The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-04-11
COMMERCIAL TAFFY.
Good Theories, But Why Don't
They do Something.

They do Something.
Washington, 10-The Senate com
mittee on foreign relations to-day
repo ted adversely, and recon-
mended the indefinite postponemenl
of the two lis introduced by Sen
ator Cockrell, to provide for the ap-
pointment of q commission TO WISH
the principal countries OF Central
and South America for the purpose
of collecting information looking to
the extension Of American trade
and commerce in that direction ;an6
one bill introdu ,ed by Senator Sher'
man to authorize the President to
extend invi atoms to the govern.
ments of the republics OF Mexico,
Central America and South Am
erica, and the Empire of Brazil to
send delegat to a convention at
Washington to consider the question
relating to reciprocal commercial
relations, etc. In the place of these
bills they reported an amendment
to the consular and diplomatic bill.
which provides that $100. 600 be ap-
propristed to enable the President
to compensate the commission to
be appointed to examine and
report upon the relations OF the
United States with several couns
tries Of Central and South America,
and upon the best terms OF securing
intimate national and commercial
relations between them and the
United States; to enable him to de-
fray the expenses of such a com>
mission, should it be deemed advls-
able for it or any members OF 1t to
visit any of the said countries, and
also enable him to compensate the
delegates of the United States to a
congress of these States TO be held
at Washington, should it be deemed
Advisable to convene such congress-
after the report Of the commission
shall have been made, and to meet
such portions OF the expenses of said
congress as it may be proper for the
United States to pay. In submitting
this proposed amendment which 1t
asked to have referred to the APP
propriations committee. the foreign
relations committee presents
as g part OF its report,
a letter from the Secretary
of State, dated March Goth, 1884,
endor. ing the proposed amendment.
The letter IS addressed to Senator
Miller, of California, Chairman .of
the committee. After saying the
proposed congress should not be
convened without having well dee
faed programme and re'erriug to
the failure OF the Columbian cons
gfess at Panama for that reason,
The secretary says: I'M recover, ii is
probable that other S stes, certainly ,,
5he smaller or less powerful among
hem would desire a treaty OF alli-
snce requiring of the United States
and defence in case Of
lttack. not only by European pow
,rs, but by their more powerful
leigh bors on the continent. Material
lid also in the construction of their |
'ailrosdz and other simillr public
works would be expected, |
leither CT which propositions
ould be entertained by us.
n the conference the smallest
'tate would have voice equal to
hat Of the United States, aud while
We need not necessarily be bound
y the conclusions reached, it would /
weaken rather than strengthen our l
nfiuences with these countries If {
Ve should feel fore d to reject the
measures adopted by the confer '
nee.
Considerations much OF this char J
cter Influenced tia failure OF the
lotable project for an american {
ongtess in Panama during Adams
administration in 1S2S-29. Tue true
Ian, it seems to me, is to make
cries OF reciprocity treaties with ,
he republics of Contra and
south America, taking care .
hat those manufactures, and ,,
g far as practicable, those pre- :
Iucts which would come into com.
PETITION with our manufa lures aud
should not be admitted to ,
he free list. By these treaties
We might secure for valuable
consideration, so as not to
-iolate most favored nation
lause OF other treaties, further SUBJ
tantial advantages. Such for ex.
mple, as free navigation of their
casts, rivers and lakes. Indiserim-
nate reductions on materials pc
uliarly the production of Central
nd South America, wolld take
rom Us the ability to offer recipro. I
ity, and we would thus lose the op- '
ortunity to secure valuable trade. :
he removal Of duties from coffee T
Without greatly cheapening its Q
rice, deprived us of the power to 8
egotiate with the coffee growing Ic
ountries Of Spanish America; '
ighly advantageous reciprocity 3
reaties and indiscriminate reduc. '
ION Of duties on sugar, would coms n
lete our inability to establish q
svorable commercial relations with e
hose countries which form our i
atural market, and from which we g
re now almost entirely excluded. q
we confne the reduction of duties n
q such articles as sugar and 3
Office to those Spanish American I
Ountries which are willing to ne.
otiate with us, treaties of reciproc- ,
" win cheaper the products for OR !
wn people and at the same time :
ain the control Of those markets
N. tho ror0duotionc Of o,,y fso1ds and