Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-12-05

/ the comfy due to other powers, or what
| is known AS the favored nation clause, ~
so generally found in commercial treaties,
what is given to one for an adequate
agreed consideration 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 sugar and molasses.
That the large advantage resulting to the
countries producing and exporting these
articles by placing them on the free list en-
titled US TO expect fair return in the way
Of customs concessions upon articles ex-
ported by us TO them was so obvious that
to have gr6tuitousy abandoned this opportu-
nifty 10 enlarge our trade would have been
an error. There were but two methods of
maintaining control of this question open
TO Congress. To place all of these articles
upon the dutiahle list subject TO such treaty
agreements as could he secured, or to place
them all presently upon the free list, but
subject to the reimpostiou of specified du-
ties if the countries from which we receiv-
ed them should refuse to give TO us suitable
reciprocal benefits This latter method,
think, prossesses great advantages It ex-
presses in advance the consent of Congress
TO reciprocity arrangements affecting these
products, which must otherwise have been
delayed and unascertained until each treaty
was ratified 10y the senate and the necessa-
ry legislation enacted by Congress
Experience has shown that some trea
ties 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 con
currence of the house and senate in such
notifications Of our revenue laws as were
necessary to give effect to their provisions
We now have the concurrence Of both
houses in advance in distinct and def
mite offer Of free entry to our ports of
specific articles The executive is not re
qured 10 deal in conjecture as 10 what Con
gress 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
ducts as shall he agreed upon as an equiva
lent 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
hopeful of early and favorable action by
the countries from which we receive our
I
confidently believed that if team commu-
nicatipn with these countries can be prompt
y improved and enlarged, the next wear
will show most gratifying increase in our
exports Of breadstuffs and provisions as
well as Of some important lines Of manu-
factured goods ~
Having thus canddly and fully discussed
the tariff question, the President reminds
Congress that many important measures
await its attention, and that to properly
consider and act upon them will require all
the time which is available before the end
of the session rs fixed by law He strong
ly urges the encouragement and develop
ment Of steamship lines, and through them
of our trade with other countries. bv every
legitimate means lie endorses the propo-
sltluu Of the Pan American Congress for
the establishment Of an international Amer
lcan bank, to facilitate money exchanges
between the nations Of North and South
America represented in it, The enactment
Of suitable bankrupt and copyright laws is
recommended. The President also urges
anew a subject on which he spoke strongly
| in his message Of last year-the enactment
of legislation to compel uniformity in the
use OF safety freight car couplers in order
to put an end to the frightful sacrifice of
/ NE ana lllnD "hlcn goes on year alter year
under the present system-a sacrifice which
amounts to 2O00 lives and ~, 900 young men
manned annually
Some action by Congress is recommended
| to prevent the control Of the water supply
Of the arid regions of the far West from
falling into the hands of individuals or
monopolies which will have the power, if
unrestraihed, 10 make those who occupy
/ these lands entirely subservient to their
will and dictation.
With regard to the question Of postal
telegraphy, in which Postmaster General
Wanamaker is strong believer, the Presi-
/ dent says he secs no reason why the govern
ment should own the telegraph lines any
more than the railroads but 1t does seem
/ to him quite practicable for the government
to contract with the telegraph companies.
as it does with the railroad companies, to
carry at specified rates such communica-
tions as the senderS may designate for this
method of transmission, and he recon-
/ mends that such legislation be enacted as
will enable the post office department fairly
/ to test by experiment the advantages of
such use Of the telegraph.