Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-05
CUBAN RECIPROCITY
Result Of One Years Opera
tiOnS.
AN INCREASE OF TRADE
FEARS OF INJURY TO HOME PRO
DUCTS NOT REALIZED.
The Coming Conference Will Have
Definite Figures to Go Upon
New German Tariff.

When far-sighted and philanthropic states
men were engaged in the efforts which pro-
duced the legislation establishing recproc-
ity between the United States and Cuba
they were constantly assailed with loud out
cries from the American beet sugar trust
and the Tobacco trust, echoed by the highly
protected industries with community of in
terests, against the alleged threatened on
saught upon home products AT the time
the long headed old men in the Senate and
House insisted that home producers would
not be hurt by the proposed reciprocal ar
rangement. and that general commerce
would be aided.
The bureau of statistics has just pub
lished a report of the operations of reci-
procity for one year. 1t vindicates the
prophecies of the wise men in Congress as
to the advantage to American commerce in
general There reports at hand
showing that any of the American indus
tries are languishing by reason of the in
crease in commercial relations. The reci-
procity agreement went into effect Decem-
ber y, 1903, and the bureau of statistics re-
ports for the calendar year 1904. presenting
full years business from the inception of
the agreement.
Increase Of Trade.
The increase of trade is figured on a per-
centage basis. 1t is shown that the
United States furnished 42.5 per cent of the
total merchandise imports in 1904,
against 40.5 per cent the previous year
Great Britain, who had a ong-established
trade, fell off from II per cent to 1874 per
cent.
Food stuffs cotton goods, machinery,
boots and shoes, paper, wool and textiles
furnished the principal articles of trade
with Cuba. The gain in cotton goods was
81
sented 10 per cent of the total consumption
of that class of goods, Great Britain and
Spain still controlling the balance. The in
crease of share in Cubas trade is
steady and will be considered gratifying, in
view of the fact that the Americans had to
break into long established trade with
peculiar customs and prejudices to meet.
But the point is that this report gives an
object lesson of reciprocity in actual opera
ton. The approaching conference of repre-
sentatives of American Industries at Chi
cago, August 16 and II, which is to en-
deayor to arouse public interest In reci-
procity will have some definite figures to
present as to one practical experiment In
reciprocity.
Fear of New German Tariff
AS pointed out in The Star heretofore, the
main stimulus back of the calling of this
conference Is the lively fear of producers
of the middle west that the new German
tariff will shut out vast volumes Of Ameri-
can products. that other countries will
eventually follow suit unless commercial
arrangements of reciprocal nature are
made. There is no question about the Ger
man tariff
Germany buys from the United States
about S15, 100000 worth of breadstuffs. The
new tariff raises the duty on corn from 10
cents a bushel to 81 cents; wheat, from
% cents to 40 cents bushel; on -four, from
$l.55 to 81 per barrel. Germany takes from
NIO,, ,i1t1
nually, and the tariff is raised on this from
16 per cent TO 20 per cent and on oil 1t Is
increased 20 per cent.
1t will be observed that the new German
tariff will hit the agricultural Industries
hardest. The western stock raisers and
corn growers are now up in arms, backed
by the agricultural implement manufac-
turers and some boards of trade, on a cru
sade for amelioration of threatened rigor-
Gus conditions that will confront their
products abroad.
1t is as yet problematical what effect the
conference will have upon public sentiment.
The Protective Tariff League, the organlza-
tion of the highly protected Industries, sue
ceeded in hitting the movement a pretty
severe blow at its very borning, by pro-
nouncing it democratic propaganda and
slapping a free trade label on It's front.
That was sufficient to scare the adm1nstra-
ton into keeping hands off and may
frighten prominent republicans away from
the meeting. The Protective Tariff League
keeps a sharp lookout on its interests and is
not calculated to overlook any bets of that
prominence. but copper them at the outset.
Russia's Probable Action.
An inconspicuous announcement in the
last issue of the daily consular and trade
reports may presage an event that will be
of Importance to the commercial world 1t
is to the effect that Russia is willing to
withdraw her retaliatory duties on Ameri-
can goods and that a settlement may be
announced during M. Whites presence in
America. as he will be consulted about the
final agreement