The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-01-14
NEW TARIFF POLICIES
Customs Systems to Fit Territorial
Expansion.
Substantial Denents Certain 10 Fol-
low the Emsncipstion OF Our
Recently Acquired Possessions
from Spanish Misrule.

new schedule OF tVrin rates for the is
land OF Cuba gave opportunity for con-
sidering n number OF questions in
volved in the tariff policies which may
be adopted in the tropical islands ex-
pected TO come under the domination
OF the United States as a result Of the
war with Spain. Attention has already
been called TO the fact that the tariff
which the officers OF this government
found in vogue in Cuba. as hole-over
from Spanish domino ton of the island,
was we'll calculated TO enrich Spain,
but TO afford no protection or benefits
10 the people OF the island or TO their
industries. II appears that the Spanish
tariff rates were applied with no set
tied policy except TO get revenues, and
in doing this all interests in Cuba suf-
fered. IL those interests came into cor
fiict with Spanish greed.
OF course the present tariff policy Is
proposed solely for the purpose Of put
ting the island on its feet during the
military occupation by the United
States. What the Cuban government,
which II is expected the people OF the
island will sooner or later adopt, will
do in the matter of tariff restrictions
upon trade is purely a matter of con-
lecture. But IL one may Judge from
the evidence given before the treasury
officials by interested residents Of the
islands and Of those who have business
interests in the industrial development
of Cuba, II may be safely put down
a. a. L..
tective OF Cuban interests than any
tariff schedule ever given TO the island
by the Spanish government.
The chief point OF interest in connec-
ton with the new Cuban tariff is the
fact that while IL was prepared by pro-
tectionists and under the advice of Gu
ban business men who are interested
in the development of the resources of
the island, IL was found to be practical
bic 10 provide tariff rates on imports
TO the island, discriminating in favor
OF the home productions in only three
or four interests Of importance. This
is an interesting point, as IL calls forth
the suggestion that when the United
States takes formal possession Of the
them tariff schedules for the better
ment of their industries and to furnish
revenues for the upbuilding of the is
lands IL will be found that comparative
~ few interests in those islands will re-
quire protection from outside compe-
tition, and hence the trade 10 the is
lands may be open practically to the
world on the same rates of revenue
tariff exclusively.
This is true to great extent of Cuba
and il is believed TO be true TO a
greater extent with Porto Rico and
the Philippines. In Cuba there is de-
mand for protection TO only such in
dustries as cordage making, tobacco
raising and manufacture, soap manu-
featuring and two or three minor in
terests. Under the Spanish tariff the
raw materials entering into the manu-
facture of soap and cordage were adj
mitted at rates of duty higher than
those imposed upon the finished prod
uct. One of the Cuban manufacturers
who appeared before the United States
treasury officials TO ask for better
rate on the manufactured article and
lower rates on the materials was asked
how he managed to transact business
or exist at all under the Spanish tariff.
He admitted, after some discussion of
the subject, that the whole affair re-
solved itself into IAN arrangement
with the Spanish officials" In other
words, n certain amount was paid on
the materials, which sum went to the
government, and, presumably, another
amount went into the pockets Of the
Spanish officials. Such q system will.
OF course, be unknown under the tariH
policy TO be established for the island
by the United States so long as this
government retains even military con-
troll of Cuba. There was demand for
higher rates discriminating in favor of
the tobacco planters and manufacture
ers of the island. This was alleged TO be
due 10 the importation to Cuba of SUI
matra tobacco and cheap cigars which
are made Of inferior tobacco and sold
as genuine Cuban goods" The rates
of the new Cuban tariff will be ar
ranged TO afford protection on lines Of
this nature.
The rates of duty fixed on agricultur-
al products, -four and implements of
agriculture will be lower under the
new duty lists, as will also be the rates
on machinery. No implements or ma
chinery or -four are produced In the
island, and probably will not be for
many years to come. The rates Of duty
on these articles were maintained at
high figures by the Spanish govern
ment purely for revenue purposes, and
II will be readily seen that, as there
was no competition by the producers
of the island in goods and commodities
OF these classes, the burden OF exces-
sive taxation fell upon the people OF
Cuba. Under the new schedules the
rates on -four and machinery and i'm
plements will he much lower, and II Is
expected that the people of Cuba will
derive rich benefits from the new condi-
tions. Under the old Spanish tarin,
xuhfcb gamma IN bava heep fnade with