New-York tribune., 1902-08-13

CUBAN TARIFF ANDAHERIC4N INDUSTRIES
There was a great to-dO raised not long ago
against the scheme of reciprocity with Cuba. on
the ground that il would prove injurious to
American industries. We argued at the time
that such opposition was mistaken and that
reciprocity would not hurt but greatly benefit
the farmers manufacturers and merchants OF
the United States. Let us see now what later
developments indicate. \ little item of news.
obscurely published amid what seemed far more
important matters. announced the other day
that the Cuban Senate had authorized the Pres
dent to make certain changes in tariff rates.
1t will be worth while, in this silly season,
to examine the character of the changes which
are TO be made and see what is likely to be
their effect upon United States interests.
Boots and shoes come first on the list. On
them the tariff is TO be increased by from 10 TO
IL per cent. Last year sold Cuba S34oooo
worth under a tariff of about 81 80 dozen
pairs Our sales were much smaller than they
should have been. Under this increased tariff
they are not likely to be increased. On coal
there is now TO be tariff of 25 cents ton.
Hitherto il has been on the free list. Last year
we sold Cuba $4,000 tons The imposition OF
a tariff viii scarcely tend to increase our sales.
On fresh beef the increase will be 90 per cent,
a tariff of 81 90 a hundred kiIos, or a little
more than two cents a pound. Increasing that
rate TO three cents is not likely TO Increase our
sales. On hams there will be 30 per cent In
crease. We sold Cuba last year S614O00 worth,
at tariff of So 30 hundred kilos. Raising
the rate from S. 80 to IS p will scarcely stimu-
late trade On bacon. salt pork and lard the
increase will be 100 per cent. Our sales last
wear were. respectively, S456000 s5S4,000 and
So 81, 900 worth, at 81. 50 so and 81 so tariff
Under twice those rates are not likely TO
sell more On cheese and condensed milk the
increase will be 100 per cent OF the former
we sold Cuba last year only S21SOO worth. or
little more than onethird as much as three
years before. under a tariff of 50 a hundred
kilos At SO our sales may well drop to zero
OF the latter we sold Cuba S4O6000 worth. at 10
per cent ad valorem. There is not likely TO be
q great increase at 90 per cent rate. On
butter the Increase will be 20 per cent Last
year we sold CUBA only S21,0 900 worth, at ST the
hundred kilos tariff At S11 90 tariff we are not
likely to sell more. On beans and peas and
potatoes the increase will be 100 per cent. Last
year our sales were. respectively, S336,oOO and
S2S1. 900. at q tariff of 81 10 and so cents the
hundred kilos. The raising Of those rates to
So 20 and 81 will not benefit American farm
per cent Our sales last year were over s., 2,0OO
600 worth. under a tariff of 81 80 the hundred
kilos At IS we cannot expect to sell more
On corn the increase will be 233 per cent Our
sales were SS11, 900 worth, at 80 cents the hun
dred kilos How can we hope TO increase them
at 81 tariff?
Note too, that we are not only to suffer this
Increase but we are to lose the reduced rates
we might have had. and the preferential rates,
too. For Cuba was ready and eager to reduce
her tariff rates so per cent to alone, while
keeping them at the old figure TO all the rest
Of the world. Thus she offered to let in our
beef at s. %, while charging all others 81 90.
We refused, and now she Is going to tax it
Sc -. She would have taken hams from us at
So 70. while taxing others So so, but now she
viii tax OURS IS 25. She was ready to buy our
potatoes at a % cent tariff, while levying 90
cents against all others. We declined. and now
she will levy 81 against US. She wanted to buy
our wheat -four at duty of 10 cents. against
81 so levied on all competitors Now instead
of 75 cents our -four must pay So She would
have taken corn from us at a tariff of only 10
cents, while taxing all other corn 80 cents.
Now she will levy 81 against ours. Under reci-
procity our beans and peas would have had a
monopoly Of her market at tariff of 80 cents.
other lands at tariff of 81 20.
If some European country should propose
thus to raise the tariff on goods there would
be mighty outcry, and the State Department
would he besieged with petitions to use it's in
1uence to get the prohibitive rates repealed
But here In the case of sister republic lying
almost within sight of our shores. we have re-
fused TO accept a reduction OF rates. and have
literally driven her to make an increase Of
rates which viii unquestionably tell heavily
against our trade with her, and will tend to
shut our farmers and other producers out of
her market Under the new rates she will
doubtless secure larger revenue than before.
Certainly il Is TO be hoped she will. That is
what she is raising the rates for. But II is
scarcely less certain that American farmers
and others will either sell her less than they
have been selling. or have to sell for lower
prices than they have been getting In either
case yye are inclined to think they will keenly
realize that the refusal OF reciprocity was cal
culated not to protect and benefit American in
dustry. but rather 70 injure and TO cripple it
On the one hand American farm products were
TO be admitted to Cuba under low tariff. with
no competition: on the other. they are to be
petition with all the world Between the two
conditions II should not he difficult for
rational man TO make choice and TO make a |
different choice from that dictated by the beet |
sugar Boxers"