The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-10-12
RECIPROCITY TREATIES.
The Preeidents Powers Limited as to Arti-
cles-Talk with General Foster.

The Presidents Powers Limited to Arti-
cles-Talk with General Foster.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 11.-Gen. John w.
Foster, who. IN the absence of Secretary
Blaine, is really at the head of the Interna-
tional commercial interests of the country.
so far as the federal government affects
them, Is being called upon almost daily
now by delegations of manufacturers and
merchants. who want their interests espe-
cially preserved or favored in some way in
the negotiation of the new commercial reci-
procity treaties. The other day the drug
gists' association sent here O DELE
CATION that wanted certain articles handled
by their trade included In the new treaties.
Yesterday the American Paper. makers As
socIation sent delegation composed of Z.
II. Haskell. of Buffalo. and William Irwin
Martin. of New York city, and they re-
quested that certain articles consumed by
them In the manufacture of paper should
be included in the treaties. so that their
trade might be assisted in the sale of their
products and extended markets generally.
This thing of asking trade favors is no doabt
proper, but 1t is becoming very general It
indicates, IT nothing else, that the indus
tries are awake to the importance of COM
mercial reciprocity. and that they are doing
what they can TO get the advantages at
fOrded blythe new treaties.
The Journal correspondent to-day asked
General Foster what response he was max
ing to these requests, and as his statements
are of universal interest being applicable
to all interests and trades, they are given
in full. General Foster said
"I called their attention to the fact that
the President was restricted in his powers
for negotiating reciprocity arrangements
with other countries by the provisions of
Section of the tariff act, which section
contains the reciprocity provision. This
section limits his authority so far as grant
ing favors to the products of other coun-
tries OF Central and South America imported
into the United States as confined TO coffee.
sugar and hides. Some of these countries
produce for expectation only sugar, others
only coffee. and still others produce for ex-
portation only hides. Cuba, for instance
produces only sugar, Brazil produces
mainly coffee and very little sugar. The
Argentine Republic produces neither sugar
nor coffee. and It's exports OF these articles
are confined TO hides. Chilli produces
neither sugar nor coffee. and exports a very
little quantity of hides. 1t is. therefore,
apparent that while the United States is
fortunately situated for negotiations with
some countries it has very slight basis
for negotiations with other countries OF
this hemisphere.
''Second-The President understands that
Congress has indicated it's desire that in
these negotiations special attention should
be given TO obtaining free or favored alb
mission into the countries with which we
have negotiations for American agricult-
ural products.
"ThiTd-The embarrassment encountered
with many of the countries is that their
revenues are barely adequate TO meet the
current expenses of the government. and
that these revenues are mainly derived
from imports. In many cases there is O
constant deficit from year TO year in the
revenues These countries are. therefore.
limited in the amount of revenue which
they can surrender by way of reciprocity
negotiations and after all the favors pos
sible are obtained for the agricultural
products of the United States, very little
margin IL left for securing favors for the
manufactured products of this country.
Under such circumstances it Is not pos
sible Tor the President To secure IN the reel
procity arrangements being negotiated
large amount Of favors for manufactured
articles. In mono of the treaties can the
list agreed upon be made 10 favor all our
manufactured interests In some treaties
IL may be possible 10 favor one inter-
est and not another. 1t is the duty
of the government 70 secure favors which