The evening times., 1900-02-09
AFFAIRS IN CUBA.
No Reduction in Tariffs COntempIat.
ed by the Porter Commission

| HAVANA Feb. 9.-The coming of the
| Porter Commission has given rise among
! Cubans TO the belief that the tariff
changes contemplated are TO be q reduc-
| tion of rates. This is untrue. Mr. Porter
| is trying to counteract the belief of the
| Cubans before their hopes rise too high
! only to be followed by a great disappoint-
ment. The reasons for not reducing the
scale are good Reforms are contemplated
in public works, and the lighthouse ad-
ministration and a new judicial system will
be created. These will run the expenses
of the coming year far above those of last
year. Although there is a surplus existing
now, it is because many things were not
done last year that will be done this year.
As yet the ayuntamientos throughout the
island are more or less dependent upon the
insular revenues for support. No system
of internal revenue capable of sustaining
the municipalities is yet in operation
Until such system shall be devised the
necessity for keeping the customs revenues
as high as the country can stand is i'm
perative. 1t is argued by some that even
should the duties be reduced the consumer
would gain little, if any, benefit. owing to
the lack of competition ameng the i'm
porters, who charge for the necessaries of
life TO within an inch of prohibition.
III reductions were made the importers
would be the principal benefcaries, as
they would maintain the prices to con-
sumers. MIR. Porters real purpose is TIE
simplification Of the customs administra-
tion and the clearing away of the confusion
in the classification of goods under the old
Spanish tariff.
The question of suffrage is being dis
cussed again. While no official announce
ment has been made that the right of suf-
frage will be restricted. it is understood
that this is the intention of the Govern
ment. Mutterings are heard and La Dis
cusion" urges united opposition to the
plan, but as yet nothing of strength has
developed, nor will anything develop un-
less it is manufactured by Cuban leaders
actuated by sinister motives, not for the
good of the country or for love of the
classes to be disbarred.
The fact that the fighting element among
the Cubans will be recognized robs the
partisans of universal suffrage of their
greatest natural strength among the peo-
pie, while, of course, the educated and sub
stantial element of the population are not
averse to the elimination of the rabble as
factors at the polls. The question whether
Cubans who are naturalized American cit
liens shall have the right to vote is still
unsettled, and it will require attention
from Washington soon. Conservative esti-
mates place the number of these Cubans
at $4,000. They are the most highly edu-
Gated and most progressive class in Cuba
They have had the benefit Of a personal
acquaintance with American governmental
methods. great many of them are now
holding Office. II they cannot vote, and il
they must play the same role in Cubas
immediate future as native-born Ameri- |
cans, Cuba will be deprived of many val
liable citizens They cannot renounce |
their American citizenship, or if they do |
they cannot gain Cuban citizenship, for |
there is no law governing the. point except |
that clause of the Treaty of Paris con-
eerning Spaniards who become Cubans by /
failure to register as Spaniards prior to