The age-herald., 1898-10-07
Much Higher Than That Which Will Be -. Fixed by United States.
RECEIPTS HAVE DWINDELD DOWN
The Spaniards are Holding on Trying A to Get All They Can Out of the p Customs Before Surrender >, ing the Island.

New York, October 6.-Among the passen- gers on board the Ward line steamer Sara ttoga from Havana was Hon. Robert P. Porter MT. Porter said:
 : q was sent to Cuba to collect informa- tion on financial and economic subjects in lorder that the president would have access to such material in time to consider their hearing before preparing his message to congress. have been given every opportu- nifty to collect such information. We have examined over 150 persons and have been able to collect considerable material which will have a direct bearing on tariff ques- tions. 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 depart ments."
 Mir Porter said in reference to the con- ditons in Cuba:
 s'At the present time am in favor of ad- hitting cattle into Cuba, for the condition of the people is very distressing. The rainy season is almost over and it is im- perative 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. l admitted into the island free. Take Mantan- gas. for instance, where they had 260,OOO head, according to the census of 1893. Now there is less than 5000 head in that pro- vince.
 Affairs in Santiago
 I found in Santiago that things were much more satisfactory than in Havana, for the reason that the United States Is i,, question so much the evacuation of Cuba, as it is the getting control of custom houses. When we get control of that, then there will be some chances for prosperity. Hun dreds of thousands of dollars worth Of goods are being held out of the country until the rate of tar if 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.
 "One 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 1t may seem, they are asking us to discriminate against our products. This will never do.
 "The Cubans seem to me to be splendid soldiers and law-abiding fellows. They will make an excellent guard and should be employed as such. They are anxious TOT peace and work. and are not becoming gueriIlas as a recent report states.
 sI am not converted to free trade but l believe that there should be perfect reel procity between the United States and the islands
 .'The spanards are holding on trying to get all that they can out of the customs before they give up the island. However, thev will not get much as the receipts have dw'ndled down to mere nothing Where the customs were formerly $50 OoOO,ooo last year the government only received $10,00O- mn believe that an honest adminstra- tion and that with our reduced tariff, we will get $40, 100000 a year."