The times., 1899-06-08
AMERICAN TRADE
TN PORTO RICO
The Tariff a Bar Against Ma
terial Extension.
Much Complaint From Business
Men in All Lines.
Mr.. Corwine Delivers a Report of
His Investigations TO the

general commercial conditions in that ISL
and, was in Washington yesterday and de-
livered a copy of his report to President
Mckinley, the latter having granted him
an audience for the purpose of hearing
what he had to say about the general con-
ditions in Porto Rico. Mr. Corwine also
called on the Assistant Secretary OF War,
Secretary Hay, and Secretary Gage. and
had an informal talk with each of these
officials on the same subject.
In his report Mr.. Corwine says he found
almost at the beginning of his investiga-
tion that the tariff in operation in Porto
Rico was a very serious bar against any
material extension OF American trade on
the island, and that so long as it contin-
ued in force ii were useless TO hope for
any increase in the sale of American man
ufactured products there. The tariff not
only acted as a hindrance to imports, but
it went deeper than that. in that it was
rapidly contracting the purchasing power
of the people of the island. II was scarce
ly necessary to say that so long as this
contraction went on II was impossible for
the people to buy TO the extent that ttey
ought to be able to buy. The island was
purely an agricultural one; everything
which it consumed it had to buy, and it
could only pay for that which it bought
when its products were marketed.
No matter in what line | have pur-
sued my investigation, he says, the re-
suit was the same. This tariff was being
felt disastrousiy in every direction. Ey-
eryone was complaining, and business men
in all lines of trade, with scarcely an ex-
ception. stated that trade conditions we're
worse than they had ever been in their cx-
perience Testimony of this character
from bankers, shippers, importers, job
bers. middlemen OF all classes, planters,
and other men of standing, including those
who had located there from England and
this country, many of whom had been en-
gagged in the business on the island for
periods extending from few months TO
nearly forty years. This testimony was
corroborated by the contracted volume of
the crops"
THE change from Spanish to American
rule" Mr.. Corwine continues, has not
thus far benefited the industries OF the ISL
and, and unless something is done very
soon to relieve the situation the trade con-
ditions of the island will become very Sc
rious indeed. When Spanish authority
ended in Porto Rico Spain naturally
enough ceased to have any interest in that
island. The transfer OF the island TO the
United States has not yet brought to II
any substitute for the markets for that
portion of her products which she lost
when she ceased TO be possession OF
Spain and the present state of the island
is worse than its previous one. / refer
entirely TO commercial matters.
Taking up the principal products of the
island-sugar, coffee and tobacco-Mr.
Corwine shows how each of these indus
tries has been seriously affected by cut
ting OF the markets of Spain. The low
grades of sugar now come TO the United
States as before, but the high grades can
not be marketed proftably in the United
States on account of the tariff, and the
Spanish markets are cut of for the same
reason To enable the planters TO raise
sugar of low grade, change OF the meth
DDS of manufacture is necessary, but un-
der the ad yalorem duty on sugar machin-
cry retained in the tariff by the military
authorities, its importation was very eN-
pensive. The island has produced on an
average $1,000 tons Of sugar year, but
this years crop, largely for the reasons
given, would be less than $4,000 tons.
With regard to tobacco Mr.. Corwine
states that the crop this year Will be about
one-thlrd of the normal, and that large
number OF men usually employed in its
cultivation are out OF employment Under
the Spanish rule all the tobacco raised on
the island except that used for local con-
sumption. was sent in bulk 10 Cuba. As
the Cuban tariff was now practically pro-
hibitory against Porto Rican tobacco and
the Spanish market was greatly curtailed,
the planters found themselves with prac-
tically no market at all
Porto Rican coffee, the report says, Is
of a very high grade and commanded
fancy prices In Spanish and Continental
European markets, which had been reached
heretofore through Spanish connection.
Now however, that the tariff in Spain was
operative against Porto Rican coffee it was
shut out from those markets, and also
from Cuba for the same reason. The crop
this year would be about 65 per cent Of
the normal. The shrinkage In the sugar,
tobacco, and coffee crops, says Mr. Cor
wine, had thrown a large number OF plan
tation hands out of employment, and a
great deal Of suffering resulted. This suf-
fering however. had been greatly relieved
by the action Of General Henry in giving
the unemployed work on the road, some
Is, 600 men being thus taken care of.
There were plans for the development OF
the island backed by American capital and
men in good standing. which, if put into
operation, would provide labor for a large
proportion Of the men now working on
the roads. These plans were for the irri-
cation Of the lands which suffer from a
lack of rain for the building Of railways
across the island In both directions with
opment OF the electrical power, for street
railways. for the extension OF the natural
industries Of the island, and generally by
doing that which would increase the pro-
ductive power of the island, and make /,
what IL ought TO be-one of the richest
spots Of its size in the world. Many OF
these plans, however were absolutely al
q standstill for the reason that the tariff
was hurting the island so seriously thai
it seemed unwise to put capital into I
place for the purpose of increasing its pro,
ductiye powers when 1t was impossible tC
market the products of the island Il
free trade between Porto Rico and th'
United States were established on the SAINT
basis as there is free trade between tn,
States and the Territories of the United
States" says Mr.. Corwine. happiness
would prevail on the island and an i'm
petus would be given to business whicl
would invite American capital, backed b!
American brain and enterprise, to deyelol
the island in many ways and all the mino
sources Of complaint by the Porto Ricans
growing out of the operations of the tariff
laws. would vanish Immediately. II an.
commercial relief is TO be afforded Port
Rico il ought to be done quickly. Tobacco
planting in that island begins in October
II present tariff conditions which shut OF
the Islands market for tobacco are to con
tinue the crop, which this year is only one
third of the normal, is apt TO contract still
further. This will add to the already larg
number OF unemployed plantation hand
and viii stili further contract the purchas
ing power of the people.
THE people of intelligence In Porto Rie
feel that as a part Of the United States tn
island is entitled 10 the same freedom c
trade with the country 10 which 1t belong
as the different States and Territories en-
Joy with each other. The solution OF th
difficulty is the abolltion of the specil