The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-16
THE REPORT OF
HON ROBT.PORTE
He Gives a Full Account Of the Finan-
cial Condition Of Cuba.
WAS SHOWN MUCH COURTESY
The Authorities Gave Him All the AS
sistance Possible in Making Ills
Inquiries The Rapacity OF the
Spanish and Cuban Officials

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-Hon. Robert
p. Porter. special commissioner oil ING
United States to Cuba and Porto Rico'
presented his report to the President
and Secretary of the treasury to-day
The report submitted consisted of about
eOOOO words, and goes fully into the
financial and economic condition or Cuoa'
analysing the budget of that island for
fourteen years. showing the sources OF
income and the causes of expenditures
There are some supplementary reports
yet to be made. There are also among
| the data and testimony collected many
valuable general statements In relation
| to the financial. industrial, commercial
and social condition OF the dsland OF Cuoa
which form nucleus for report on the
possibilities for American enterprise ana
| the opportunities for American capltai
and labor when the more pressing ques-
| ton OF government and revenue ana TAX
| alton OF the island have been settled.
MUCH COURTESY SHOWN.
Mr.. Porter in the opening Of his report
| testifies to the consideration and courtesy
shown by Spanard and Cuban alike In
| both civil and military positions IN Iur-
| nshing him information for his report
| The following extract from a letter writ
ten to Commissioner Porter by General
! Gomez under date of October Sd, VIII be
read with interest:
| "I must congratulate you cordially on
| the high mission which you have had
| entrusted to you. am competeN
| Identified In all and with all concerning
| n on nv side | am doing all / can Tor
| the immediate reconstruction OF the
| country. lis wounds will heal with the
rapid promotion Of the work. THIS IS
| the battle we are now fighting. and all
men Of good will should join us IN our
| struggle"
Mr.. Porter examined both in the United
| states and Cuba some 800 witnesses. all
| az whose testimony is published I'm the
appendix 20 the report. Mr.. Porter mas
| also submitted for the approval OF the
| Honorable Secretary Of the Treasury
| comDlete revision Of the tariff in the
form Of a new BILL which Will be ex-
| amined By the experts of the treasury
| Department. and If approved VIII be pro-
| mulgated by the President. ana take
| effect at the port of Cienfuegos, Decem-
| Der LIST, 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 II
became apparent that the most pressing
need OF the island was tariff that would
bear lightest in the directions where the
people could least afford the surdeH 81
taxation and heaviest on commodities,
which the well-to-do and those engaged
In large enterprises required.
AN INTERESTING TABLE.
| Mr.. Porter has complied a table show
ing the general average of reduction Oh
| the various articles imported into Cuba
together with the value Of the imports
OF cotton and the manufactures thereof
during that year was s590s, POP The gen
eral average OF reduction Is $40 per cent
hemp. flax, jute and other vegetables
fbres and manufacturers thereof, s5oo'-
7l3: 64.6 PEE cent.
The report also contains an analysis
| and discussion Of the Cuban bulge
showing the effect Of the new tariff OF
| the revenue. together with the ol'
sources Of revenue. are explained and dis
cussed.
To the question as to how with such
reduction in revenue. it is possible TO Sc
cure the amount necessary for the eX
penditures Of the government the repor
says:
"Fhe general answer Is that, By reason
| Of fraudulent classification and smuggling
most Of the revenue collected from lns
people OF cuba never found its way into
| the treasury OF that island nor 10 SPAN
RAPACIOUS OFFICIALS:
Mr. Porter SAYS: THE cupidity ant
rapacity Of the Spanish official In CUBA
is beyond conception. and, Il we may
Judge by the results at Santiago, th'
| United states officials will be aDle %
collect as much revenue on tarin, th'
duties Of which are more than a nan ol
nearly two-thirds less than under th'
iniruitous law now in force.
The average yearly collections tnrouSl
the Or-houses in fifteen cities IN
Guiding Havana. from 1856 10 1897 wa
$40 G4I SQ4 The annual expenditures o
The Government are SZ2.joo.s sos The re
port. speaking OF the various items
"A study OF these several items a
once shows that the principal eXpe,ndi
lures for the Island of Cuba are mos
J which have directly or indirectly N az
,rt,b tho control OF the island of Spain.
! AIR Porter estimates that when span
| avaruates the island the amount VIII %
, | reduced $4,000 OoO or S2OOV1UOo, IN
! estimated expenditures for 1898 w a!
| D6 356 73i pcsOs estimated receipts 20,
go g5O pesos The currency question
| fuliv gone into. the report saving.
"Altnough Cuba Is afflicted WIN man
| Linds OF deprecated currency the e7tdu
iished basis is strictly gold. thus IN an
| Commercial engagement the Valne is ut
derstood to be in gold, unless specimen
Mr. Porter also treats OF the question
= Of taxation suggesting the abolt9n .
certain taxesl. education, lndustllal ~
ternrise Showing a steady Increase III tl'
| demand for labor on plantations 4"
5 labor.