WIFI" htN IN " IA AoASN" w Aei"e
In recommending changes Of rates in the
several schedules Of the Cuban tariff now in
force In Cuban ports in possession Of the United
States. Commissioner Porter says that he has
been guided by the following considerations:
/. The necessities Of obtaining sufficient revenue
to administer the Affairs of the island.
=. A reduction Of duties in those cases where Spain
REFINED in the minimum rate" column eIorbitant
rates because she could not herself supply the COM
modify.
s. An increase of duty in the schedule relating 10
spirits. wines and malt liquors, in which the reduc-
ton by the adoption Of the " minimum rate column
is altogether too great.
4. Changes OF rates that have been suggested by
the testimony taken for the purpose Of encouraging
local industry in Cuba.
o. Changes from specific duties to ad valorem in
cases where the former method of levying duties re-
suited in inequalities. and. in some cases, injustice
alike to importer and consignee.
9. Changes in the line of additional reductions in
many of the rates Of duty now enforced in Cuban
ports in possession Of the United States which were
found to be unnecessarily burdensome. In these
cases the aim has been TO make the specific rate of
duty average not over 90 per cent. OF the present
market value of the imported commodity.
:: In these n shs smg,, SO Of I'd duty tyh sonsideration has
American administration. will be collected in United
States spT IN s5 p @ee seSi. s sne Spsn aoid d snS ,S Were sre
cent. Spanish silver. Roundly speaking. therefore.
II the ola spanish duties were left unchanged IL
would practically mean an increase of 10 per cent.
in the tariff. 1t should, therefore. be borne in mind
i Ias than the hruires indicate. On the other hand,
however, the additional duties eracted by the Span
ing OF the protocol more than counterfeit the differ
ence in currency.
In Class l. which relates to stones, earths.
ores, glass and ceramic products, the duty on
paving stones, which are likely to cut an i'm
portant figure IN the sanitary rehabilitation OF
the city OF Havana. has been abolished, and
paving stones have been put on the free list.
In view Of this reduction. and the fact that the
discrimination or highest rate of duty has been
cludes asphalt. also largely used in paving. it
has been .S deemed advisable addIy $ able to Q reduce fbae
tiles, Bricks. nc. has been changed from
been placed on the free, list, While it might be
desirable to admit crude oil free of duty. Com
time to abandon the revenue which will be col
lected from this source by abolishing the duty.
The duty on crude oil has been r,e,dfnnne ed from n
SO cents per 100 kilos when used Tor the manu-;
facture OF gas or cordage. Thu duty on refined
a gallon, There have also been slight reduc-
tons in duty on incandescent electric lamps.
cent. per 100 Eilos. or about 81 per ton.
In class 2 metals and all manpfactnres IN
S Ehif bes mt dsai eRtf tSa fs sr e pIein S S e Mers e6n It
sidered articles OF, luxury shall remain I'M
changed. except that the Discrimination IN
iuNOlp W WV 5IfNlhl uIil Nv 10 iiu' D'ti
abolished and the maximum rate on plate left.
namely. 81 40 for 100 kilos. The other rates. as
have been reduced. Steel rails, now dutiable at
$3.50. have been reduced to, 81 a ton; Agri-
cultural implements. not machinery, which in
have been placed on the free list.
In class :. substances employed in pharmacy
and chemical industries. a reduction Of about
SO per cent. has been recommended, Opium
has been increased from $3.50 to ST a kilo.
Some slight. changes have been made in the
schedules relating to common SOaD, DnrtumnTy,
and raw materials out OF which these articles
are manufactured. with q view OF encouraging
the manufacture of these articles in Cuba.
Quinine and all alkaloids or salts of clnchona
bark have been placed on the free list. and
the old rate of duty.
Glass 5 is a schedule OF considerable interest.
one OF the most Important Industries now ear
ried on in Havana. namely. the manufacture of
rope and ,twine, and also a prospective indus
try, namely, that OF the manufacture OF sugar
bags. The changes. made in this schedule.
namely. the placing OF hemp and manila on tho
free list. together with some other minor
changes. are recommended. with a view to es-
tablishing this industry. In addition to making
hemp. flax and manila free. it has been deemed
advisable to put spun jute on the free list, for
the reason that an American firm in Havana
has given the assurance that II allowed to i'm
in Havana within two months. 1t is possible.
says Commissioner Porter. that. like the tin
plate manufactures Of the United states, in a
few years the sugar planters. who use 7.OOO.OOO
sugar bags a year. will find. as the users OF tin
pldte nave lounu,t ndJ tnoy are RcltlnE y DetteT
and cheaper article manufactured in Cuba than
they have ever had heretofore bS shipping from
Calcutta via Barcelona.
In class =. paper, and its applications, the
American Paper and Pulp Association asked for
a. discriminating rate Of duty in favor Of the
United States: As a discriminating duty in ia
vor of the United States is not believed TO be a
part of the policy OF the Government, the re-
quest has not been acted upon. 1t has. how
ever. been decided to make n reduction through
out the paper schedule. as near as may be pos
sihle. of5 per recent. instead OF nearly 77per cent.
Class s. Is a most important schedule for both,
the uni Der interests OF the United States ard
those engaged in various Cuban industries.
especially agriculture, Houses must be built
Immediately in Cuba for the population who
were driven from their homes by the or
der, Of Gen. Weyler and are now hud-
vicinity OF the towns and cities. Hundreds
OF thousands of these people have undoubtedly
persisted OF exposure and starvation. but the
FIRST thing necessary after the supplies Of cheap
food are available will be to remOve MS far as
possible the impediments tn a supply OF cheap
lumber for rebuilding what has been destroyed
by the war. 1t has been decided 10 make a
uniform reduction of 80 per cent. on the entire
schedule.