Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-24

tobacco. This bears equally on the produc-
ers in Pinar del Rio and on the manufac-
turers in Havana Under Weyler it WAS al
lowed to lapse. 1t Is constant cause or
irritation and gives strength to the COM
plants of Injustice The proposed reduc-
ton of 30 per cent will not meet thu case.
The proceeds from the export tax on tobacco
are not needed and if they were the dis
satisfaction which is caused by this imposl-
ton would better be met by finding some
other source of revenue.
Another source of irritation to the mer-
chants is the present tariff in its appllca-
ton and in its rates On this account there
is a gathering storm among the Spanish
commercial classes. whose good Will Is so
important to the United States. Col. Bliss.
the collector of customs, has struggled man
fully with difficulties which would have
appalled, the most experienced Gust oms ad-
mnistrators. He has managed TO stop
smuggling in great degree and to insure
honest collection Of the customs revenue,
at the cost of his own popularity and un-
der steady fire of abuse and criticism
But on the broad subject of the tariff rates
themselves and their application he has run
against a stone wall. His recommendation
Is for a customs commission, which. from
a thorough technical knowledge of the sub
ject will be able to evolve a system when
will command the support OF the Spanish
merchants.
At the lonia de where's or produce ex-
change l talked with some of the leading
members, who are also members OF the
I
Merchants and Manufacturers AsSocia-
ton. They are men of broad views. accus-
toned to measuring international COM
merce by something more than a yard
stick When they forgot their petty an
noyances they were enthusiasts over the
Industrial future of the island and the COM
merce that would grow out of it's develop
ment.
Dream of Tobacco Men.
With regard to tobacco, think they have
~ xnl fnv q
long time to come. They talked about the
cooperation of American tobacco growers
in securing concessions for the Cuban prod
uct in the markets of the United States.
Some months ago a number of Kentucky
tobacco men were in Cuba and they as
sured the local manufacturers and dealers
that there would be no competition between
their own grades and that which came
from the island. They even promised
their help in educating the American TO-
bacco interests on this point. The Cuban
dealers explain very fully why lower leaf
duties would be advantageous 10 the
United States as we'll as to them, and why
the rate on cigars might be lowered. 1t Is
"a fact as the Havana dealers and manu-
facturers say, that most OF the cheap
Cuban tobacco Is exported to Germany, YET
probably they are -~S& way from Secur-
ing the cooperation - lhe American to-
bacco producers in lowering the duties
That is one of their dreams, just as II Is
the dream Of some Of the uitra,radicai
Cuban politicians to form and sustain a re-
public without regard to such prosaic sub
jects as the tarin.
1t Is, however, with reference to sugar
that these men of commerce grow most en-
thusiastic. One of them shut his eyes and
told me that Cuba one day would be pro-
ducing 4.0000 600 tons of cane sugar. and
that American capital would be shipping 1t
to Europe to compete with beet sugar there.
He may or may not be right on that point,
but one thing he said impressed me. This
was that it is to the interest Of the whole
American people to see Cuba prosperous