New-York tribune., 1902-01-26
NEEDS OF CUBA URGENT.
COLONEL BLISS SHOWS HOW A MONOP-
OILY OF THE ISLANDS TRADE
NIGHT BE SECURED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1RuNE.l

tBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington. Jan. 25.-The Ways and Means
Committee to-day listened to some plain facts.
touched with tinge of pathos. concerning the
necessity, economic. political and moral of max
ing liberal tariff concessions to Cuba. The hear
ing was devoted wholly to representations in
favor of policy the part of this country
toward Cuba which would serve the double pur-
pose of reha abtating the island and preventing
annexation. Colonel Tasker H. Bliss officer
of the United States Army, who has been col
ector of customs at Havana ever since Amer
lean occupation established, told the COM
mttee that there could be such readjustment
OF the tariff relations between Cuba and the
United States would give to this country
practical monopoly of the trade and COM
OF the island and thus destroy Ger
man and English domination of that trade.
He described the terrible depression that
now exists in the Cuban sugar business,
and declared that this could be relieved
only by the tariff concessions sought. The
leading bankers of Havana were refusing
further credit to the planters, said Colonel Bliss.
and when this occurred it was sure sign OF
the distress Of the planters. He roughly esti-
mated the sugar industry OF the island at
S2O0O00OOO. and declared that about three
fourths OF the people depended in one way or
another the sugar business. He submitted
list of articles which differental OF about
33 per cent in favor of the United States as
against other countries would give this coun-
try the trade OF the island. He explained that
in reporting this to the War Department the
condition had been imposed him not to re-
duce the revenues OF Cuba. Under such cir
cumstances. he thought II would be necessary
first TO raise Cuba's tariff rates for purposes
OF revenue and then readjust them with a sufh-
fcient 6fferential 10 give the United States CON
troll of the trade. This. he said. was only one
of the plans proposed by the War Department.
When asked If he thought the people of Cuba
would vote for annexation, Colonel Bliss said
he thought they would, but that commercial
union with the United States would satisfy
item even better than annexation. His state
1nent seemed to make deeper impression on
the committee than that made thus far by any
one else.
PLEAS OF CUBAN DELEGATES.
Colonel Bliss was followed by several mem
bers of the Cuban delegation here representing
various lines of industry in the island Senor
Place grew eloquent and pathetic in his plea for
help to the island. For every dollar ask
from you we are willing to give you one in re-
turn" he said. Senior Mendoza called attention
to the well known fact that before the Cuban
Constitutional Convention Incorporated the
Platt amendment into the organic law Of the
island President Mckinley and members of the
Cabinet had promised the concessions now
sought, and, therefore, the object of the Platt
amendment would not be effected until these
concessions made.
In beginning his statement Colonel Bliss
disclaimed authority a sugar expert. and said
his knowledge was confined to that Of an OBJ
server for three years in an office dealing with
the trade of Cuba. This led him to hope that
if there was any change in the tariff ii would be
such adjustment as would throw into the
hands of the United States the large amount of
Cuban trade taken by foreign countries.
Chairman Payne asked Colonel Bliss to specify
what advantages the United States could gain
from Cuba, and called attention to the low tariff
rate Cuba imposed against the United States.
AMERICAN TRADE WOULD GAIN.
Colonel Bliss said the average ad valorem rate
was about 21 per cent and he presented tables
designed to show how tariff readjustment
could throw practically all Of the Cuban trade
into the hands of American producers. At pres
ent he said Cuba bought S66 900 600. of which
the United States furnished $2S,475,OOO, and the
balance of about S37, ,00O 900 came from foreign
countries on many articles, such as fresh beef,
railroad iron and other specified articles the
United States had practical monopoly of the
trade but on many other articles, totalling
about S45 100000 the United States had only
$4,000 600 Of the trade. by reasonable mod
ifcation of the Cuban tariff said Colonel Bliss,
"at least Sc per cent of this trade can be thrown
to the United States
The members of the committee questioned
Colonel Bliss on the details of the proposed
readjustment Representative Newlands, OF
Nevada suggested that without political control
of Cuba there might be servile labor TO compete
with American labor. He added; Are the
Cuban people prepared to come into political
relations with the United States?"
ANNEXATION SENTIMENT IN CUBA.
'I think great majority Of the Cubans are
ready to come in,'' Colonel Bliss replied.
LAS Territory or a State?" asked Mr.. New
lands.
.'They would be glad to come in as State or
a Territory or under the military authority
almost any way in order to come under the au-
thority of the United States"
IF invited to come in first as Territory,
then as a State would this be accepted"
II think 1t would.
Colonel Bliss said he thought commercial union
with Cuba would postpone political union. Per-
Continued third page.
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