New-York tribune., 1901-12-10
CHANCE FOR A BARGAIN
RIG INCREAS Sc OF COMMERCE
WITH CUBA IN SIGHT.
unU CONGRESS MIGHT HELP THE MER-
CHANT MARINE WITHOUT INJtR-
ING ANY HOME INDUSTRY.
fRr TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BuNE.I ]

washington. Dec. 9-Congress has oppor-
,,ntv at the present time to make a bargain
ui,h Cuba whereby. without injuring any single
industry in the United States. it can secure a
concession that will do much increase the
merchant marine This least. is the striking
suggestion made tonight TO The Trbune's cor
respondent
President Mckinleys last public utterance IA
,,ored reciprocity. His successor in his first
Message urged the principle the handmaid
ot protection. and in speaking of Cuba declared:
There are weightY reasons OF morality and of
national interest why the policy should be held
N have peculiar application" The Secretary
of War in his annual report recommended that
something be done and done promptly, for Cuba
General Leonard Wood. the Military Governor,
cane 10 Washington to urge the same measure
The island of Cuba. so far as it can make its
voice heard through commissions. commercial
bodies and ayuntamientos. is asking for the
same thing in order save the island from alb
soIpte bankruptcy Both sides wish for reci-
procity and it is urged. ought TO have it
IN CUBAN OR AMERICAN VESSELS
without entering upon the basis of reciprocity
what concession should he granted to Cuban
sugar and tobacco. what preferential rates
should be given in the Cuban tariff to American
products when agreement is reached-a pro-
vso should he added. the advocates of the
idea declare. that merchandise, both Cuban ana
American. in order 10 secure the advantages OF
the preferential tariff rates that may be decided
upon. must he carried in American or CUBAN
vessels This it is argued. would work no
hardship to either nation, and would prove a
stimulus 10 American shipping The production
Of Cuban sugar will in another year reach lVV'-
Oao tons Cuban ore fruit. tobacco and minor
her
tons Of freight With the Cuban market Sc
cured 10 the United States-in itself business
that would increase exports from this country
hv something over S500ooOa0 annually-t may
be assumed that American iron, railway mate
rial wheat flour. meat textiles, stone, ma
chinery coal. etc, would at least equal the ton
mage furnished by Cuba. that 100000 tons
of ocean freight would he secured annually TO
the American merchant marine.
-Four thousand tons is a fair cargo for mer-
chant steamer. so this trade would provide one
thousand cargoes annually 1t would take
twenty-five large steamers. making two round
trips every month in the year, TO carry this ton
mage back and forth This traffic. it is asserted,
Is in sight 1t may be had for the asking 1t
would result in the laying of keels in ship
rards under rush orders, and thus contribute
another factor TO the present high tide of Amer
icsn prcsperity. There are only five steamers
hyinE the Cuban flag and Cuba is willing to
grant tariff concessions and give to us the car
rving trade, and. Furthermore, would agree that
nnly vessels built in the United States should
receive Cuban registry
The carrying trade of Porto Rico is now in the
hands Of the United States Reciprocal relations
with Cuba would give US the carrying trade OF
tnat island. now largely in the hands Of Nor
wegian. German and English vessels. which
bring European goods to Cuba at nomina!
freight rates and thus make it more difficult
fo compete with Europe in the Cuban markets.
With the trade of these two islands in our
hands the tonnage of the Gulf of Mexico the
American Mediterranean. would soon become
DIl-s and a nc bic fleet of American vessels would
b. ready to steam through the canal when built
10 pursue its mission OF peaceable conquest up
and down the broad Pacific, the ocean OF the
twentieth century