The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-02-12
CUBAN RECIPROCITY
AS AN INVESTMENT
Would Increase Our Com
merCe, 1t is Declared.
A MONOPOLY OF ISLAND TRADE
without Tariff Concessions, II = As
serted. We May Lose What Little
Business We SuII Transact With
the Country-ExpOrts Failing on.

Friends Of Cuba having failed to move
the leaders - Speaker Henderson and
Messrs. Payne. DalzelI and Grosvenor-by
the plea that the United States owes tariff
concessions as a moral obligation 60 the
island. are preparing to meet their favor
lite argument. that reciprocity with Cuba
will not pay"
Supporters Of the Cuban concessions in
the Administration are more determined
than ever that all the facts shall be
known and are prepared 10 demonstrate.
in the same cold-bloCded. dollars-aud-
cents-spirit prevailing in the WAYS and
Means Committee. that reciprocity with
Cuba would be a good investment. Ieav-
ing out Of the question entirely the obliga-
tion OF the United States to see Cubs
in a prosperous condition. and to make
I'D TO her what she loses in binding her
self to make no preferential tariffs with
other countries.
Here is the result Of an examination as
TO what reciprocity with Cuba would mean
under the arrangement that the Admins
tratiOn has in contemplation
Eject of Reciprocity.
ON duties the United States would cen
cede TO Cuba. say. 90 l-3 per cent. On
sugar the duty is $50 a ton The Cuban
sugar crop this year is estimated at SOO.-
Geo tons The total concessions on sugar
to Cuba therefore. would be s., coo. Geo.
In return for this the United States
would get trade with Cuba which she
does not now enjoy exceeding that
amount many times. Here is a rough
calculation:
The total imports to Cuba last year
amounted TO Se6lj7.642. OF this amount
$2S. AIS .O01 went from the United States
while S57 .592. Gal went from other coun-
tries.
According TO a very careful estimate
made by Col. '.asker II. Bliss. L. s. A.,
Collector Of Customs for Havana, had the
reciprocal arrangement which Cuba and
the Admins tratiOn are seeking TO bI ing
ebOut been in operation during the Last
year the amount Of goods furnished by
foreign countries would have been re-
duced SIS AZ, 900.
Would Get Monopoly.
Thus the Uaited states would have
practically molopolized the trade OF
Cuba Il would have had 500 100000 and
other countries s. ,263. C42.
IL is further estimated that the trade
Of Cuba under prosperous conditions,
Eucn as reciprocity WOULD DIlnAs hOllu
Immediately grow from 500 coo 600 to
300. 900 900. Colonel Bliss estimates that
the United Suites would have under reel
prOcity Sc per cent OF the Cuban trade, or
in prosperous times $S6. OOO, coo. while all
other countries would have Sl4 GOO 600.
This trade would probably in two years
reach $50 690, 900, Of which the American
farmer and manufacturer would have as
their share $139, 900, O00
This is the Cuban situation reduced TO
business basis and taken from ofris }
figures. It removes Oh -7~''"1 as y
49, pay
Present Trade Menaced.
There is another aspect 10 which Messrs
Henderson. Payne. Daizell. and Grosve-
nor are closing their eyes This is that
reciprocity is necessary in order TO hold
the Cuban trade we now have.
The Division of Insuar Affairs Of the
War Department has prepared a compare
tive statement. which shows that the
trade If the United States with Cuba is
decreasing. while that Of foreign coun-
tries is increasing.
For the seven months ending July 81
last. the imports Of the United States de-
creased per cent over the correspond
ing period Of the preceding year and in
creased per cent over 1899.