The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-26
TOGET CUBA'S TRADE
COL. TAsKER BLISS OUTLINES A
PLAN.
WAS COLLECTOR AT HAVANA.
READJUsT CUBAN AS WELL AS
AMERICAN TARIFFS.

Cuba Now Buys About $4,000, 900
F-Om Foreign Countries as
against s2s,475,OOO From United
stafes-In Return for Tariff Fa-
vors which she seeks She Might
Give Us a Preferential Rate on
Certain Lines of GoOds-COI Bliss
Thinks Majority of Cubans Ready
to Come Under United states.
Washington Jan. 25.-Col. Tasker
Bliss, the United States Army officer,
detailed as collector of customs at Ha-
vana, was before the Ways and Means
Committee to-day concerning Cuban
reciprocity. In opening his statement
he discIaimed authority as a sugar ex-
pert. and said his knowledge was con-
fined to that OF an observer for three
years in an official position, dealing
with the trade Of Cuba. This had led
him to hope that If there was any
change in the tariff it would be such
an adjustment as would throw into
the hands Of the United States the
large amount. Of Cuban trade now
taken by foreign countries.
Speaking first Of the condition Of the
Cuban industry, he said it was greatly
depressed. The leading Havana banks
were refusing further credits to the
sugar planters, and when this occurred
it was a sure evidence Of the distress
of the plantations. He roughly esti-
mated the sugar industry of the ISL
and at s2OO, OOO, 600 and said about
three-fourths of the people were de-
pendent in one way or another on the
sugar industry.
Chairman Payne asked Col. Bliss to
specify what advantages the United
States could gain from Cuba, and Mr..
Payne also called attention to the low
rate Cuba imposed against the United
States
Col Bliss said that the average ad
valorem rate was about q per cent,
and he presented tables, designed to
show how a tariff readjustment could
throw practically all OF the Cuban
trade into the hands of American pro-
ducers. At present, he said, Cuba
bought S66, 600. 900, of which the United
States furnished S2S, $4,000, and the
balance of about $37 900, 900 came from
such as fresh beef, railroad iron and
other specific articles. the United States
had practical monopoly of the trade.
But on many other articles, totaling
a bout S45, 600, 900, the United States had
but $40, 100000 of the trade.
by a reasonable modification of the
Cuban tariff" said Col Bliss, "at least
Sc per cent. of this trade can be thrown
10 the United States
To Control Cuban Trade.
He submitted a list of articles on
which a differential of about 80 per
cent. favorable to the United States as
against other foreign countries would
give us the trade. In reporting on This
to the War Department the condition
had been imposed upon him not TO re-
duce the revenues Of Cuba. Under such
circumstances, he thought it would be
necessary to first raise Cuba's tariff
rates, for purposes of revenue, and then
readjust them with a sufficient differ
entail to give the United States the
control of the trade This he put for
ward only tentatively as one of the
several plans proposed to the War De-
partment.
The members of the committee ques-
toned Col. Bliss on the details of the
proposed readjustment. In the course
OF the examination Representative
Newlands of Nevada suggested that
without our political control of Cuba
there might be servile labor to COM
pete with American labor. He added:
Are the Cuban people prepared to
come into political relations with the
United States ?"
Il think a great majority of the Gu
bans are ready to come in Col. Bliss
replied.
"As a territory or a state?" asked
Mr.. Newlands.
They would be glad to come in as
a state or a. territory or under the
military authority, almost any way
in order to come under the authority
of the United States"
"If invited to come in first as a
territory, then as a state would this
be accepted?"
II think it would"
Continuing on this topic Col. Bliss
said he thought commercial union with
Cuba would postpone political union.
Personally he was not convinced of
the wisdom of annexation. The feel
ing in Cuba was one Of readiness 20
accept any conditions the United States
might impose.
Louis Place and Mr.. Mendoza of the
Cuban delegation were heard briefly.
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