New-York tribune., 1900-05-26
THE NEW CUBAN TARIFF.
PROVISION FOR BENEFIT OF RAILROAD
COMPANIES EXPLAINED BY THE
WAR DEPARTMENT.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE ]

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuSE.l
Washington, May 23.-The publication in The
Tribune of yesterday of some facts about Rob-
ert p PorteT's revision of the Cuban tariff with
reference to the duties railway materials.
machinery and supplies has excited great deal
Of comment here. where Mr.. Porter Is we'll
known and has many friends. and keen eager
ness is expressed to hear any explanations he
may have to offer and also to obtain more def
mite information in regard to the tariff revision
itself The latter demand will be supplied in
part by the following copy of the official
planatlon made by the War Department of the
provision for the benefit of the railroad COM
panes:
1t has been apparent to all acquainted with
the working of the Cuban tariff that the rate
of duty put upon the schedule for machinery
and railway materials and supplies-namey, 40
per cent ad valorem--is too high The effect of
this has been to stop all importation of such
articles. and the revenue from these schedules
has been extremely small. In view of the
necessity for the construction and reconstruc
ton of railroads in Cuba, and upon the assur-
ance given by the various companies that If ma
terial for the construction and equipment could
be imported at a reduced rate they will at once
begin to import large quantities. a special pro-
vision has been inserted in the tariff which al
lows railroad companies to import their supplies
into the island for a period of twelve months
from the date of PRONUNCIATION at a rate of 10
per cent ad valorem
The list of articles to be admitted at the NOM
inal rate of 10 per cent ad valorem includes
passenger coaches complete, erected or knocked
down; freightcars. complete, erected or knocked
down; trucks. wheels, axles. axle boxes, forg
ings, brasses and fixtures of passenger coaches
and freightcars; pine wood. prepared especially
for freightcars; locomotives and tenders, loco
motive boilers and locomotive furnaces loco
motive boiler plates and tubes. locomotive and
tender frames wheels axles axle boxes; brasses
1l1, rta
tors and machinery for power houses turn
tables. transfer bridges. iron steel bridge
work. rveted or rolled; steel rails, points, cross
ings signals and accessories thereof: gate cross
ings and metal ties.
1t should be added that if planter should de-
sire to import a railway passenger coach. or
locomotive, or any other article specf1ed In the
foregoing list, he would be allowed to do so on
payment of duty at the rate of I'D per cent ad
valorem, under such conditions and guarantees
as the Collector of Cuba might exact or direct.
The revised tariff makes an increase OF 90
per cent in the rates of duty on all hemp. flax,
jute, linen and ramie goods, from the coarsest
cloths and cheapest carpets to the finest tis-
sues, and the War Department explained that
the rates in this schedule had been slightly
advanced" This remark makes one curious 10
know what Mr.. Porter would regard as con
siderable increase He left the rates on cotton
goods untouched. the equivalent ad valorem
based on last years importations being ~ LILO
per cent. nearly three times the rate on rail-
way paror cars and locomotives. and only
trife lower than the slightly increased aver
age rate on linen goods, which is 20 2-1O per
cent ad vaorem. The revised rates on silk
goods are 40 per cent reduction of Per cent
The only reductions made in the food schedule
were one of 22% per cent on wheat flour and one
of 30 per cent on cod and salt stock fish,
compared with reduction of 70 per cent
steel rails and other railway supplies. When
Special Commissioner Porter engaged in re-
vsing the Cuban tariff last winter he explained
his general design TO be to readjust existing
rates on a more equitable basis and to tighten
the tariff burdens which fell upon the great
mass of consumers, so far that could be done
with due regard to the revenue necessities of
the island. In what degree he succeeded is in
dcated to some extent by the details given
above.
In only Mr.. Porter's revision
modified by the President or Secretary of War
That done the day the revision was
made public. and after hot controversy which
had lasted for three or four months. Commits
sioner Porter had put crude petroleum on the
free list and reduced the duty refined from
81 20 S3 the hundred Kilograms. This
rangement was changed by making the duty on
crude 81 20 and refined 50 40 the hundred
Kilograms. There only two oil ref1neries In
Cuba, both of which. it is understood. sub
ordinate to the Standard Oil Company.