New-York tribune., 1900-01-03

United States. the reductions ranging from 80
per cent of the existing rates of duty Among
other products and commodities this list comprises
canned salmon. Holsters and shrimps canned corn,
succotash and tomatoes. canned apples and ber-
ries, dried evaporated fruits wndmills and
paraftine wax. all of which reduced 30 per cent
bacon, oatmeal, cracked wheat, hominy and other
cereal foods, sail twine and cotton rope. at re-
duction OF 20 per cent: the duty white pine un-
dressed, is reduced to IS per cent on valuation Of
80 cents per square meter on spruce pine to Is per
cent on valuation of % cents on yellow and
oregon pine 10 per cent on valuation of 20 cents.
and on oak and ash TO Is per cent on a valuation
OF 80 cents Cottonseed oil is reduced to 6A cents
gallon. 1t is believed that the Senate committee
VIII take up the Argentine treaty consideration
within the next ten days and there seems to be a
tair prospect of its ratification before February 10
DIFFICULTY ABOUT BERMUDA
The conventions which affect Bermuda and four
of the British West India islands contain a num-
Der OF provisions against OF which various
objections are urged. For example there is some
opposition to the admission of potatoes and onions
from bermuda and Jamaica at e reduction OF 121s
per cent from the existing rates of duty to a re-
oucon OF 121 per cent in the duties cane sugars
and molasses from Barbados British Guiana and
Jamaica, and to a reduction of 10 per cent In the
duties on citrus fruits, potatoes, onions and rum
from Jamaica. One Of the objections urged against
the reduction Of the duties on tropical and semi
tropical fruits and on vegetables is that it may
measurably affect Puerto Rico which under new
and better conditions of industry would be ready
supply the home markets, and that It might also
seriously interfere with the citrus fruit and other
fruit industries of Oregon, California and Arizona
A delegation OF Pacific Coast Senators and Repre-
sentatives recently called at the Department of
State to express their views on the subject and to
M famacs 9 sb fh nd in the
padoes 1t IS said that after explanations had been
adue a az oI them expressed themselves as salts
district n W6dP & Gt one from
imDOrtanf ntad TO
them them that the competition of the Jamaica orange
one cent a pound to eight-tenths Of a cent, would
not injuriously affect their industry. inasmuch as
California season. and. moreover, Great Britain
from Jamaica to British ports The beet sugar
REDUCTION OF duty on cane sugars and molasses. and
fneX are backed by the cane sugar growers of
portatons of raw sugars and molasses last year
$4,000 OOO of which nearly all was furnished by
British Guiana and Barbadoes which together pro-
and molasses of the British West Indies.
BITTER HOSTILITY TO FRENCH TREATY.
The opposition to the ratification Of the French
treaty is more formidable and its situation more
precarious than in the of either of the other
reciprocity conventions, and If its prospects have
not been blasted they have been seriously injured
here by the statements recently made by of its
advocates IN the French Chamber of Deputies.
very prominent New-England Senator who had
carefully studied the provisions of the convention
remarked that it proposed Ito give France nearly
everything and reserve nothing for the United
statements 'I referred to- said: u think we would
better go slow and see first what France will do
able commercial reciprocity and in the case Of
South American countries I would be willing to
vote for very liberal arrangements, because hold
it to be wise craftsmanship to make all concessions
not wholly unreasonable to obtain ana control me
the United States" The Senator added i'll sub
stance: As to the pending conventions with several
West L
formed opinion which may not be changed. We
its people which we cannot and must not neglect
The interests involved are as much our interests as
are those of Connecticut or Alaska, or any other
State or Territory, and we must do naught 10 m
9s or an6 insure the propy Of that island and
its people IF the reciprocity treaties with the
icy and purpose should oppose their ratification
MYSTERY OF MINIMUM RATES.
Among the features the French treaty which
are sharply criticised and will probably be Vigor-
ously opposed by a number OF Senators are the
provisions which except from the minimum rates
of the French tariff prepared skins and hides boots
and shoes and parts of same BELTS cards and
other leather articles manufactured for machinery,
dynamos. dynamo conductors and parts arc lamps,
known as Eeguat9rs machine tools P0rGeafh nG5 on
some of these exceptions, remarked: i am In the
dark regarding what are called maximum rates
and what called minimum rates Of duty under
the French tariff and how much higher the former
subject before make up my mind how to vote"
concessions
convention are aso severely e[lucisea ana VII MI
strengthen the opposition 10 the treaty IN Cn 1he
fornia and Oregon object TO the reduction of 10
per cent of the duties prunes and fruits pre-
olive oil; the manufacturers OF coors, var
eshes @ proe oRa dss a 10 p cent oP he
benefit of their rivals vigorously do the manu-
facturers of bricks and tiles, varnished or enameed
ornamented of bottles, glass decanters and
other glass vessels, window glass and "other
glass" spectacles and spectacle glasses and opera
glasses lenses etc In fact there is hardly one OF
the sixty-nine articles or classes of articles
cent to 20 per cent of the existing rates of duty
that has not found champions to enter vigorous
protest against the ratiheaton OF the treaty in its
present form The complaints appear to have been
aggravated and sweIled u in number to some extent
reductions For ore examPe many ma persons have failed
on an article is 40 per cent ad valorem reduction
of 10 per cent will leave the at SO per cent in
rate is, say, 20 cents bushel. reduction of Is
per cent will leave the IT cents instead of
cents bushel
FRENCH DIFFICULTIES.
The negotiations. which resulted in the prepara-
tion OF the convention with France, were especially
tedious and presented many serious difficulties,
which, it is asserted, could only be overcome by
mutual concessions which not wholly salts
after the convention was signed the French rep
resentatives felt so many and such serious misgiv
ings respecting the reception it would meet with in
France that they insisted on and exacted pledge
that its scope and terms should not be made public
for favorable action in France whether if that be
correct, the French negotators by their Paris dis
cation in this country is not a matter concerning
which there San be wo 10 the tone & OF
consequence.
DELAY PROBABLY FATAL
Still the advocates here OF ratification have strong
hopes OF favorable action by the Senate, barring
delays, which would be fatal adverse action.
They count upon almost unanimous support Of the