Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-27
WHO WILL GAIN.

1t is said that the Importation of free sugar
from Cuba and IaSisntlsn, when added to our
domestic prOdI 1.-The importation
| from the Sand1 All short of
the crop needtr tiOn, and
| that the pricGlC5 that Of
| the part remd- duty, so
| that the profit frOiSsS the duty
| will go to the CubanNc co planter
| and not to the cOnsumt Duntry If
| this argument be true tFC ill not af-
| feet the price cf sugarS hama. The
| price OF the commodity is ~ yby the sup
| ply being greater than thea bd. but it is
| frank TO say that other cOnvN Is have been
| negotiated, or are in prOces l. negotiation,
/ which will provide adequatesh irritation for
/ the sugar regions. AGAIN, ttsa Wrivileged in
! trOduc ion OF tObaccOs al reds duties have
/ been objected TO. AS to this, &eems enough
| to say that the convention le8F discrml-
| nation against the inv ed article
| four to hve times the III Urnal reve-
/ nue. duties on Amer AaN products
| and secures market hiptrtO denied
| for special manufactures OF tobacco, in which
| we excel, and which commando profitable
| market wherever their impOrtn Non is per-
1 mitted. Reduction is urged iI+ Aany quar-
| ters of the internal revenue N on the
| manufacture of tobacco, and this Muld be a
loss OF some $25,OO0,000 annually ta he public
/ treasury.
EXPLORATION sTIMULATl@A
| This treaty, taken with others of Ome
| character, STIMULATES our exports and ~ ADy
| promotes the interests of our manufacteSM
| Again, it is urged that the increased eX4SAr
/
| viii not equal the loss Of revenue on the imt
ported articles, but these articles Of import
/ are produced within our territory sparingly
| or not at all or OF Indifferent grades, not
/ satisfying the public demand, and it is of the
| essence Of wise protection to fOregO duties
| on these and to impose them upon those man
ufactures which may be prOftably fOstered by
| impeding foreign competition. Not only do
| these conventions do this, but they enlarge
| the foreign market for our surplus pro-
/ ductiOns, which it is the policy OF
| protection to secure. and they
| stimulate our commercial operations and our
| carrying trade by reserving to our vessels the
| enjoyment OF privileges conceded. Again
your attention is drawn to articles 90 and q,
! establishing such guarantee of personal treat
/ ment as will insure safety to the interests of
| citizens. Another line of adverse argument
| remains to be considered. 1t is said that this
| class of treaties Is an in ringement on the con
| stitutiOnal rights of COngress, IN that they
| change the duties prescribed by law. This
| argument Is advanced against all, in
| Guiding the convention with Mexico,
| which, having been already ratified, awaits
| legislation to carry 1t into effect. The claim
\ that the Mexican treaty Is unconstitutional,
| because it affects the revenue and did not
| originate in the House of Representatives. is
| singularly Gntenable. 1t did SO originate.
| The first action of this government towards
/ its negotiation was an appropriation by Con-
gress ''fOr the salaries and expenses of a COM
| mission to negotiate a commercial treaty with
| Mexico, a sum not exceeding $50, ,000 to be eX-
| pended under direction of the President Of
l the United States" in the sundry civil
appropriation act, Aug. I, lSS2,l and
| under this authority Gen. Grant and Mr..
| TrescOtt were appointed commissioners and
| negotiated the treaty.
CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION.
| The Senate introduced an amendment that
| legislation Of Congress should be necessary to
give it force. This rule, precedent for which
| Is found in previous treaties of this character,
| has been followed in subsequent treaty ne
gotiations and the steps taken thereto have
| been conducted under sanction given by Con-
| gress to the general policy of fostering inti-
mate trade with neighbOring countries. l
| observe that a constitutional amendment has
been introduced in Congress that
| the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatives shall be Joined to
| the Executive as a treaty making power.
| Such an amendment would not avoid the ne
| cessity of the Executive conducting negOtia-
tiOns for treaties subject to the ratification OF
| the CO. ordinate branch. The prerogative Of
| lhe House of Representatives has in all these
| treaties been secured by provision that they
should not take effect till bill originating in
| the House had made laws affecting the revenue
| reform thereto. From the foundation OF the
| government, beginning with the time when
/ the administration was in the hands of men
| who framed the constitution, and may there
fore be assumed to have best under
/ treaties affecting the revenues have been con-
/ cluded by the President and carried INTO
| effect by legislation Of Congress without the
| admission of doubt as to the entire constl-
/ tutiOnalty of the proceedings.
FEW EXAMPLES.
A few examples among the many may be
| cited. First in order comes the treaty OF l7Is
! with Great Britain, which stipulated for
| commercial privileges and exemptions from
| duties, and set limitations on the tonnage OF
British vessels by Congress. The treaty OF
1903 with France for the acquisition
| of Louisiana stipulated for favors
| to French goods and vessels during
| term of u years, Notwithstanding
| any general regulations as to trade and nayl-
| CATION which Congress might Hake. The
| treaty of 1915 with Great Britain changed the
! existing legislation as to discriminating du-
ties. In respect to all these treaties, the re-
| ouired legislation was passed. In short, the
| precedents are in favor of constitutional
| negotiation of the treaties affecting revenues
| bv the President, subject to approval by the
| Senate and to legislative cooperation by Con
| orress in carr, ing out their provisions. The
| 01nnhiect which the Executive has had IN
| view M the negotiation of the conventions
now awaiting the action OF Congress
| has been the best interest Of the republic, an0
| IN endeavOring to realize this the intimatlon'
| Of the purposes and desires of Congress have
served as guide. AS the action Of the execu-
tive 80 taken is in every case to De SUBJECT tC