New-York tribune., 1902-12-28
CUBAN RECIPROCITY PROPOSALS.

There are rumorS of possible opposition to the
ratification of The Cuban reciprocity treaty.
This will we arc told. come from those inter
ested in single United States industry, TO wit.
beet sugar making. and will be based upon the
supposed injury TO that industry which such
reciprocity will effect. We have already and
frequently cited the expert testimony of one OF
the leaders of that industry, 10 the effect fhat
it would not be injured by reciprocity or even
by absolute free trade in competing commodi-
ties We may add that recent report reveals
the interesting fact that at least one of the
prominent establishments in that industry has
this year been able to pay % per cent dividends,
a fact which seems TO indicate that it might
manage TO exist profitabIy with trife less pro-
lection than it now receives.
But there are others. The United States
grows other things than heets, and manufact-
ures other things than sugar. Many of these
other things i sells to Cuba. 1t does not sell
them to that island in as large quantities as 1t
should. or as Cuba would like it TO. That is
partly because the Cuban tariff is so high as to
be a barrier against some of them, and partly
because other countries such as Great Britain
and Germany are able to undersell US. In con-
sidering the reciprocity question, therefore, 1t
will be well TO consider not only the continued
prosperity of an industry which has boasted
that its prosperity is secure against all possible
tariff changes, but also the prosperity of nu-
meKous other industries agricultural and manu-
featuring, which are in pressing need of en-
larged markets.
There is wheat for example. We are selling
Cuba some 100000 worth year. Would 1t
not be worth while and would it not be profit
able TO us, to have the present high Cuban tariff
thereon reduced one-ffth in our exclusive favor?
There meats of various kinds Cuba now
buys nearly S6,G00,000 worth year from us.
Might not 20 per cent reduction of tariff rates,
specially TO them, be advantageous to our cattle
and hog raisers: There is coal We sell Cuba
81 010 600 worth year. It used to be on the free
list. but few months ago Cuba put on tariff.
Might it not be a good thing for us to have that
tariff materially reduced? Here are a few
other items: Corn. ~ 1000; cattle s1.250OO0:
cotton goods ssoo,o0oi eggs, s477.OOo; iron and
STEEL S3,6O0.000: leather goods S465. 600; min
eral oil. s575.0oo milk, S406O0O; vegetables,
S605, 900; lumber and woodenware, S1,500,0OO.
We might continue the list much further.
These are all great United States industries,
touching agriculture and manufactures more
closely and at many more points than does the
single one Of beet sugar. In many of them
American trade is suffering seriously from Eu-
ropean and other competition. In every one OF
them there should be an extension of our trade
and might be under tariff reduced in our ex-
elusive favor. Such reduction of tariff rates to
the extent of from 20 to 40 per cent Cuba now
offers us in return for reduction of our tariff
of only 20 per cent Surely such an offer is
worthy of acceptance. There is no proof there
is no considerable indication. that anything In
the scheme would prove detrimental to single
United States industry-though even if it should
bear hardly upon one or two it might still be
commended and approved on the wise principle
that the object of government is TO secure the
greatest good for the greatest number 1t is as
certain anything can be In such matters that
if would greatly benefit a number Of important
and widespread industries.