The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-12-20
CUBA AND RECIPROCITY.

patriotic on the part of Hawaii to put
no obstacles in the way OF Cuba when
she seeks to profit at our expense. We
have been helped as Cuba wants to b.,
and hence we should be Kind enough to
give n competitor n chance. Beautiful
as such sentiments are, they do not ap-
peal to the practical mind in This ma
terial day with the force they might at
tain in the millennium. They are nu-
nifcent, but they are not business. 1t
is the commercial rule in this world not
to weaken ones advantages. and those
which Hawaii enjoys she would be
Qulxotic to share with some other deal
er across the way. Nor is the question
one of patriotism. Competitive methods
imply no disloyalty If they did the
United States today would be seeth-
ing cauldron of unpatrlotc schemes.
Self-preservation is the irst law of
nature Cuba has 45,s72 square miles
against our 6G40. Her soil Is rot worn
out labo" seems to ne abunG"rG ther"
is no lack of water and Cubn's latitude
Is the same as our own. The Antilles
are 1000 miles nearer the mElnland thaE
we; they are within 800 -liles 90 the
|
distance of 5000 miles direct OF # more
than double that span via the ,iorn.
To compete with her will be costly and
perrlous Self-preservation requires
that we keep her out of free Ameri-
can business II we can.
What are the prospects? 1t seams
true that If all things were left to the
President, cuba would come in, but rec
Toe, ,,,ttG IN ~
first by the Senate and notifications Of
the tariff call for the collective wisdom
of both houses. The temper cf the
leaders of legislation is more significant
for the time therefore, than the temper
of the executive. On that account. we
attach to the views of the Hon. Serene
Payne chairman of the House Commit
tee on Ways and Means, an Importance
exceeded by those of no other nubic
man who has thus far spoken on the
Cuban subject. He says in an inter-
view:
"If we revised our tariff law to allow
Cuban sugar TO come In free, or at re-
duced rate, we would. by reason OF the
most favored nation clause have to adj
nit sugar at the same rate from every
nation with which we have a treaty. That
would mean practically the same reduc-
ton to all sugar producing countries. on
the other hand, Cuba has no government
with which we can make a reciprocal ar
rangement, and 1t Is not to be expected
that our people are going TO give her u
reduction on her sugar, tobacco and spir-
its without getting something in return.
But with whom are we to treat in nego-
tiating reciprocity arrangement
Mr. Payne expressed some surprise at
the demands which the committee now in
this country from Cuba are making In
the way of tariff concessions. He said
that when like committee was here last
year its members called on him as chair
man of the ways and means committee.
They said at that time that they wanted
some reciprocal arrangement on sugar,
continued Mr.. Payne. They spoke of the
proposed kasson treaty with some of the
West India Islands, which made n re-
duction of 10 per cent on sugar, and sad
they ought to get as much as that.
, told them at that time that If we mad,
any treaty with any country reducing the
. duty on sugar had no doubt that Cuba
would fare equally well, although tina
y was a question for the future. The com
mittee expressed itself as entirely salts
: fled with the outlook. Although l hav,
= not seen any of the members of the com
o mittee that Is here now, I understan,
o through the newspapers that they arr
q asking for free raw sugar and that all o
"A greater part of the duties on Tobacco,
he taken off; also that the duty on spirit
:, be entirely taken OFF, and that the spirit
u imported here from Cuba be exempt from
the internal revenue duties, which GU
l. own manufacturers have to pay" In thi
connection Mr. Payne remarked that 4
seemed that the Cubans had progressed
considerably in their desires since las
year
While pointing out the supreme din
, Culties in the way of tariff aid u Cuba
= MIR. Payne implies, of course, that !
= reciprocal treaty may come when cub;
4 gets "A government. That political sys
Y TEN is now in it's primary stages an'
e Maso and Estrada Palma are rival as
h pirants for the Presidential post Blu
d in the course of Mr.. Paynes talk n
o raises one point which may prove a pc
Y tent weapon of defense in the hands %
e the American sugar men liH s!.o"
$ that other great interests, beslle
- those of mainland sugar growers ar
v arrayed against Cuban reciprocity; tina
the tobacco and spirits men are alarme
$ and propose to fight True, the Cuban
r may drop the tobacco and liquor isSu
o for the nonce so as to reduce the pres
t ent strength of the enemy; but ii " $
@ plain, If the Cubans succeed in gett!n;
ii free entry for sugar they will make us
IL of the precedent thus established L
a seek like privileges for their other sta
g pies, that the tobacco and liquor re'
h will have to make their battle now. |
Il: 1t not fair to believe that their com
h bined leverage will prevail against III
: purely sentimental plea for Cuba?
The views of General Grosvenor ar
= also of striking interest. In the cours
= of a Washington Star interview h
= says:
u "A fail TO see that we are under obliga
tons to shower benefits upon the Gu
bans at the expense of our own people,
he said in response to a request for hi
t opinion upon proposed Cuban reciprocity