New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-15
THE RECIPROCITY TRLITIES.

Chairman Voorhees, fully confirms the version
of his Reciprocity views given in our Specal
disnatchcs from Washington. The repeal OF
tbc Aldrch amendment as interpreted by him.
Senator Vest and other members of the Senate
Finance Committee will not affect the twenty
Reciprocity conventions negotiated by the lilr-
rison Administration. Those treaties VIII be al
lowed to stand and American exporters VIII
continue 10 be benefited by their operation
TDon this result we heartily congratulate the
Democratic Senators. If they have succeeded
in saving those treaties from the wreck when
tbov orc making of the Mckinley act, they have
done nj least one good work. Their action may
not be Ineligible from other points of view,
Int if they are right in assuming that the
treaties will not be abro -atcd by the repeal "i
tho Rcc;procitv amendment. the interests OF
American exporters will not suffer from the
nroposed tariff legislation. That Will be great
gain
ON the basis Of the imported sugar supply OF
1So3 when the cane crop was lighter than III
1892 about 50 per cent was drawn from couh-
fries with which the Harrison Administration
NEGOTIATED treaties, and nearly per cent from
Hawaii under the convention previously Ila"e'
This would leave less than Is per cent OF tie
treaties were allowed to remain in force; ana
the percentage would be even smaller on inc
basis Of the importatons Of 1852. The Demo
cratic Senators propose 10 Increase th!S margin
Of taxable sugar to 20 per cent Of the imported
supply by abrogating the Hawaiian h'0pToc!
trea1v which was not negotiated under the
Aldrich amendment This action VIII De Il ll"SV
unfair discrimination against Hawaii and the
I1p,-s llttl
land and his cuckoo Senators may take of the
course of Minister Stevens under thc llsl Au-
minjstration. the Hawaiians certainly have not
committed any offence against me Ihl'V''
States in asking for annexation. They ought
not TO be punished by the abrogaiion OF Il Kcci-
nrocitv treaty: nor ought the Pacific States for
sympathizng with the annexation movement
70 be disciplined by having their sugar supply
taxed when the Atlantic States will practically
have free raw sugar.
Even when the margin i, increased 10 20 per
cent by this act of hostility TO Hawaii ana ms
sectional legislation against California ana
other Pacific States, ii viii remain 100 Small
to offer any large increase Of revenue. me
Senatorial estimate of SiJOuO,0OO In sugar dH-
ties is obviously a gross cX2ggeraton, II the
treaties with Germany, Austria-l!ungaiY' 'he
Spanish West Indies the British West lhdleS'
British Guiana and other sugar countries ore
allowed 10 stand. Moreover, the Louisiana
Senators have been entrappcd into bad bar
gain if they have agreed to the amended Tdr1
bill under the dcluson that the sugar duties
will protect the planters Of their state. II
those duties are not To be levied against raw
surar from the beet countries In Europe ana
the cane belt OF tropical America, but only
against the sugar Of Hawaii. The Philippine
Islands. the East Indies and a few other small
sources of supply the Louisiana planters VIII
come out at the small end Of the hole
We do not wish 10 discourage Senator Noor-
hces and his Democratic associates OF the Com
mttee on Finance We tell them frankly mat
they will have our hearty cooperation i'll saving
the Reciprocity treaties although We cannot
support their hostile campaign against Hawaii.
They will get very little revenue from Their
sugar duties but they Will accomplish great
work in resclIing the Reciprocity policy from
collapse and in keeping the United States IN
line with the nations of Continental Europe
and tropical America. BY putting sugar on III"
dutiablc list but allowing il to come in free
under the treaties they viii greatly strengthen
the Reciprocity policy Indeed, we would he
willing TO have them put coffee on the dutiable
list on the same terms.