The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1900-02-02
The Reciprocity Treaty.


ingtOn, which refers to the resolu-
tions recently passed by our Titus
vile board of trade in regard TO
proposed treaty with the British
West Indies as regards importa-
ton of tropical fruits and vege-
tables to this country, for the
senator's letter throws consider
able light upon the subject. 1t
reads as follows:
L. s. Senate, Washington, ID. c.,
January 9th, 1900.
Hon. Minor s. Jones, Titusyille. Fla:
am in receipt of the resolutions passed
by your board of trade Jan. 18th, 1899.
l know of no treaties ALREADY formulated
whereby il is contemplated to place upon
the free list the principal agricultural
products of Cuba and the British West
- Indies"
There is now before the committee on
foreign relations certain reciprocity
treaty with Great Britain copy of which
/ inclose herewith) by which it is pro-
posed to reduce the tariff on certain arti-
Giles produced in the islands named, and
in return therefor give to us advantages
OH some of the products of this country
shipped to those islands.
The now existing duties on the articles
of more particular interest To Florida are
as follows: Citrus fruit, | cent per pound;
fresh vegetables, % per cent AL valoreln;
potatoes % cents per bushel of 60 pounds;
onions, 40 cents per bushel; green pease,
40 cents per bushel; spOnges, 20 per cent
al valOrem; mOlasses, cents per gallon;
sugar, 95-l00ths of l cent per pound;
pineapples in barrels, cents per cubic
foot; pineapples in bulk, 500 per thou
sand.
The proposed treaty makes the follow
ing changes:
Jamaica-Citrus fruits, pineapples, cane
sugars, vegetables, including potatoes and
onions, il reduction of l24 per cent of the
duty now existing.
Observation-Disclosures. onions, tomatoes
and other fresh vegetables, reduction of
20 per cent of the duty now existing.
Barbadoes-Frnits and vegetables and
cane sugars, IL reduction of l24 per cent of
the duty now existing.
British Guiana-Cane sugars, fresh veg
etables, and kaolin, reduction of l24
per cent.
Turks and Caicos Islands-Sponges at a
reduction of l24 per cent.
Ii is proposed in return to give us the
following concessions:
Iamaica-On yellow pine. duty of 81
per thousand feet; present duty, - 10.
Brrmula-Pitch, rosin and turprntnc
free; present duty, 5percrnt. nj valurem.
Barbadoes-lellnw pine, s. per thou
sand feet; present duty, Sl.26
British Guiana Resin, free; present
duty, 80 cents per barrel; crude turprn-
tine, free; present duty, - cents per gal
lon; spirits of turpentine, free; present
duty, Is cents per gallon; yellow pine, 81
per thousand fret; present duty, 81 Ia -.
Turks and CaicOS lslands-l elbow pine,
81 per thousand feet; present duty, y. 10
shingles, Is cents per thousand, present
duty, 81.
You will thus observe that the treaty
does not contemplate putting citrus fruits
etc, on the free list, and that for sucl
reductions rs are made. some compensa
ton is provided in the fact that the tariff
on other important products Of Florida
which NAV be marketed IN the islands
is materially reduced, and i'm some in
stances these products are placed upon
the free list.
You will see from the treaty cop;
herewith that there are many items o
general interest embraced in il, To which
for the purposes of this letter, | have no
referred, having selected only such a:
were most closely identified with the in
terests of Florida.
On account of what | conceive Ia be
terests of the people of Florida
ditse the ratification of the treaty
, ;po you know, the unqualified in
NJ, # the president, and if made
I -, 50 sure the Republican majority
! wbi.h re coul| 'ify it, and would
"Ni'n AZ. rs cease'regard to our in.
II. agents JOIN, session 6amocrats gen.
certain foE - sc III wet it, With kin
-sSelv yours. n
pine Mrs. DiPfayls lie. >TALIArERn s.
sday b of the Sc, Ale V, .,aoostior
spen Land and frSs 3 sugse''
fhe Undo. SiIverSas frepeal now?
n Jay E ~ the W sncs a.,
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