The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-01-13
RECIPROCITY TREATIES.
Secretary Frelinghuysen Dis
cusSeS the Subject.
HIS LETTER TO THE SENATE
Reasons Why the Taria On s'sple Articles
Should be Dispensed With-An Exhaust.
I've Review Of Precedents.

Treaty has been written by Secretary Ereling- !
huyeen and sent this afternoon to the Chairman |
OF the Senate Commit on Foreign Relations:
DEPARTMEsT OF STATE, w&saIEGros. December |
%, lse4-HoE. John f. Maer, Chairman Of the Senate
Committee Foreign ReIattons-SIR: have re- !
ceived your letter asking whether there are any
political considerations important TO this country
IatinR TO the treaty between the United States and
Spain as to Cuba and Porto Rico. and also nquiring
Of me whether have any suggestions 20 make in
have noticed the notification of this convention
Gndertaken pursuant to the policy which had already
By appropriations originating in the House the
Commissions to negotiate commercial convention
South America to ascertain means of fostering more
intimate iK relations Of anity and commerce with
of the Senate by It's ratification of the Convention
With Mexico. The convention now before you, in
its political aspect is Of Importance Some have
thought that there Is disposition in the United
States looking to the annexation of Cuba. Such
action would be unwise for which appsr.
snt to your Committee for, even could be accom-
be endangered by this beginning a colonial system,
or by an INCORPORATION into our body polite of a
ss s6s M Thg feay
the OF complaint the treatment of our cit
which have heretofore led 20 serious discussion be-
tween the two Governments, and By bringing the
islands into
CLOSE COMMERCIAL CoENEcrIoN
With the United States. and confers upon us and
npon them all the benefits which would result from
With Spain Il OF series of international engage
It opens the marfets Of Cuba and Porto Rico to our
pr ducts. The treaty with San Domingo opens that
American states and with Colombia, which tend to
the same object. In conjunction with these, the
an interoceanic canal. while bringing the mos:
distant parts Of our country into closer relations,
America TO trade, and gives at our doors
customer able to absorb large portion OF those ar
ticies which produce in return for produce which
we cannot probably raise. NOW let me refer 70
ts said that We thereby give up the revenue on
sugar of from twenty-five to thirty-nv millions OF
our products imported into Cuba and Porto Rico,
estimated the basis of the existing traffic at from
enue. for public good, Is in the line of the m
tionsl policy thereto 1t was done In the case of
coffee, which, by an Act OF May i, 1872,
WAS PLACED UPoS THE FREE LIST
without attempt to obtain therefor any equiya-
sSns sor b2eaast table, By this
the Treasury of the United States has lost the last
so1r million doars On coffee alone; and besides let
not forget that Brazil availed itself OF the action
&hich dsUrived the peopis Of this country Of the
benefit of tariff reduction. Article of this Con-
treaty now uzder consideration tends to cheaper the
of the necesseres of life by reducing the cost OF
staple daily consumption of which we are obliged
TO import each year nearly 800 900 in value to
make mp for the inadequate production OF our own
soil amounting about IL per centum of the whole
consumption, and at the same time to secure the
TiIIea Coupled with the especial privileges to
merchant marine It also said that the importation
OF free sugar from Cuba Porto Rico, when added
from the Sandwich I-lands, will fall short OF the
price win be ruled by the part remaining liable to
duty, that the profit from the removal of the duty
the Consumers IN this country II this argument be
true the treaty will not efect the price OF sugar in
Louisiana The price of that commodity Is lessened
by supply being greater than the demand put IL
frank to say that other Which @
provide adequate importation from the sugar regions
demand, and It is
zaE EssEHOE OF WISE PROTECTION
To forage the duties anon these and to impose duties
upon those manufacturer which may be prohtaoiy
fOstsred by impending foreign oompe .aS so
the foreign market for our surplus production am
they stimulate our commercial snn
nent of the privileges contsded Again, your atten
such eusrantse of personal treatment will insure
50 ety the interests Of our citizens Another line
e Il said that this class of treaties infringement
upon the lstitutionsl rights of Congress, in that
sTeument is advanced against all including the
cnnysnsion With Mexico. which, having oeen arsad!
effect. The claim that the Mexican Treaty Is uncon
atitutional because 1t affects reVsnue and dld mol
originSte in the House OF Representatives, is sin
RrisrIY untenable. It did originate 6rst The &C
"n % sis bg ouTs For Salaries and
psnses OF ie Commission to negotiate Comm rcial
be expended under the direction Of the President OF
the United States" (sundry OWL Appropriation
Act August 1881. and under this authority General
Grant and Mr. Treseot appointed commissioner
and negotiated the treaty.
Again, the privileged Introduction of tobacco al
reduced duties been objected to reducing the
produca and msnufeoI1re As to this it seems enough
to say that the convention leaves the
revenue duties American product, and
secures the market hitherto denied for spec
Iel manufactures of tobacco in which we e1
eel, and which command profitable maTke
wherever Their y t t.rnsl rave
nue. On manufactured Tobacco and this would re
pablic Treasury. This trea y. taken With others Of
The same character stimulates our Renerdiexpor -
and thereby promotes the interest of our manufac
fures Again Il Is urged that increased. exporta
ton which these eaties may secure WIZ not e9
arsices of import produced within our territory
not sstisfyna the public demand it should be reces
cary toRive 1t force. This rule, precedent tor
Ter has been Followed in subsequent treaty negotia
lions and steps taken thereto have been conducted
icy of fostering an intimate trade with neighborins
countries.
PREcEDENrs CITED IN sUBsTANrIATroN
Observe that a constitutional amendment hal
Houss of Rspresa tattvss shall be Joined to the Ex
snt Would ns avoid the necessity Of the Executive
cOrdacinR the negotiations for the treaty subject
Of courae. TO the ratification or the co ordinate
Srsnch. The prerogative of the House of Repre-
ssntAtyes has in all these reaties been @ s
feet until bill originating in the House had mace nH
seent are against the position that negotiations OF
this class are unconstitutional From the tounoa
tf0n OF the Government beginning Win the eAAn'
han the Administration in the hands of the
who framed the Constitution ITSELF and may there
tore be assumed to have best understood its impo
and scope, the public treaties affecting revenues
have been concluded by the President and carriec
into eject by the legislation of Congress without tn
sdmtssiOn OF doubt as 70 the entire constitution
atty OF the proceeding. few examples, among
many, may be cited
First, in order comes the Treaty of 1874 with Gres
Britain. which stipulated for commercial privilege:
and exemption from duty, and settlement upon the
imposition OF tonnage dues British vessels by Con
aross The Treaty of 1903 with France for ACQUISITION
With Louisiana stipulated for special fayors II
French and Spanish goods and vessels in the cedeC
territory during term OF twelve years, notwfIh
standing any general regulations to the
navigation which Congress might make. The Treaty
oR 1918 with Great Britain changed the existing egis
lation as to discriminating in duties The Treaty
1881 with France contains special tariff on pro
Visions The Canadian Reciprocity Treaty with Grea
britain IA 1854 and the Reciprocity Treaty in 1877
V1ith the Hawaiian Islands both contained pro
Visions that they should not become operative unit
necessary laws to carry them into ehec
ehoald have been declared by Congress
In respect to all Of these treaties
AEQUfRSD LKe1sLATIoH WAS PASSED.
IN of the cOnstttu