The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-03-01
SUGAR
Especial to the Advertiser)

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. e.-Hawaii-
az have little idea of the powerful
fgat being made for the admission Of
| Cuban sugar free OF duty. y tremen-
dous lobby is working in Washington,
and the Cubans and the sugar trust
have enlisted some OF the greatest
newspapers OF the United States. One
| OF the most active in the cause of
| Cuba is the New York Journal of Com
merce, an influential business daily A
sample OF the methods used to arouse
sympathy for Cuba is shown in the
following article from this journal:
Many fragmentary reports have re-
Gently appeared of the desperate in
dustrial and commercial conditions IN
! Cuba. In order to obtain a conserva-
tive idea of the exact situation and TO
ascertain the sentiment of prominent
| commercial interests of the island as TO
the need of tariff concessions by this
government, representative of this
journal called yesterday on a number
of we'll known New York firms. bankers
and commission houses directly inter
ested in trade with the island and who
have exceptionally good sources of in
/ formation on such matters Cable
grams and letters of recent date sent
by some of the most reliable and Oldest
firms in the island were shown by the
parties consulted. The situation in
Cuba. according to these advices, is
almost desperate. Business in the ISL
and is almost at standstill, and I'M
mediate relief is necessary to avoid
financial disaster. Cuban planters are
unable to market their sugars at re-
( raj
to the uncertainty of favorable legisla-
ton by the United States. Cuban cred
| it has become impaired, some of the
most reputable firms are threatened
| with financial ruin, and unless help is
given at an early date. it is said, they
will have the greatest difficulty to sur
vive the present crisis
J. NJ Ceballos, OF the banking and
shipping firm of j. M. Ceballos d CO..
said: Zone cannot emphasize too
strongly the urgent need of granting
trade concessions to Cuba Unless this
government gives relief at an early
date the island Will be plunged into
bankruptcy. starvation and ruin, and
all the horrible conditions surrounding
people in such desperate circum-
stances. They need only little help to
tide them over. but that help must
following cablegram to the Cuban
Minister of Agriculture. Lacoste:
please cable fully my expense your
opinion existing economic situation.
and II immediate relief through reduc-
ton of tariff Cuban imports here indis-
pensable to avoid disturbances, finan-
cfaI and otherwise We have received
the following reply. signed Lacoste':
FINANCIAL. DISASTER THREAT
ENED.
Economic situation bad; immediate
relief indispensable to avoid financial
disaster
Ceballos &c CO. are also in receipt of
letters from leading firms in Cuba de-
scribing the conditions existing in the
island One of the most prominent
commercial houses Of Matanzas,
writes:
THE people are in the depths Of de-
spair, and with good reason. because
with the present prices of sugar the
most terrible misery and want will
come upon them with its horrible con-
sequences. Fortunately. the noble sen
timent of the American people has ia
ken notice of this. and in doing another
work OF humanity they Will merit the
blessing of the working element, who |
otherwise would be condemned to suf- |
fer the most terrible evii-that of hum |
ger. Business is now at standstill |
Charles Rabadan. of James B. Car
berry & Co, is in receipt of letters and |
cablegrams from Cuba showing the |
necessity OF immediate action in the
matter of a reduction of duties on Gu
ban sugar and tobacco. a cablegram |
from the President of the Economic |
Society of Cardenas. dated January 10.
follows:
I'VE thank you for your efforts in be-
half of a reduction OF the present du-
ties levied on Cuban sugar. and we
urge our friends to persevere in their
laudable efforts to obtain q rebate on
duties now levied. The fate of Cuba
and of her people depends on the out
come of this issue
Following is an extract from 81 per-
sonal letter to Mr.. Rabadan from
member of one of the Oldest and
strongest commercial houses in Ma
.anzas, written on Jan. 16:
TRADE CONDITIONS.
1.-THE economic situation OF this island
s most discouraging. as the cost OF
of sugar to planters is great
ar than the price al which the commod-
ty can be marketed. / trust that your
great and strong nation Will make
iome reduction in the duty on sugar
immediate relief is necessary and ur-
cent. Sugar is being stored, ware
louses are filling up. and it is almost
to obtain advances on ware
rouse receipts. An immediate rebate in
luties would bridge US over until such
ime as new government is installed
md is I'm a position to make reciproc-
~ treaty with the United States-a
reaty which could be negotiated on
erus most favorable to your country.
)ur future is in your hands; it is for =
-ou to dictate the terms. The United {
tates is the only country where Cuba
an market her sugar. l cannot bring
myself TO believe that the United
states viii refuse the relief sought for, I
hereby running our chief industry and
educing thousands Of our agricultural
lasses TO want and wretchedness."
Errh nc