Evening journal., 1918-01-12
RuY poRTo RIco coFFFEf

NKT should increase our purchases Of coffee from
! w our little possession. Porto Rico.
The Porto Roan legislature has Just appropriated
$4,000 to extend the market for coffee and commits
sioner viii open Offices in New York city who VIII
encourage consumption Of the Porto Rican berry.
While he IS extong the virtues Of the insular coffee
the Department Of Commerce could commercially worl,
in conjunction with him by boosting our coffee trade
with Porto Rico q sound commercial policy helpful
to Of our insular possessions.
At the time took possession Of Porto Rico that
island exporting 100000 pounds OF coffee an
nuay and this trade grew until reached its highest
point in 1915 when 100000 pounds Of coffee worth
over 100000 sold in the markets Of the world
Spain. France, Belgium and other European countries
Porto dcos best customers for coffee while the
United states has been a relatively poor customer In
1913 took 77l0OO pounds Of the Porto Rcan product
during the fiscal year 1917 we took 2i2OOO pounds
our largest purchase in 1915 when took 100000
pounds.
The coffee importation Of the United states has grown
wonderfully during the nve-year period i93i9i7-from
s630O0O00 pounds for the former 320O00OO pounds
for the latter year. Practically all coffee imported is
consumed here During this period purchases from
Brazil have increased about II per cent from 639OOO
600 to 9O70O00OO pounds from Colombia nearly 20 per
cent or from 100000 to 100000 pounds: from the
Central American States nearly 800 per cent or from
100000 TO i270O0OO0 pounds and from Venezuela
TO 1916 almost 50 per cent, from 5OOOOOOO to 73OOO
600 pounds in 1916 Imports from Venezuela fell OF con-
SlderaDly last we nave SIgnted the homegrown
coffee and bought the foreign product and that is not
wise trade policy.
II is not the policy which the Allies particularly Eng
land and France have adopted with respect to their
colonial possessions. The plans OF those two countries
outlined at The Paris Pact in 1916. and which have
been in process Of perfection that time contem-
plate among other things that the parent country shall
supply It's needs far possible from the products Of
its dependencies This has particularly in view and
sem-raw products And turn the parent country
expects 70 enjoy first preference in the markets Of It's
dependencies for manufactured goods
Commerce Of this sort win tighten the bonds OF
friendship between the power and her wards and will
go far toward assuring control Of certain basic raw
materials, control which will be Of weighty conse-
quence in the trade competition which is to follow the
establishment Of peace.
our dependence Brazil for the bulk Of our coffee
has Ions been attended by exasperatng conditions
Naorlzaion restriction OF acreage and other means of
holding up price have been practced by the Brazilian
Last is said to have been the record
one Brazilian coffee production yet no one in America
will profit by it in the way of cheaper coffee. The
Brazilian Government win attend to that.
And depend Brazil for from 20 TO IS per cent
suggested that duty Of two cents a pound on coffee
would bring Brazil to time. incidentally it would pro-
luce s26OO0OOO revenue without affecting the price TO
The consumer And it might far to encourage the use
of Porto Rlcan coffee in the United States
In any event It is TO be hoped that the efforts OF Porto
Rco's coffee booster In New York will be successful in
Increasing the amount Of coffee purchased by us from
one Of family.