Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-01

ana otner forms OF organized effort OF THU
movement among our people is a rare exhibi
ton Of unselfishness in trade. And on tn
other hand, II they sincerely believe that ths
adoption OF protective-tarih policy by thil
country inures to their profit and our hurt, il
Is noticeably strange that they should lead tn.
full to their countrymen. and crown with
their favor those who would snatch from them
a substantial share Of trade with other landi
already inadequate TO their necessities
Ihere Is no disposition among any Of oul
people to promote prohibitory or retaliatory
legislation. Our policies are adopted not to thu
hurt OF others. but to secure for ourselves those
advantages that fairly grow out Of our favored
position as nation. Our form Of government
with Its incident Of universal suffrage, makes il
imperative that we shall save our working peo
pie from the agitations and distresses which
scant work and wages that have no margin fol
comfort always beget. But after all this is done
It VII! be found that our markets are open tc
| friendly commercial exchanges Of enormou.
vaIue to the other great powers.
FOREIGN MARKETS.
| From the time If my induction into office the
duty OF using every power and influence giver
by law to the Executive Department for the
/ development Of larger markets for our products
especially our farm products, has been KEEP,
constantly in mind. and no effort has been OF
WILL be spared to promote that end. We are
under no disadvantage in any foreign market
except that we pay our workmen and work.
women better wages than are paid elsewhere-
| better abstractly, better relatively to the cost
| OF the necessaries Of life. do not doubt that q
very largely increased foreign trade is accessi-
Die to us without bartering for it either our
nome market Tor such products Of the farm and
OF our working people.
In many Of the products Of wood and iron,
and in meats and breadstuffs we have advant-
ages that only need better facilities Of inter-
course and transportation to secure for them
large foreign markets. The reciprocity clause
Of the tariff net wisely and effectively opens
the way to secure a large reciprocal trade in ex-
change for the free admission to our ports of
certain products. The right of independent ma
tons to make special reciprocal trade conces-
| sions Ii well established, and does not impair
either the comfy due to other powers or what ia
known as the 'favored-nation clause so gen.
orally found in commercial treaties. What is
given to one for an adequate agreed considera-
ton cannot be claimed BY another freely. The
state OF the revenues was such that we could
dispense with any import duties upon coffee,
tea, hides and the lower grades of sugars and mo-
iasses. That the large advantage resulting to the
countries producing and exporting these arti-
cles by placing them On the free list entitled us
to expect afair return in the way of custom con-
cesslons upon articles exported by us to them
was so obvious that to have gratuitously aban-
doned this opportunity to enlarge our trade
would have been an objectionable error.
RECIPROCITY.
There were but two methods Of maintaining
control Of this question open to Congress; to
place all Of these articles upon the dutiable list
subject to such treaty agreements as could be
secured, or to place them all presently upon
the free list, but subject to the reimposition of
specified duties if the countries from which we
received them should refuse to give to us suit
able reciprocal benefits. This latter method, I
tod nfauo
in advance the consent of Congress to reciproc-
ity arrangements affecting these products,
which must otherwise have been delayed and
unascertained until each treaty was ratified by
the Senate and the necessary legislation enacted
by Congress-. Experience has shown that some
treaties looking to reciprocal trade have failed
10 secure two-thirds vote in the Senate for
ratification, and others having passed that
stage have for years awaited the concurrence
OF the House and Senate in such notifications
OF our revenue laws were neces-
sary to give effect to their provisions. We now
have the concurrence Of both houses in adj
vance in distinct and definite offer of free
entry to our ports Of specific articles. The
Executive is not required to deal in conjecture
as to what Congress will accept. Indeed, this
reciprocity provision is more than an Offer
Our part OF the bargain is complete; delivery
has been made, and when the countries from
which we receive sugar coffee, tea and hides
have placed on their free lists such of our pro-
for our concession, proclamation of that fact
completes the transaction. and in the meantime
our own people have free sugar, tea, coffee and
hides.
The indications thus far given are very hop >
full Of early and favorable action by the conn
tries from which VIC receive our large imports
OF coffee and sugar, and it is confidently be-
heved that If steam communication with these
countries can be promptly improved and en-
iarged the next year will show a most CRAFTY
ing increase in ON exports Of breadstuffs and
provisions, as well as Of some important lines
OF manufactured goods.
In addition to the important bills that be-
came laws before the adjournment Of the last
session, some other bills of the highest i'm
portance were well advanced toward a final
vote and now stand upon the calendars Of the
two Houses in favored positions. The present
session has fixed limit and IL these measures
are not now brought to a final vote all the
work that has been done upon them by this
Congress is lost. The proper consideration of
these, of an apportionment bill, and of the an
nual appropriation bills will require not only
that no working day OF the session shall be
lost but that measures of minor and local in
terest shall not be allowed to interrupt or re-
tard the progress Of those that are Of universal
interest. In view of these conditions / re-
Train from bringing before you at this time
some suggestions that would otherwise be
made, and most earnestly invoke your atten-
ton to the duty Of perfecting the important
legislation now well advanced. To some Of
these measures which seem to me most i'm
portant now briefly call your attention.
MAIL SUBSIDIES FOR STEAMSHIPS.
1 desire to repeat with added urgency the
recommendations contained in my last annual
message in relation to the development of
American steamship lines. The reciprocity
clause Of the tariff bill will be largely limited
and its benefits retarded and diminished if pro-
vision Is not contemporaneously made to en-
courage the establishment of first-class steam
communication between our ports and the
ports OF such nations as may meet our over
lures for enlarged commercial exchanges. The
steamship, carrying the mails statedly and
frequently, and Offering to passengers a COM
Portable, safe and speedy transit, is the first
condition of foreign trade. 1t carries the or
der or the buyer, but not all that is ordered or
bought. II gives to the sailing vessels such
cargoes as are not urgent or perishable, and.
indirectly at least, promotes that important adj
junct Of commerce. There il now both in this
country and in the nations OF Central and
South America a state of expectation and con-
fidence as to increased trade that will give a
double value to your prompt action upon this
question. .
The present situation of our mail commune
cation with Australia illustrates the importance
Of early action by Congress. The Oceanic
Steamship Company maintains a line of
steamers between San Francisco, Sidney. and
Auckland, consisting Of three vessels, two Of
which are Of United States registry and one Of
foreign registry. For the service done by this
line in carrying the mails we pay annually the
sum OF SAG 900, being, as estimated, the fun sea
and United States inland postage, which is the
limit fxed by law. The colonies Of New South
Wales and New Zealand have been paying an
nuRlly to these lines 1877 600 for carving the