The evening times., 1900-01-08


considered by Congress are the commercial
reciprocity treaties negotiated by the Gov
ernment with the Argentine Republic
France. and Great Britain, on behalf OF sew
eral Of their West India colonies These
treaties were entered into by representa-
tfves OF the United States under authority
conferred by section of the Tariff act OF
July q, 1897.
One grave question has already arisen.
The treaties were entered into by virtue OF
a section in the Tariff law which prescribed
that whenever such treaties should be en-
tered who by the President of the United
States "by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate within two years from and
after tic passage Of the act. and should
Be duly ratified by the Senate and ap-
proved by Congress, and public proclama-
ton made accordingly" they should be-
come operative
The time limit laid down in the act ex-
nired on July "a. 1889. Although the con-
veutions were concluded within the time
prescribed they were not acted on by Con
gress. II the at shall be construed to
mean that the conventions shall be "rati-
fad by the Senate and approved by Con-
gress" within tRo years from the time
when they were concluded. then in order to
become effective that treaty With the Ar
centipe Republic must be ratified and rati-
iicaGons exchanged on or before February
TO- 1gUo: that with British Guiana on or be-
fore March IS: that with Turks and Caicos
Islands on or before March p: that with
jana lea on or before March %. that with
BeTuuda on or before March -; that with
France on or before March "a and that
with Barbados on or before June l6 1900.
Thc opponents OF several Of the treaties
find some encouragement in this fact. and
they hope to be able to exert sufficient in
tiuence TO prevent or postpone action until
IL becomes too late TO save any of The trea-
tiess They also rely to some extent on the
tact that the several conventions appear
before the Senate as having been BegOti-
atod and signed under the authority con-
ferrCd by Section 4" Of the act OF July p.
1897.
Ij is alleged that the sugar and tobacco,
f~Ul.. wine. and trucking interests OF the
country are opposed TO these conventions.
ard they expect 10 unite with those inter
e-is which wiI seek 10 exert their intlu-
.crno against any legislation which would
place hike indus ries and interests in the
HcUly-acquired nsular possessions of the
United States on the same footing under
he Tarjm law as they themselves enjoy.
Il is said that no opposition has been
thus lar shown TO the Argentine conven-
lion
This proposes TO admit, al a reduction Of
- per cent from The existing rates OF duty,
Argentine sugar. hides. and wool. For eX-
ample the duty on hides would be reduced
from = per cent 10 l. per cent ad Ya!orem.
and The duties on sugar and wool in like
proportion. The reduction on wool. II is
held. viii nos be injurious TO the wool
growing industry Uf the United States and
The stand taken by the negotiators has been
explained and defended in al official state
meut concerning The scope and bearing o.
that and other provisions OF The Argentine
convention.
Tac Argentine Products.
Argentina produces little sugar for ez-
port the total importations Of sugar in
1879 from al South America. except Brazil,
amounting 10 Only S5.3ll,7l2 in value. In
consideration OF the concessions granted by
the United States. the Argentine Repub.ic
agrees 10 admit al reduced rates OF duty
a large number and variety Of products
from the United States. the reductions 1
ranging from 10 tC - per cent Of the eG- 4
listing rates OF duty.
Among other products and commodities /
this list comprises canned salmon, lob /
sters. and shrimps canned corn, succotash |
and tomatoes canned apples and berries, |
dried or evapCratcd fruits windmills and /
paraf!inc wax all OF which are reduced 1
SD per cent; bacon oatmeal cracked wheat
hUminy and other cereal foods sail twine
and cotton rope ar reduction of % per
cent: the duty on white pine. undresse1,
is reduced TO i per cent on valuation I
Of - cents per square metre: on spruce |
pine 10 - per cent on a valuation of - /
cents. on yellow and Oregon pine Is per
cent on a valuation OF % cents. and on l
oak and ash to j. per cent on a valuation
of 80 cents. Cottuaseed oil is reduced to
6 IL cents a gallon.
Ii is believed that the Senate committee
viii take up the Argentine treaty for con-
sideratidn within the next ten days and
there seems to be a fair prospect Of its
before February 10.
The British West Indies.
Tho treaties which affect Bermuda and
four of the British West India islands
contain number Of provisions against
some Of which various objections are urg-
ed There is some opposition to the ad- Z
mission OF potatoes and onions from Ber- &
muda and jamaica AT a reduction Of i l. =
per cent from the existing rates of duty, !.
10 a reduction OF i 1-2 per cent in the
luties on cane sugars and molasses from Z
British Guiana and Jamaica. t
and 10 a reduel ron OF % per cent in the \
iuties on citrus fruits. potatoes, onions. :
and Ium from Jamaica.
one Of the objections urged against the
reduction of The duties on tropical and
semi-tropical fruits and on vegetables is I
that il may tneasurably affect Porto Rico, \
which under new and better conditions OF 2
industry would be ready 70 supply the {
home markets. and that it might also Sc l
-iOusly interfere with the citrus fruit ana $
other fruit industries Of Oregon, Califor- {
MIA and Arizona.
A delegation OF Pacific Coast Senator's r
and Representative recently called at the s
department of State to express their views g
)n the subject and TO protest against some y
1f the provisions I'm the treaties with ia {
naica. British Guiana and Barbados. Ii
Is said that after explanations had been
made all of them expressed themselves as
satisfied. with the exception OF one Repre- I
sentative from a district in which fruit
growing is perhaps the most important in
lustry. u was pointed out to them that |
he competition of the Jamaica orange
growers. even with a reduction of the duty I
rom l cent pound to 0.S of a cent. would /
lot injuriously affect their industry A
nasmuch as the Jamaica orange seas. .
N did not conflict with the California
eason. and. moreover as Great Britain had
ecently granted a subsidy of s5O.0O0 year r
or a line of swift steamers designed TO "
AIRY fruit from jamaica to British ports. "
Attitude of Beet Sugar Growers. Il
The beet sugar growers see a menace in
ny proposed reduction Of duty on cane su-
-arc md roplaScac and fhpv ara Il, /