Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-05
REVISION OF TARIFF
Mr. Porter :, Disappointed in the
Results in Cuba.
PURPOSE IN VIEW NOT ACCOMPLISHED
Food Stuffs and American Manu-
featured Goods.
TRADE HAS FALLEN OFF

Copyright, 1900, by J. D. Whelpley)
special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
HAVANA, March l. 1880.
When the Americans assumed control of
| the Island of Cuba one of the first things
done was to revise the Spanish tariff. This
great task was undertaken by Mr.. Robert
+. Porter as special commissioner The
motives governing his work were: First,
consideration of the needs of the people of
cuba; second,sthe removal of any discrim-
nations against American trade. Generally
speaking, the Spanish tariff on all imports
was reduced tWo-thirdS. A desire to give
the people cheaper food led to reduction
OF the duty on food stuffs from the 100 per
cent prev ailing under the Spanish tariff, to
an average of but Is per cent. Low rates
of duty were established on cotton goods
SO as to give the poorer classes cheaper
clothing. All discrimination in favor of
Spanish trade was done away with to give
the merchants of the United States an
equal show at least in the markets.
Disappointed in Results.
About n year after these changes were
made in the tariff Mr. Porter again came to
Cuba, this time to study the effects of the
schedule he had established He is now at
work on his report, which will shortly be
made public. This report will contain
recommendations for changes to be made
shown to be advisable in the light Of
year experience. The report is interesting
Tor the reason that Mr.. Porter has been
very much disappointed in the results of
ms schedule of year ago, except as to in
come produced which exceeded by $4,000
100 his most sanguine expectations. He
then endeavored to give the Cubans cheap
food and clothing by means of reductions
in import duties. He now discovers that
hn ra1 not I,,- A.
object in view. He has found that the de-
creased cost to the importers is not reflect
ed accordingly in the retail price. for food
and clothing are as dear or dearer today in
Cuba than they were during the Spanish
occupation. In his efforts to stimulate
American trade he did away with all dis
examinations in favor of Spain. He finds,
Notwithstanding this, American trade has
not increased propOrtionately in Cuba, and
has even decreased to a marked degree in
some lines of goods. In brief, the workings
of the Arnericanized Cuban tariff have been
distinct disappointment to the men who
framed it, except that it has produced rev.
enue amply sufficient to carry on the bust
ness of the island during the first year of
American occupation In the future they
will be more inclined to view the whole
matter exclusively from a revenue stand
point, as being the one most valuable to the
people who need the income for the conduct
of their government. One point however,
in favor of the present American system is
that all the money derived from the custom
houses goes to the people of Cuba. Under
Spanish rule 1t largely Injured to the benefit
of Spain.
In reducing the tariff on foodstuffs the
government sacrificed a great amount of
revenue, and yet failed to accomplish the
purpose in view. The history of the meat
market is an excellent illustration. Mr..
Porter was in favor of cheap meat for the
Cubans. Under the Spanish tariff it cost
81 or So to get a beef animal into Cuba.
The Americans made the duty 81. and adj
mitted cattle for breeding purposes free.
Under this latter clause cattle were
brought in, graZed for few weeks, and
then sold for beef. At 81 a head even cat
tie came in practically free, for such duty
is merely nominal: and yet, with all this.
the retail price of beef in the principal
cities of Cuba is about 30 cents a pound
which is as much or more than it cost I'M
der Spanish rule. The reason for this is
easy to find for the trade of Cuba is large
ly in the hands Of big Spanish mer-
chants. and there is little or no competi-
ton. The benefit of the reductions in duty
were absorbed by the middiemen who did
not need it, and failed to reach the great
consuming class, among whom money is
very scarce and food limited to the barest
necessities. The same statements apply to
the cotton goods market. for ,notwithstand-
ing the reductions in duty, which amount ed
to 80 per cent, the price Of such goods in
Cuba is now from one to ten times high
as in New York
American Manufactured Goods.
The present status of the American man
ufactured goods trade in Cuba is also a
great disappointment to Mr.. Porter. In
stead of sending here, as he thinks the
American manufacturers should be able to
do, at least two-thirds of the goods con-
sumed they send less than half Spain
held the trade during the Spanish occupa-
ton apparently because of tariff differen-
tails in her favor These were abolished
by the Americans. Notwithstanding this
the American trade has fallen off rather
than increased. This is not due to any de-
crease in the size of the army for goods
for the soldiers do not pass through the
custom houses. The American meat-pack-
ing firms, for instance, say that their Gu
ban trade has fallen off during the past six
months fully so per cent. In 1899 Spain
sold one and half million dollars worth
Of shoes in Cuba, and the United States
sold but 100000 worth.
One reason for these conditions is the an
parent lack of interest shown by the Amer
lean manufacturers in the Cuban trade.
The travelling men come here, stay a few
days and go away discouraged. They find
the trade all in the hands of old-esta blished
houses. They see no new openings. They
find that Americans who have started in
business here have not, as a rule, succeed
ed. They also find that the Cuban trade
has certain peculiarities they are not pre-
pared to meet. An instance of this is
shown in the shoe business. Shoes to sell
in Cuba must be broad Of sole and high in
the lnStep. Inc American shoe made on an
American last does not fit the Cuban foot.
and therefore makes slow Roadway against
the goods of other countries, manufactured
to suit the peculiarities Of the Cuban trade.
There is a good trade in American hard
ware, but the American manufacturers who
have succeeded in selling their goods have
done SO by appointing some Spanish firm
their agents. Even in machinery, Europe
is still competing successfully with the
United States in Cuba, where everything
should apparently favor the latter. The
United States has sold steel bridges in
Africa in competition with England: Eng
land is now selling steel bridges in Cuba in
competition with the United States.
Changes to BE Recommended
Mr.. Porter's,, forthcoming report will rec
ommend some Changes in the Cuban tariff
but these will, be largely confined to mat
tiers of classification. He will recommend
that the import duty on flour be reduced
from s1.5O to - a. barrel in a further eff
fort to make food cheaper. This red,,ctio,
will do away with 100000 in revenue
basing the estimate, on the figures Of Isst
year. but this deficiency will be made IN
in other directions. The result of HE IN.
designations into the workings of the nres-
ent tariff will be topconcentrate more affort
lpon the revenue producing feature ana iose