The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-12
ON TOBACCO ABOLISHED BY THE PRES
IDENT AFTER APRIL 1ST
CUBAN ECONOMIC COMMISSION
Urged This Step, Which was Approved
by General Wood-This Tax Amount
ing to $500, 900 Annually, Now Not
Necessary for the Support of the In
sular Government-Value OF Cuba's
Tobacco T~rade-Other Tarff Provfs-
Ions to Remain Unchanged

ions to Remain Unchanged
Washington. March S.-The president
today issued an executive order abol-
ishing the Cuban export duty on tobac-
CO from April 1st next. This action
was taken On the earnest recommended
ton of the Cuban economic commission
which recently visited Washington, en-
dorsed by General Wood. A previous
order had been issued fixing an export
duty of 80 per cent. on Cuban tobacco
from April 1st. Today's action removes
the export duty entirely.
General Woods approval of the aboli-
ton of this export duty is practically
an expression of his belief that the Gu
ban from other sources are
sufficient for the neecs of the insular
government. The original idea was
that the tobacco tax was necessary to
fully meet the financial requirements
of the government.
The abolition of duty effects cigars
and cigarettes as well as tobacco in
leaf, filler or cut, all of the various
classes of tobacco raw and
lures. having heretofore been subject
to various rates Of duty. That on
cigars has been S1.35 per thousand; on
cigarettes in boxes 80 cents per thou
sand; cut tobacco 1915 per hundred
kilos; leaf or filler tobacco $685. per
hundred kilos, except that harvested in
the province of Santiago de Cuba and
exported through the custom houses at
Santiago, Gibara or ManZanillO, which
paid 81 per hundred kilos. All of these
duties are abolished under the order of
today.
1t is estimate by the war department
officials that the abrogation of the to-
bacco duties will cause a loss Of reve-
nue. of about $500, 900 to 81, 900, 900 per
year; but it is said that this loss will
be. more than offset by the encourage
ment given to the planters in Cuba 20
increase their production. The extent
of the trade effected by the order is
very large, the tobacco exports amunt-
; ing to about $40, 900. 900 a year. Of this.
by far the larger par came to the
United States. The total value of I'M
manufactured tobacco exported within
the seven months ending July 31St last
was So, 720, 600, and of this the export to
the United States amounted to $4,8l5,-
900.
In the same period the export of Gu
ban cigars was largest to Great Brit
! ain. the United States coming second.
The total value of the cigar exports for
the seven months was Sc, 03O,O 900.
1t was announced at the war depart
ment that the secretary of war has de-
cided that all provisions of the present
Cuban tariff, unless amended by proper
authority, shall remain in effect untL
the proposed revision by the Havana
commission becomes operative. This
also applies to paragraph 218, which ad-
mits railroad material to roads actually
building n for planters use at a duty
of 10 per cent. This specially low rate
was to have ceased at the end of the
present month. 1t is now continued
indefinitely.
The tariff as a whole was to continue
in force only until June 18th 1t
likewise is to continue indefinitely.
London. March S.-Count Lamsdorfs
reply to Sir Charles Scott is consider
ed quite unsatisfactory. eff such ex-
cuses are accepted by the powers" said
a British official last evening to the
Associata2 Press. there will be moth
ing to prevent the immediate partition
of China, for. with almost exactly the
same verbiage, I'M European power
could justify the OF other
provinces"
Upon the degree of support afforded
the movement by Germany n Japan
depends the result of what is under
stood to be the almost synchronous ac-
ton of Washington and London.
Berlin, March S.-The German press
believes that Russia's assurances re-
garding Manchuria to Sir Charles Stew
art Scott, British ambassador in st
Petersburg. are ~insincere and intended
to blind the world.
London. March s.-"There IS much
activity in Japanese naval. military
and political circles regarding Russia's
action in Manchuria." avs a dispatch
to The Daily Mail. from Kobe, DATED
March Sth. 1T is reported that si>
hundred Russian marines. with ter
guns, rave landed at Masanpo, Korea
Washington. March o.-Just 20 wha
extent our government has expressed
itself to the other powers regarding tn
attitude Of Russia in respect to tn
occupation of Manchuria n what, i
anything. has been received from thu
British foreign office would not be di
vulged by the officials her tonight
Dur government deems 1T i~nexped1en
for the Chinese ITO make any independ
ent arrangements with any foreign pow
er while the peace negotiations are il
progress at Pekin. An identical not
| conveying these sentiments has beel
sent by the United States to each o
the powers interested in the settlement
of the conditions growing out Of tn,
Boxer roubleS The Chinese imperia
government also has been acquainte'
with these sentiments. The Statemen
) is made very positively here tonigh
, that the United States is not in "se
1 cret negotiations" with any other pow
or regarding China. Our practice i
dealing with the Chinese situation uni
formly is to make known the attitud
of the United States to all the nation
/ interested and for this purpose identica
: notes have been sent to them whe1
: matters of great importance were un
Il der consideration At the same tim
the intimation is conveyed that tn
London dispatches on h subject ar
overdrawn.