New-York tribune., 1902-03-22
FREE CUBAN HIDES.

The Congressman who in fear of opening up
the tariff question have delayed the granting
of reciprocity to Cuba until the whole country is
becoming aroused to the inspection Of the tariff
and fixing its attention upon such Of its sched-
ules outgrOwn may hereafter have reason
10 remember the warning given them that the
way TO keep the tariff from becoming trouble
some issue was TO give prompt relief to Cuba
before anybody had a chance to make the Ding
ley law a target in the name of justice and hu-
manity. 4 few weeks ago concessions on sugar
and tobacco were all that anybody asked, but
the discussion of possible tariff changes
raised by their predictions that such changes
would be inevitable if Cuba should be relieved
has brought forward additional schemes One,
which it is just reported will be proposed by
Mr. Roberts, of Massachusetts, is for the free
admission of hides of cattle raised in the island
of Cuba.
1t would be unfortunate to have any amend
ment of this kind further delay reciprocity
measure admitting Cuban sugar at a reduced
rate, even though the plan itself may have
merit The hides schedule of the Dingley law is
frequently referred to by the friends of that law
itself of the features in ii which at a
favorable time might wisely be revised. Doubt
less it was intended to benefit the farmers; its
practical result has been to ruin a part Of our
export trade in leather goods by raising the
price of a class of raw material not produced
here, and it is doubtful if it has helped anybody
but the big packing houses. which have been
able TO get little better figure for their hides
without giving any more to farmers for their
cattle. 1t happens that the cattle of the United
States do not produce as thick hides as the
coarser cattle of Venezuela and Argentina For
heavy betting that thick hide is absolutely nee
of the United States exported large quantities
of such belts TO Europe. With the imposition of
a tax on these hides, instead of being driven to
substitute domestic hides, they We're compelled
to buy the South American hides at higher
figure. increasing the cost Of belts for domestic
use. and as their English competitors got those
same hides without duty, they could put the
finished article on the European market so much
cheaper that the American betting manufactur-
ers abandoned their export business in that line
of goods.
Since the revolution Cuba has been largely re-
stocked with cattle from Venezuela and there
is reason to believe that the island under the
stimulus of free entry for its heavy hides to the
United States. might furnish our factories with
the raw material they need to give us cheap
betting at home and chance to sell betting
abroad without in the least hurting the cattle
ralsers OF the Cnlted States, whose product does
not come in competition with the South Ameri-
can thick hides. Thus Cuba might find a profit
able new industry and the United States get
free some raw material which is not produced
In this country.
Attractive, however, as is this plan. 1t would
probably be better for its advocates to put it
aside for the present. The important thing now
is TO keep faith with Cuba and relieve its press
ing necessities. Keeping faith means giving re-
lief promptly when 1t is needed Better a simple
bill granting few of the most important things
at once than a larger measure of reciprocity
after long discussion. Nothing should be per-
mitted to divert the friends of Cuba from imme-
diately pushing through the House the bill of
the Ways and Means Committee.