Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-21
INFAV0R OF RECIPROCITY
SPIRITED DEBATES IN THE COM
MERCIAL CONVENTION.

ATLANTA, GA, May ZO,-Ine CONNER
cial Convention this morning passed a
! resolution offered by Mr.. Trenholm, of
& South Carolina, that it is the duty of Con-
4 gress to pass as speedily as possible laws
i for reciprocity with all foreign nations.
The Lowell bankrupt bill was then dis
4 cussed. Waldo Smith, of New York, de-
liyered a long speech in its favor.
Mr.. BurwelPs paper on reciprocity in
trade created a lively running debate,
4 which was renewed with yigor on recon-
4 vening.
Mr.. Hirt, who presided over the Senate
& of Virginia during the celebrated and ex-
q citing occasion when Mr.. Riddleberger
81 was before that body, and who is said to
& be the peer of Sam Randall on parliament
& tary law, and Mr.. Vinton, of Indiana, op-
posed reciprocity treaties on the ground
that they fostered special and individual
interests. The only treaties at all favora-
bic to the general public would be with
s. countries that could supply us with raw
materials. Mr.. McClung, of Ohio, said
THAT there was no such thing as raw ma
#terial, neither was there overprOduction.
Reciprocity treaties ought to be avoided,
because they cripple natural trade.
Hon. Darwin f. James, of New York,
favored reciprocity treaties.
NERD OF EXPORT TRADE.
Waldo Smith, of New York, said that
avery dollars worth of goods made in
New York finds 50 per cent. of its sale in
america, only = per cent. going abroad.
Export trade therefore vas necessary,
nd reciprocity treaties favored this.
W. Sutherlin, of Virginia, said that iron
the mercury OF trade. AS iron goes so
koes commerce. Ten years ago iron rails
Fere worth $66, and to-day only SIG. The
foreign demand for our agricultural pro-
hucts hes been forestalled by high protec-
tive tariffs, and all branches of manufac-
turing are stagnant because of the over
eupply of manufactured goods on hand.
What have we to expect III the way of
relief ? Let us not cry ''over-productiOn."
Let us have honest, intelligent foreign
Representatives who shall make such
treaties as shall comprehend a mutual
interchange of our production. The
trouble is that we have no commercial
fleet. Only per cent. of our agricultural
and manufactured products are exported.
A MERCHANT MARINE WANTED.
This is because we have no ships.
Shall we stop our labOrs that over-prOduc-
81 tiOn may be remedied by our consuming
our surplus in idleness? Give us govern
ment assistancesn building a commercial
marine until American vessels snail be
able to transport our productions to the
lnarkets OF the world and bring back eX-
change commerce.
So Mr.. Voenef. of Kentucky, said that
England, having failed at reciprocity, was
how trying conquest, as witness the wars
I'm Egypt, which were to conquer trade
nd place goods upon those who would
Hot otherwise have them. Germany is
res0rting to conquest and protection. We
thre trying to get other nations TO take our
goods without our accepting any of theirs,
change which of course keeps our goods
Rt home and gives rise to the cry of cover
production"
e. e. Fuller, of Kansas, wanted the wall
between Europe and the United States
until we learn that the Spanisb-American
Republics are anxious foe our trade. The
piississippi river bottoms should be so
improved as to empty our treasures into
he Gulf of Mexico.
SECRET SESSIONS AssAILED.
Ex-senator Warner, of Alabama, said
hat one fault with our system as to treat
es was having them considered in secret
session of the Senate.
Philo Parsons, of Michigan, was Op-
posed to treaties made in secret session.
Mr.. Rice, of Illinois. here offered a res
klutiOn which tended to introduce the
tariff question and which was disposed of,
Is we'll as the main question, by Mr..
Trenholm, of South Carolina, who offered
The following:
ResoEeed. That it is the duty Of Congress TO
provide as soon as possible for an extension of
he trade of The United States with ali foreign
Countries.
THE BANKRUPT LAW.
On motion discussion OF the subject,
Does public interest require the enact
Rnent by Congress of "a uniform bankrupt
awg" was opened. fir. McClung, OF
Dhio, said: England has a bankrupt
aw which is well nigh perfection, and
america needs national bankrupt law
NsnifOrm and operative alike in all States"
Mr. Learning, of Pennsylvania, offered
Rs substitute for the subject the follow
#ng:
Resolced, That this convention respectfully
Prge Congress to pass the Lowell BILL which
We regard as wise and economical law.
MIR. Learning said that the necessity for
wise and economical bankruptcy law
rises from the diversity and uncertainty
oi the various insolvency laws OF the
several States. There is absolutely no
.uniformity in these laws. Merchants are
gnorant nor can lawyers advise them OF
ne laws affecting their risks in
tlirty-eight different States. 10 is
a disgraceiul fact that in all of
hese thirty-eight States, ten alone eX-
pied, dishonest debtor can deprive
~ just cfeuitOfs OF the dement, OF ms
ssets by preierring some more shrewd
30 c0llusiye creditor, or what is more
pal, some immediate member Of the
N'Nptor's own family.
OF BENEFIT TO THE DEBTOR.
Prom the debtors point Of view, on the
oNe Ner hand, the benefit OF the bankrupt
'NN would be felt ia permitting him after
nt bad surrendered all his assets to OBJ
tD discharge and start airesh I'm life,
lead Of having the hopeless milstones
~ Judgment debts forever suspended
IfNn ais broken neck until IL drags him
premature grave, or 20 banishment
|'IIl the scene OF his lifelong business
witty. The need for uniform bank
Ni law was not much felt when this
|NNntry consisted OF isolated communities
I|Og domestic business with their
non Hediate localities. IL is the inn
.N#se spread Of the area ofactiyity
4a light about by transportation
|r| ities, bringing all buyers within the
I| Pa OF each seller, which has produced
Nt necessity. The remedy for collecting
NNQ debts should be co extensive with the
"'Nh Of risk. The law should be c0nter-
"'rous with the need for its invocation.
|'Fyers know that they cannot intelli-
|ntly advise clients as TO the changing
VHfntes and conflicting decisions OF many
\ NC TO which a client is shipping hls