Evening star., 1901-01-08

ana TO Otner countries St,O.p,VV. Lie
pacity of the Cuban cigar factories is being
increased and the output of cigars to other
parts of the world than the United States
may grow. Yet the tobacco planters and
the manufacturers have a keen interest In
81 pporting any movement which will in
sure and strengthen the American market.
The Banana Export.
OF the fruits raised the chief exports are
bananas, which do not come into serious
competition with any product of the United
States. The production OF bananas in Cuba
Is going to increase steadily. The trust,
or United Fruit Company, continues
to buy great tracts of land in Santiago
province. and now it is said to be contem-
plating fruit culture in Pinar del Rio prov
irce not far from the Yucatan channel.
Possibly some of its Central American pusl-
nes: will be transferred to Cuba.
Pineapple production and orange culture
arc increasing. year suftces Tor the
or five years. However. these and other
cit1us fruits are included in the products
on which tariff concessions will be sought
from the states. They will meet with sharp
opposition from the growers at nome. but
in small way they cut as much figure as
does sugar.
Aside from these matters of reciprocal
trade the mercantile classes OF the island
are anxious for readjust tment OF the
tariff schedules. In a general way the
policy adopted by the American authorities
of constructing a tariff so as TO encourage
the prompt recuperation of the country mas
been justified. Yet there has been disap-
po;ntment The low duties on breadstufs
and other. articles of necessity have not
been entirely successful in reducing the
prices to consumers. While the trust as n
ranle was unknown to the Spanards, as Il
fact it has existed for a long, long
; time. Trade agreements have enabled ,he
large dealers to keep up prices in spite OF
lower duties. A few great importers anu
4,.,.1t do
retail dealers. Their profits are not ir-
creased, but the wholesalers seem to get
The benefit of the lower rates.
Railway Material Imported.
A temporary concession made in the pro-
visional tariff for a reduction on railway
supplies has been taken advantage OF
in good faith, and Il great amount OF ma
teria has been imported, which is put to
early use and which aids the reconstruction
process. But in its, entirety the complaint
is that the tariff lacks scientific unity. Tee
plan of taking the old Spanish dscrimi-
mating tariffs and making a horizontal re-
duction and then of taking articles out oil
their classification and fixing an 3rDltrary
rate has caused great confusion. neIi-
can shippers complain of DISCRIMINATION
against them ir cOttonS and similar goods
The dispute on this point is technical and
rot of great popular interest, We: Il mas 10
be observed that many American films only
have themselves to blame for their poor
success in getting Cuban trade. Thy "d-
here to the hUtion that they are dealing
with semi-barbarOus people, and that It
is a favor to Fave the privilege Of buying
secondhand or damaged goods packed
without reference to the usages Of the
island trade or without regard to the wishes
OF consumers A few Americans who have
engaged in retail trade in Cuba do not give
much encoura cement to these complaints cf
the exporters 1t is their own @xpeslerce
| that many firms of the United States want
| the trade without taking into consideration
what the trade wants.
The work of formulating Il tariff Will he
the dU;y of the new Cuban congress when
ever it shall be elected, for until that time
the American military authority IS not like
" to enter upon the broad and uncertain
field of general tariff revision. But the
basis of commercial relations with me Unit
ed States must exist before a satisfactory
tariff can be formulated. That is why the
presen. disposition of the commercial class
es to recognize their own responsibility has
in il a hopeful sign for the prospective gov
ernment.
Commonwealth for Protection.
In its general tendency the Cuban COM
monweath is certain to be for protection
That Is seen In all the efforts now max
ing toward forming political parties 1t is
true that one party in it's declaration OF Its
principles declares in favor of leaning
toward Tree lTdOe, Dul III TIC dppiiSa
| of these principles which it formuates pro-
| lection crops out everywhere. In the days
| of Spanish rule all the political parties were
protectiOnists.
Protection. as understood in the island
| relates chiefly to agriculture. Few home
industries so-called, exist. Tanneries, shoe
and harness making and similar lines are
seen throughout the island, while in Ha-
vana there are some places for the manu-
| facture of confectionery and there is like
"a fl ct
and a rope factory, owned by American
capitalists. Cigar making is great indus
| try but 1t does not need protection, as the
| Cuban leaf made up where produced Is not
| In danger Of competition.
| What the Cuban political parties which
| are forming mean by protection of agricul-
| ture is to keep out tobacco of the cheap
| grades which could be exported again, and
| 10 encourage the production of sugar, cof-
| fee and fruits. Most of this comes more
| under the head of securing market than
| of fostering local production by artificial
| encoura cement. SO it gives the basis for a
| reciprocal trade agreement with the United
| States.
| Rmsis for Mutual Concessions.
| The Cuban government of the future or
| the constitutional convention OF the pres
| ent has somcth hing of basis for suggesting
| mutual concessions. Sometimes in the
| United States 1t is forgotten that the bread
| stufs and the packing house products Of
| lHt SllSSiSSil'lh NGlitS are tlie ClileI
| of consumption. Under the provisional
| tariff OF the War Department these are ad-
| mitted at low rates. 1t is the testimony of
| al! thai the market for bread stuffs and
| for packing house products is d growing
| one, hut It's growth would be checked If a
| high taGif were to be put in force as was
done by Spain when the reciprocity agree
nlent with the United States was termi-
| mated. Ia talking with several of the con-
! stitution makers I found they have this in
| mind. 1t sign that they We're not all
thinking only OF office or OF ideal republics
| but We're reaching solid ground None of
them threa tened the United States and
do not suppose that threat OF this kind
| would cause Il serious disturbance in Wash
ington, yet it brings to mlnd that the Gu
| ban government will not be entirely help
less If the american beet sugar interests
| and the tobacco growers and the fruit
| raisers should combine to prevent a trade
| agreement on the basis of reciprocity In
other words. Cuba has market to offer
| for the market which she must find in the
| United States and the United States can
not refuse concessions to Cuban sugar and
| other products while insisting on conces-
sions Tor flour, bacon and similar articles
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.
Copyright 1901.
Claims He il Church Member
I'm church member, and 1 don't