The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-05-15
HOW ENGLAND DOES IT.

, maica fruit trade. The Astorian spok
OF this as an example not only OF tn
English policy to which that country
OCEAN carrying supremaoyis largely due
but also, in the method 1t was propose,
to adopt to raise the subsidy. as evi
denoe that England did not hesitate t,
invoke the principle Of a protective tar.
iog upon all occasions when it would
prove Il the advantage OF any OF her
outlying colonies so to do This Eng.
lish friend Of the Astorian was most
emphatic and vehement in his denial
that any form of government aid was
now extended to British shipping or
that England was guilty Of the ineon-
issteney Of levying protective duties in
any section OF the universe covered by
herfiag. OF course our English friendwas
mistaken on both propositions, as
every well-informed person is aware.
but he departed from the Astorian
Office entirely uneonvineed Of his err
ror because. he said. we had no docu-
mentary evidence to sustain our
charges" The attention OF this Anglo
American. who is well-known as a
good citizen OF this section OF Oregon,
is called to the following report made
by the United States commercial agent
at Port Antonia. Mr. Nicholas r.
Snyder. under date of January 25, 1900,
to the state department at Washing
ton. Mr.. Snyder says:
The negotiation which has, for many
months. been going on with Messrs.
Elder. Dempster & Co. of England, to
establish a direct line Of steamers for
the purpose Of carrying fruit fortnight
ly from Jamaica 10 England was COM
pleted by the governor in privy coun-
ell on the cath of January, 1900. agree
ing to the secretary of states proposal
that Jamaica should contribute GEO. !
900 (SsISSO) per annum for ten years
towards the subsidy Of $4,000 (s1s4.s
500 per annum for the same period.
which the above company has re-
quested.
There has been considerable discus
sion from time to time, both at meet
lngs and in the newspapers, concern
ing the development of markets out
side Of the United States for the fruit
produced in this island. This consid-
Grafton has been brought about by the
Idea that the United States may grant
preferential rates or free trade to Gu
pa and Puerto Rico. thus practically
closing the existing fruit trade between
Jamaica and the United States.
This subject has been more or less
.alked Of for the past fourteen months,
out it has been the all-absorbing topic
or the last three or four weeks. The
iecision Of the governor and his privy
,ouncil is receiving both favorable
md unfavorable comments in the press
some based on the opinion OF the agri-
.ulturists adjacent TO Kingston, who
would be the ones most likely to bene-
1t by the scheme, and others on those
4 residents Of the northern parishes,
yEo have very much larger interests
It stake; for example, the United Fruit
company, which is admitted by all to
'e practically the sole support Of that
'art Of the island.
1t is proposed to raise the 10000
ssI,3SO) in one or other Of these ways:
first. 5000 (S24,3S2.5O)-which has al
eady been inserted in the estimates
rom the general revenue fund, e2,5OO
sl2,l56.6D or 5000 by reducing or abol-
shing the present mail subsidy to the
Royal Mail Steamship Company, and ;
he remaining $1,000 or el2,OOO (s4S,- ,
65 or S6O,s21.6u by an additional tax
z banana lands; second, 5000 from ,
he general revenue. e2,5O0 or e5,OOO
rom the mail subsidy, and the other
10000 or e12,5O0 by an EXPORT !
)UTY on bananas.
The questions which are eliciting ]
rave thought on the part Of American i,
rowers and planters are: Must the
ruit which goes to the United States
g taxed in order to create another ..
ltlet for Jamaica's products? Must +,
be United Fruit Company (Which :,
wns, it is safe to say, third of !
Il the fruit lands. which trades ex- :
iusiyely with the United States. and is j.,
omposed solely Of American capltaD =
e compelled to pay, as unit, the !,
lrgest quota towards the profit Of a ;,
)mpany which-in some respects-will ;.
2 operating against it? 4
Should either OF these proposals be :,
,cepted, 1t will undoubtedly operate =,
yainst all American capitalists in or
II Of the island who possess interest .,
the fruit business.
One man, a member Of the legisla- -.
re council. has expressed the opin- - -
that only the fruit sent to Eng
nd should be taxed; but. since there Il,
II be only fortnightly voyages and =
e proposed capacity of the vessels 10
limited to 25,OOO punches of bananas, #
is obvious that the tax must be ex- III
ssively high to be effective. ne
A FOUR YEARS CONTRAST. to
NJ