The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-02-12
Home to Roost Early.


ing home to roost little earlier than
even those who have been confident of
its return expected Two weeks had
scarcely elapsed after this country,
through the action of our congress, had
paid the mysterious "debt of honor" it
owed suffering Cuba before advices from
Havana came to the effect that Cuba
was about to eyade her part of the reci-
procity contract. There was some talk
then of action on the part.of this. govern
ment revoking the treaty but it soon
died away and was followed by SUI
pine attempt to defend the action of the
Cuban government in raising its tariff
rates, on the ground that she needs the
money and has the legal right to adopt
such course While this is small
hole for the apologists of Cuban recipro-
city to crawl into, it is nothing more
than those of us who have watched the
trend of events believed would be the
eventual outcome. tits not customary,
however, for country that has just
concluded treaty with another coun.
try to turn squarely around and repudi-
ate largely its own part of the compact,
but this is just what Cuba has done.
The Cuban congress has for some time
had under consideration tariff changes,
the intention being to nullify any ad-
vantage which the American reciprocity
arrangement was calculated to confer.
This tariff schedule has just been an
nounced by President Palma who is
authorized to increase up to 30 per cent
the import duties at Cuban customs
houses on all foreign articles. The in
European traders than to American, but
there is nothing surprising in this, be-
cause it has been well understood and
repeatedly stated by the opponents of
Cuban reciprocity, that the Cubans pre-
fer European goods at the same price.
The American importers hoped that
the 30 per cent increase, the maximum
rate allowed by the Cuban congress,
would have been placed on linens and
like goods which we cannot manufacture
in competition with Europe, but for
which cotton could be substituted to
some extent. Americans also hoped for
a more radical increase in the duties on
oottons, which would have enabled
them to compete with the advantage of
reciprocity against British cottons, but
in this as in other things they are dis
appointed.
tho maximum increase of 30 per cent is
placed on all of the main food imports
from the United States 1t was one of
the chief contentious of the supporters
of reciprocity that it would enlarge the
exports of the the farmers and manufac-
turers of the United States to Cuba,
but the reverse is the result. AS the
reductions provided for in the reciprocity
t:eaty range from 20 to 40 per cent it
will be observed that the Cuban increase
strikes an average and leaves the duties
practically where they were before any
reduction was made. Thus have the
crafty Cubans not only made good all
the losses sustained though reciprocity
concessions but they have done much
more than that; they have fixed an adj
ditional tariff of 30 per cent on all
articles not specified in the treaty. The
fruits of Cuban reciprocity are not leav-
ing particularly sweet taste in the
mouth of those who were so anxious for
the ratification of the treaty
As we have contended from the out
set, the reciprocity scheme was concoct-
ed in the interest of the Havemeyer
Sugar Refining Trust and the American
Tobacco Trust, and they are the only
ones who are likely to receive any
benefit therefrom except capitalists in
this country who have made large in
yestments in Cuban sugar and tobacco
properties.
The whole business was not only a
grievious national mistake but it was a
republican mistake. 1t was departure
from the traditional policy of the party
and violation of the platform pledges
of the party to foster and protect the
home sugar industry. Moreover, it was
legislation devised solely in the interests
Of the trusts and for that reason alone
na7ld have fallen downs Saginaw
h0u Herald.
,ourier 10
dnisss.setsssSir~ssfss !. :,
Deputv Labor COI7lmiSa1oner Mcleod