New-York tribune., 1899-06-01
NEEDS OF PORTO RICO.
,ur TARIFF A BARRIER TO ITS CON-
MERcIAL DEVELOPMENT.
ATOMS OF Mr. coRwINE. WHO VISITED
THE ISLAND IN THE INTEREST OF THE
MERCHANTS or NEw-YoRK.

rur ISLAND IN THE INTEREST OF THE
MERCHANTS OF NEwYoRK.
Can rrsr de Porto Rico. May 2.-william r. Cor
r-,,. who was recently commissioned by the Mer-
-. ~, .,,stion Of New-York 10 visit Porto
.i = ,,.ostIgate lis commercial conditions has
.s, CONNECTED tour Of the island. having visited
-. ,oodtnr towns and travelled through the cane
60 and tobacco districts. for the purpose of
- s,ob recommendations as may be oene-
- 20 ,bs business interests OF both Porto Rico
80 ~. r-nited States. He talked with most Of
,as,rs merchants here. and has made a careful
-, ~ the facts and figures relative TO their var-
- Industries As result. ne says no material
,rance can be made in expanding the trade of the
,-,,Aa states in Porto Rico until Porto Rican
nrnducts are admitted free In the United States and
a ,horough revision of the tariff on American goods
entering Porto Rico is made. Mr. Corwine said:
81 find the tariff is barrier which is hurting the
trade Of this island very seriously The conditions
that were brought about by the advent OF the
United States into Porto Rican affairs have served
10 contract the purchasing power OF the people
The natural market Of the island was with and
through Spain. Under the Spanish regime a mar
ket was found for all the products of the island
and the tariff which the Spaniards had in operation
had so many recessions in favor OF Spain that the
dealings between the island and the mother coun-
try practically free. That market has all
been taken away from the island but the United
states EaS not substituted any market IN place
thereof or given any opportunity for the opening
up Of other markets. The island does not manu-
tacture anything. 1t exports It's products which
are entirely agricultural. and buys nearly every
thing which IT consumes.
CHEAP GOODS FROM SPAIN
There certain classes of cheap underwear.
hats and caps boots and shoes. which come
trely from Spain and Majorca. In these lines the
United States could hardly hope to compete ex-
+ha mos elv le
ditions. I have samples of goods in these classes
which / will take home with me- In cheap cotton
goods the lower grades Of textiles furniture hard
ware. wagons. harnesses and many kindred lines of
goods a good and substantial market may be es-
tabshed here under the same favorable tariff
ditions: provided American manufacturers would
study the requirements of this market more close
~ and be more amenable than they have been here
iofore to suggestions 10 the method In which
they should manufacture to meet the wants OF the
people Heretofore Americans have been entirely
too independent on this point
'Oae Of the largest merchants upon this island
haze our home manufacturers make certain grade
Of cheap cloth which they sent into this market
The quality and the price were all right. but the
goods were two inches wider than Porto Ricans had
been in the habit of using The English and Span
ish merchants their goods here Of this kind of
mes Of This ne of roods maid absontey no atfen
ton 10 the suggestion made by the Porto Rlcan
,wer his letter The resnIt was tbst the American
goods lay upon the shelf and the English and Span
Most Of The cheap boots and shoes come from
Majorca | have samples of many lines OF these
compete But there is market here for a slightly
better grade Of shoe, provided, again. the manu-
70 follow the general style by natives of this
Unfortunately many American manufacturers
have sent representatives here soliciting trade who
have not made favorable impression. Sometimes
they do not know the language. have not studied
the conditions as they exist the island, and act
does not st render them acSepabe to the merchants
here. who are all gentlemen, and who properly de-
and obtain a foothoid in what is now an American
possession they must change al their general
attitude toward those to whom they are seeking to
sell their goods
THE SYSTEM OF CREDITS
The system of credits is also a bar to American
interests here. England Spain and Germany give
credits ranging generally from six to nine months
and the average of interest these is about
per cent year with liberal discounts for shorter
credits thirty days cash. Payments here depend
upon the crops jus. as they do in the States
more than elsewhere. and the selling merchant
should take that fact into account. -, ,o, o-
s,srtng in business here which 3 grow e out OF the
one Of these is a tax license which must be
paid by an importer; An importer OF the nrst class
exchange and be the consignee of vessel. says
that he pays 10 the insuar and mnnicipal govern
which on its face seems very unjust The license
varies according 70 the amount imported; there IL
also a heavy tax on retail dealers Any man with
proper capital should be allowed 10 engage IN tne
importing business without such burden.
There many other points which cfe grleV-
the of doing business here. growing
out Of the old Spanish laws and administration OF
the tariff Were the tariff removed, many causes !
OF complaint would to exist. and the tndica-
lions are that the general business Of the island
would receive impetus far beyond what II has /
been In the history Of the island. AS matters
nd now. business s dull With an uncertain |
market for the products of the soil the crop pro-
6uctiOn has materially decreased. This has thrown
o large number of plantation hands out OF work. /
and has contracted the purchasing power Of the |
people and merchants alike.
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.
$50 far as transportation Is concerned. the pres
ent facilities are inadequate. and will have 10 be |
improved II trade IS TO expand The island OF /
Porto Rico Is beautiful. and its climate is health !
ful. The thermometer rarely reaches Above 81 de- |
grees. even In summer, and no matter where you |
60. cool breezes may be encountered The nights !
are always comfortable. There venomous |
reptiles on the island. The people are kindly dis /
posed toward Americans. and willing 10 meet |
them more than half way. They feel however that |
The Government to which they belong ought |
TO remove speedily the tarifr barrier that the |