The times., 1899-07-23
MANILA TRADE HINDRANCES.
Foreign Complaint of the Slow Prog
re~s of the Americaas
Frcm ,he NV yors ryeninc p,

re>s of the Americans.
(Frcm the New YoTs Evening Post.)
! Manila, June 14.-Busines affairs In iis-
(, Mia are far from satisfactory. either 10 the
old residents who were here under Spanish
rule or the new ones who have come here
[ 10 enjoy the benefits of American control
and open up new markets for the products
Oh American factories There are two rea-
sons Tor this dissatisfaction. One is the
natural stagnation in LEGAL trade as a re-
suit OF the prolonged hostilities and the
| other the absurd and burdensoIne customs
| regulations enforced by the military gov
| ernment The former trouble can only be
rehedled by termination of the war but
'ne latter requires merely a readjustment
OF tar1n duties and regulations
person not familiar with previous con-
ditions could not appreciate the great lo5s
OF local trade incurred by the merchants
OF the city by passing down the busy and
crowded Escclta. where American soldiers
are spending their pay like lords and
i pouring good gold into trade channels that,
untii tnelr arrival. knew nothing better
4 tnan naii value silver. The natural i'm
preston, and possibly correct one. is that
| the Escolta never enjoyed so good a trade
| as now; and yet the leading merchants as
sure me that their trade Is much inferior
10 that enjoyed before the Spanish war be-
gan They acknowledge a great demand
for few special lines, but claim a more
than eounterbalancing loss in sales of gen.
| eral stocks.
But 1t Is not on the fashionable Escolta
that one must look for an index OF actual
| trade conditions since 1t is the foreign
/ trade chiefly that supplies the business OF
that thoroughfare. which term is meant
| to include the trade OF Spaniards and all
Caneasians. This class of trade embraces
but about a tenth Of the local commerce
of the city. There are little holes in the
nj In fh.a
business is done than in any of the ele-
CANT stores OF the more popular thorough
fare. and IL Is there that the loss of trads
! Is felt the most severely. These stores
deal in the things the common people eat,
wear. and use, and the common people
| have little money to spend Just now
Added to the loss of purchasing power on
the part Of the residents of the city is the
almost complete suspension of traffic with
millions Of people living in the country
directly tributary to the city. The rice.
sugar, and tobacco crops are not coming
into the city. and the manufactured goods
are not going out in exchange.
1t requires but a moments thought to
recognize how serious is such a condition
OF affairs. Merchants complain bitterly.
! Merchandise brokers. English, German,
Spanish. American alike are impatient to
see the end Of the war, and caustically crit
iciSe the timid and hesitating policy of tbs
American authorities. which they hold re-
sponsible for the beginning Of hostillties
as well as for their pro!ongation. After
four months even she single line OF rail-
road has not bszn opsned to traffic, which.
they assert. should have been the firsc ef-
fort of the authorities TO accomplish. They
all feel satisfied that vigorously onen-
sive campaign would have ended the war
ere this. so far as organized opposition is
concerned. and would have restored trade
conditions nearly to the Status of times
OF peace. There is no doubt that foreign
consuls impress this sentiment upon their
kome Governments. and foster thereby a
belief in the incapacity OF the Americans
10 handle tho situation and protect the
commercial interests OF foreign residents
Ii is the customkouse. however, that
elicits the most complaint. 1t is asserted
by merchants that customs regulations
here are now more burdensone to trade
than in the worst days of Spanish rule.
Certainly Americans who are trying to do
business here, or are Investigating to see
il trade conditions are favorable for the.
introduction of American goods, erit.cise
the customs regulations severely. The
tariff is almost prohibitive, and would be
so completely were there home factories
to supply the market. There being pr1c-
tically no native industries, the tariff be-
comes a revenue one instead OF a pTotec-
tive. and the revenue is extremely large in
propcrtion to the volume OF commerce.
Though nominally the same tie tariff is,
much higher and greater burden upon
business and CONSUMERS than it was under
Spanish rule. and to this extent, ct least,
the Philippines have not been benefited oy
the change in allegiance.
Following the principle Of International
law that the laws in force in a conquered
territory at the time OF its conquest shall.
be continued until news ones can be pro-
vided in the. regular way. the Spanish Gus
toms regulations were continued in effect
with certain notifications. IL is these
notifications that cause the trouble.
Spanish duties were Intended to favor
Spanish trade, and were therefore placed.
high on all articles that came in competi-
tion with the manufactures OF Spain, and
the latter were given rebate. This re-
bate was discontinued by the American
authorities, with the result that the mer-
chants are now paying duties that were
intended to be prchibitive. and the con-
sumsr now pays mere for these goods than
formerly. at a time when his purchasing
power is lessened by the war This is
especially noticeable in canned goods. 4
can CT fruit that costs 20 cents in America
pays So cents duty. Whisky and beer in
bottles pay these high duties. Tobacco
pays three times its value. The serious
ness of these high duties upon canned
goods is recognized when il is understood
that this is the form in which nearly all
feed products are imported The climate
requires that everything of that kind be
hermetically sealed. Even the hardtack for
the Army has to he brought cut in air
tight cases. Thousands OF pounds OF hard
bread were spoiled and condemned before
this was realized.
Here as elsewhere, the sewing machine
peculiarly an article of American produc-
tion, is an industrial and domestic nsees-
sity- The Spanish law so recognized it.
and elassed it among the articles bearing
a low duty; but the Americans reciassifei
it with bicycles and typewriter. ineIel in;
the duty 1000 per cent recent consign-
ment paid 1921 duty, as against SIS rnder
the Spanish regulations.
There are a great many things used in
this country that America can supply. but
should not be checked by ex-
cessive duties. II the open-door policy Is
to be continued and our OWN people put
on exactly the same footing as manGfdc-
turers of other nations. the special Span
ish prohibitive duties levied by Spain for
the protection Of her own industries should
be modified to the extent OF the Spanish
rebate at least.
No Physical work Intended.