The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-06

vii IN short time practically monop-
"'l1e the trade OF the islands.
Puerto Rico's Importance.
We know less OF Puerto Rico than al
hawaii but We know enough 20 an
pIet-ate the Importance Of thc islands
"S 4 market Tor American goods now
ana hereafter The people are dolrbt
less the most enlightened and most
hlEhly educated OF the Inhabitants of
any OF our insular possess ions excap'-
ing possibly Hawaii. The island ia NJ
our doors and the cost OF placing our
products in Porto Rican markets is
probably less. so far as Eastern factor
les are concerned, than the cost OF law
ing down goods In the far Western
SAFES. Al present the tariff dut "a are
not only high but they lack scientific
adjustment. the present code being rec
ognized merely as n makeshift de-
signed TO meet the demands Of military
occupation. 4 measure similar TO thar
10 be drafted in the case or Hawaii viii
probably be formulated for Porto Rico
before many months and a territorial
government provided that will do
much to develop the island, add TO its
population and make Il a more import
ant market for American products. IL
Us difficult 10 see how the manufactur-
ers of any other country can secure or
maintain foOthold in Porto Rico as
TO textiles against the competition OF
American products as soon as the pres
ent tariff H. removed With a decided
advantage in freight rates and "a mar
gin equal to the customs duties In their
favor American textile manufacturers
snOuId soon hold the entire trade of the
island IN the hollow of their hand.
The Philippines.
The Philippines present a trade prob
lem entirely different from that found
in Hawaii and Porto Rico. Ultimately
t.. American export trade to those ISL
ands will far exceed all our shipme ments
10 our other insular possessions. but at
the outset We must remember that IN
al the fun sovereignty OF the United
States has been completely established
I'm tue Glands We cannot abandon our
military Establishments there and can
not ins,Ill the territorial government
which must accompany the institution
OF American laws. and especially our
tariff schedules. The prospect for the
speedy termination Of hOstilitios In the
Philippines Is extremely bright and II
would not be surprising should the sit
uation in fen months be such es 10
enable us to establish q stable govern p
ment and open all the ports 20 our ex-
poTters. The remotencss OF the islands
from our factories will make very little
difference 10 our enterprising people as
soon as the present tariff is removed.
Concerning the proposition TO reduce
the tariff in favor OF American ex-
pOrters IN advance of the establish
ment Of government In the Islands /
can only say that in my opinion such
an experiment would be contrary 70 all
precedent unless ID should be done by
military authority as a temporary ex-
pedient. The matter is one which
may safely be left 90 the Administra-
tiOn to handle.
The Cuban Question.
The Cuban question IS one while,
must be approached with some deliber-
alton. Without considering the final
destiny OF the island We must remem-
Der that we have certain pledges 20 full
fiji in regard 10 Il and We must proceed
slowly. / do not doubt that in the near
future relations VIII be established be-
tween Cuba and the United States
which will give American exporters
the bulk OF the islands trade. for in
addition TO the advantage OF proximi-
". which guarantees low freight rates.
= very slight reduction in the present
Cuban tariff would give American
practical monopoly.
J. g. BURROWS.