Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-01-18
OUR TRADE RELATIONS
Opposition to Proposed Reel
procity Treaties.
RATIFICATION SEEMS DOUBTFUL.
Arguments Pro and Con Concerning
Probable Effect Of Agreements.
the ClOakrOOns.

| WASHINGTON, Jan. 10. - Especial. 49,
! Opposition to the reciprocity treaties
with France and the British West In
dies seems to grow as the subjects are
discussed and receive the careful con
sideration of members of congress. The
prospects of eventual ratification are
not very good, especially as it requires
u two-thirds vote in the senate. 1t is
barely possible under the clause of
the Dingley tariff law providing for the
reciprocity treaties that IL will be de-
| termined that they shall be ratified by
legislative act instead of by the senate
alone, in which event n majority of
each house would confirm the treaties.
There is a belief among those who ia
vor the ratification of the treaties that
trade would be enlarged and market
found for many American goods if the
treaties are ratified. To those who claim
that revenues would be impaired the re-
ply is made that the increased mpor-
tations under the reduced duties pro
/ vided for in the treaties would increase
| instead OF decrease the revenue.
why did you provide for reciprocity
| agreements, such as have been made,
when you passed your tariff law" ask
ed a senator who favored the treaty of
another opposed to it. 1--WE cannot ex-
pcct all take and no give" he contin-
ued. I'VE must sacrifice some things
/ to gain others AS far as reciprocity
goes, these seem to be fair propositions.
/ We ought not to be guilty of bad faith.
/ We have invited nations to negotiate
these treaties, and to reject them now
does not seem to be the thing to do"
where the Islands Come In.
"The conditions have changed" was
| the reply. "Thc Dingley bill was pass
ed before the Spanish war, and that
war has left us with Porto Rico and
the Philippines as a part of our terri
tory and in such close relations with
Cuba as to make us responsible for
| her welfare Before we enter into any
| agreement relating to closer trade re-
| lations with a foreign country we
should see what we can do to benefit
the new territory. Why make trade
agreements with the British West In
islands OF the whole group are looking
for closer relations with u.s.
These are some Of the arguments
pro and con that one hears about the
capitol these days. Although the last
argument against the treaties is fire.
quently advanced, it can be clearly
seen that the greatest opposition comes
will meet competition in the increased
| Importation of articles upon which
duty reductions have been made.
For Reward of Officers.
The friends of General James II.
! Wilson. General Fitz-Hugh Lee and
disappointed because President Nc
Kinley did not name them as brigadier
generals and place them Oh the retired
list of the army. 1t is understood that,
In view Of the fact that the retired list
Is already quite large and any action
tending to swell it meets with consid
cradle opposition, the president pre-
fers that congress shall take the initia-
tive and pass a law providing for the
retirement of these officers. In the
same bill the president desires to have
provision made for the retirement of
General Shafter as n major general as
a reward for his services during the
Spanish campaign. General Shaftcr
has already been retired as brigadier
general but still holds his command as
major general of volunteers. There
seems to be quite disposition to pass
such bill, although it has not yet been
brought forward. James ii. Wilson is
Il resident of Delaware now. lie is n
graduate of West Point and has twice
been made a major general Of volun-
teers. When he was 26 years old. he
was IA major general and commanded
a division of cavalry in the civil war.
The men who served under him speak
in the highest terms of his dashing
gcncralship, saying he was n leader
whom they would follow anywhere.
He resigned from the army and en-.
gagged in business. AT the outbreak
of the Spanish war he was appointed a
major general. General Wheeler, the
noted cavalry leader, and General
Fitz-Hugh Lee, once governor of Viz
ginia and consul general at Havana
| during the dark days Of Cuba, are well
known throughout the United States
Two short stories.
I about the smallest speculation in
futures that ever came under my OBJ
servation," said Senator Depcw, HAP
pened once in the Adirondacks. There
was a little country store, the only
| place where a man could loaf, and |
was for Il time villager and loafed
with the rest of them. One day little
| redheaded girl came rushing into the
store and said, Please, mister, ma
wants an eggs worth of ginger and
the hens on the nest!' The ginger was
weighed out. but | never learned
whether the grocer ever realized on his
| operation in futures"
Speaker Henderson Is a man of gal
| liant speech as well as of able rule
| During the New Years reception at
the White House he was presented to
an exceptionally pretty young woman,
who remarked upon the brightness of
the weather and how glad every one
must be to find it such Il beautiful day.
Pressing her hand cordially and with
kindly smile, the speaker replied,
Whatever the skies, one need only
look into your face to know that it is
beautiful day"