The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-17
FREE TRADE IN RICE.
is A PROVISION WANTED IN THE
CUBAN AGREEMENT.
RICE ASSOCIATION TO MEET.
WILL ASK CONGREssMEN TO AD-
VOCATE THE MEASURE.

Removal of Duty on Rice to Cuba
Would Mean Great Advantage TO
American Growers of the Grain.
Thousands of Acres of Rice Lands,
Mr. w. &. Morrell Says, Would he
Cultivated-Cubans Use Great
Deal of Rice-That They Eat Is Sc
cured From Germany-POrtO Rico
Trade Has Increased Demand for
Rice, and So Would the Cuban
Trade.
A meeting of the Georgia Rice Associa-
ton will be held in Savannah this week
to induce Georgias representatives in
Congress to take some action that may
tend to bring about free trade in rice be-
tween the United States and Cuba. or. if
not free trade duty upon exports of
rice that will be only nominal.
Col. J. II. NJ. Clinch, president of the
association, will call the meeting. Secre-
tary w. G. Morrell said last night that
the need for action is imperative, as the
opening up of Cuba to the American rice
growers would be followed by incalculable
advantage to the planters and the sec
lions in which the grain is produced.
at is understood" said Mr.. Morrell,
chat the proposed tariff on rice between
the United States and Cuba is now being
decided upon, and should a tariff be
placed on all rice, except American pro-
duct, it would mean higher and staple
prices for the United States. This is
matter of great moment to all interested
in rice.
Cuba has been using German rice al
most exclusively. The quality of that
is not so good as is the quality of the rice
that is raised in this country. If the
opportunity were given the American
product to compete with that of Ger
many, by the removal of restrictive du-
ties, a tremendous impetus would be given
rice culture. Thousands of acres of rice
lands that are not now cultivated would
be taken up. All that is needed is a mar
ket for the rice. The lands and the labor
to produce it are to be found right in
this section. There has been a limit to
the consumption of the product, and It
has been this limit that has prevented the
greater production.
Porto Rico. since it became a possess
sion of the United States has consumed
great deal of American rice, increasing
the demand materially. The people of
Cuba would use American rice in great
quantities, too. if free trade prevailed,
as it does with Porto Rico, now an Amer
lean possession. The people of Cuba are
great rice eaters, having the grain three
times day upon their tables. With such
a rice-consuming country right at our
doors w GhnnI6 IN bo
ity is afforded the American rice plant
ers to reap the benefits that could be
derived from the expectation of the grain
to Cubo. The people of the island, too
would be benefited, as it would mean that
they would secure a better quality of rice
than they now receive from Germany.
Even then the very best grade of our rice
would not have to reach them.
IF our representatives in Congress
would exert themselves, it would mean
that we could get this trade with Cuba.
Rice planting would be revived as one of
the greatest Industries of the coast En-
ployment would be furnished to hundreds
of laborers by the opening up of the thou
sands of acres of rich lands that are now
uncultivated.
Our association will adopt. resolutions
when we meet, memorializing the Georgia
representatives and asking that they take
up lnt thdIteT Ol tut uutleS Oh TlCe. no
not know what the duty is now on rice
from this country to Cuba, but they
should be removed
AS to the progress of the planters with
their crops for this year. Mr. Morrell
said they have finished their first plant
ing and now have the stretch water upon
their lands. The acreage in rice is about
the same as that of last year. The plant
ers know just how much their lands will
yield and just what the demand for rice
will be. The market is extremely SEN
sitive to over production. and they do not