The Evening critic., 1885-02-07
TIE MEXICAN TREATY BILL.
why ~ ~ Oppoaeh.


"Tho Mexican Treaty bill" said Con-
gresham Hit, member Of tho House Com.
mitlce on Foreign Affairs, speaking to a
CRITIC man, "would, think, be passed
by tho House, If IL could be reached But
Tho fact that the Senate has refused to
fatiiy the Eicarsguan convention, and has
not yet acted upon the Spanish treaty,
operates uniayojably as precedent upon
the House. The greatest objection, ia fact.
to the Mexican treaty Is that there is too
little in it. 1t does not do this aud IT
does not do that arc the chief arguments
advanced against It, Its provisions are
really not fully understood. 1t certainly
COSTS more to the Mexican revenues by its
free admissions than TO the American i'm
post duties. By tho terms of the treaty
about twelve articles now dutiablo will be
admitted by rs from Mexico free, and this
reduction IN duties upon goods imported
into the United States last year would havc
amounted TO only about 100000, and over
nine-tenths of this amount, Or Si30,000 is
uDoU one article-pisal grass-which we do
not raise aud cannot raise. In fact, nearly
all tho articles admitted free from Mexico
under the treaty arc already on tho free
list. They were enumerated IN the con-
vention, because % treaty Is moro stable law
than an ordinary act of Congress, aud COM
meIcial houses can engage in trade with
more confidence II assured that the duties
upon the commodities in which they trade
arc not to DO changed upon the shifting
policy of the dominant political party.
THE articles we might under this treaty
send uutaXed into Mexico are many Of
them Of universal use such as carriages sud
other vehicles agricultural implements,
petroleum, sewing-maohnes, stoves, tools,
machinery. They are now subjected to
very heavy impost taxes by Mexico, yet
we sold there last year over S3,OOO,OOO worth
Of such articles. If freed from duty aud
lowered in price tho demand would null
tiply among the ten millions Of Mexican
people and we would soon sell three,
yes, ten times as much. 1t would be a
good thing if the treaty also included
bresdstufis and cotton and wooden goods (;
but IL is good as far rs 1t goes, and goes
farther in the way Of advantages to us than
to them.'
"Does not the treaty give equal advau-
tages to Mexico ~
81 think that the treaty would give great
advantages to this country, more than co
| Mexico. OF the seventy-nine articles ad-
mitted fiee from the United States into
| Mexico nearly every one now pay heavy
| duties in some CAGES as much rs 200 pei
cent. The treaty would virtually give us
| such an advantage In Mexico that we could
| soon control nearly or quite the entire trade
| in all the articles admitted under the treaty
| as the contiguity of American territory
| and the railroad facilities which we enjoy
| give us full and rapid means of commune
cation which no other country enjoys"
DO you think there is any prospect Of
the passage of the bill to put the treaty into
effect ?"
"In the present state of business in the
House and of sentiment not much hope re-
mains, but there is still chance"
From your reading of the Spanish CON
vention, do you understand that If Presi'
dent Cleveland should indicate his desire
for its ratification it could be ratified in the
next COngressW
~ think that there would be no difficulty
| in extending the time within which II
must be ratified. The Spanish Government
| is anxious to have it approved, aud an in.
| dication from the President Of the United
| States would certainly lead to any necessary
extension of time, say till the Senate in I
called session could pass upon it again"
| "Have any of the recently negotiated
| treaties been discussed in the House Com
mittee ON Foreign Atfairs?'
| mo. Very little occasion has arisen TO
| their discussion in any Of them by the com
| mittee."
"Do you think the Nicaraguan treaty
| will still be ratified ~
Hardly. IL is possible that in the extrf
session of the Senate IL may 20 through, Il
the incoming President indicates his de
sire for its ratification, otherwise | think
not"