New-York tribune., 1902-06-14
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
TARIFF CONCESSIONS To CUBA DE-
MANDED BY BOTH DUTY AND
SELF-INTEREST.

Washington June 13.-The special messags
urging the passage of a Cuban reciprocity bill
sent to Congress by President Roosevelt to-day
is follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
I deem it important before the adjournment
Of the present session of Congress to call atten-
ton to the following expressions in the message
which in the discharge of the duty imposed
upon me by the constitution. sent TO Congress
on the first Tuesday of December last:
Elsewhere I have discussed the question Of
reciprocity. In the case Of Cuba. however
there are weighty reasons OF moralty anu OF
national interest why the pohcy should De heIu
to have a peculiar application and most
earnestly ask your attention 10 the wisdom
indeed. to the vital need-Of providing Tor a
substantial reduction in the tariff duties
Cuban imports into the United States Cuba
has in her constitution affirmed what We de-
sired, that she should stand, in International
matters in closer and more friendly relations
with US than with any other power, and we are
bound by every consideration OF honor anG ex-
pediency to pass commercial measures IN the
interest of her material wellbe1ng-
This recommendation was merely giving prac-
teal effect to President McKinIey's words.
when in his messages of December ). 1898. and
December ). 1899, he wrote:
II is important that our relations with this
character and commercial relations close
and reciprocal We have accepted a
trust the fuIfilment of which calls for the STERN
est integrity of purpose and the exercise of the
highest wisdom The new Cuba yet TO arise
from the ashes of the past must needs be bound
to us by ties of singular intimacy and strength
if it's enduring welfare is to be assured
The greatest blessing which come to Cuba
is the restoration Of her agricultural and in
dustral prosperity
Yesterday June H. 1 received by cable from
the American Minister in Cuba most earnest
appeal from President Palma for Legislative
relief before it is too late and (his) country
financially ruined"
The granting Of reciprocity with Cuba is a
proposition which stands entirely alone The
reasons for it far outweigh those for granting
reciprocity with any other nation, and are en-
trely consistent with preserving intact the pro-
tectfve system under which this country has
tbrfven so n1arveIIousIy. The present tariff law
was designed to promote the adoption Of such
reciprocity treaty. and expressly provides for
reduction not to exceed ~ per cent upon goods
coming from a particular country. leaving the
tariff rates on the same articles unchanged as
regards all other countries objection has been
made TO the granting Of the reduction on the
ground that the substantial benefit would not
go to the agricultural producer Of sugar but
would inure to the American sugar refiners-
In my Judgment provision can and should
he made which will guarantee Us against
this possibility. without having recourse to
n measure of doubtful policy such as a
bounty in the form of 81 rebate.
The question as 10 which if any Of the diff
ferent schedules of the tariff ought most prop
erIv to be revised does not enter into this mat
ter in any way shape We are concerned
with getting a friendly reciprocal arrangement
with Cuba This arrangement applies to all the
articles that cuba grows or produces 1t is not
in our power to determine what these articles
shall be. and any discussion of the tariff as it
affects special schedules or countries other than
Cuba is wholly aside from the subject matter
to which I call your attention
Some of our citizens oppose the lowering Of
the tariff on Cuban products. just as three years
ago they opposed the admission Of the Ha-
waiian fsIards lest free trade with them might
ruin certain OF our interests here. In the actual
event their fears proved baseless as regards
Hawaii and their aDprehensions as to the dam
age to any industry of our own because OF the
proposed measure of reciprocity with Cuba
seem to me equally baseless.
In NV Judgment m American industry Will
he hurt and many American industries VIII
he benefited by the proposed actions Ii is
O advantage as n nation that the grow
t,, cubup market should controlled by
American producers
The events following the war with spain ana
the prospective building of the isthHian canal
render il certain that must take in the
future far greater interest than hitherto In
what happens throughout the West Indies. Cen
,ra1 America and the adjacent coasts and
CORONATION CEREMONIES