New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-11
THE TREATY WITH FRANCE
MR.. KAssoN MAKES AN ARGUMENT FoH
RATIFICATION.
MEMBERS OF THE FOREIGN RELATlON0
AND FINANCE COMMITTEES DESIRE
INFORMATION.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.I

TBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.I
Washington Jan. 1O.-The reciprocity treaty w" 49,
France is proving a hard nut to crack anu a..
prospect of its ratification by the senate an -, -,
approval by Congress- as required by the PROVISIONS
OF the tariff law of 1894. by virtue OF which II wa"
negotiated. have not greatly improved aIlhous"
Mr. Kasson the Commissioner Plenipotentary VINO
conducted the negotiations on behalf OF the Oii'
States. in his statements to the committee ",
Foreign Relations OF the Senate to-day lL1Sl -,
some of the members with views less unfaVoraOle
than they had hitherto entertained lie was "O',
however. provided with data to remove some u
their more serious doubts. He explained the ullieA
ence between the maximum and minimum rates U
the French tariff which he said, ranged from 10
per cent to 10 per cent, and read a long hse U q
ticles the duties on which would be reduced 10
gether with the various percentages OF reouc'iOi' -
the treaty should be ratified and become operative
He also explained that all the countries Oh LU
rope except Portugal enjoy the advantage OF MIN
inum rates under the French tariff by Virtue u
ARRANGEMENTS and treaties that had been made
from time to time, whereas with few excepuohs
and those not consisting Of manufactured articles
all grades imported into France from the United
States are subjected to the operation of the max
imum tariff. France, he said. imports about SlVo-
100000 worth of manufactured products year OF
which about $40 100000 in round figures came from
the United Kingdom, 100000 from Germany. only
900 from the United States and the remainder
from other countries He not supplied with
data showing what the principal manu-
featured goods imported to make up the total or
100000 from the United Kingdom, or the 10000
900 from Germany or the 100000 from the United
States or the respective maximum and minimum
rates on such principal articles Neither was the
Commissioner Plenpotentiary prepared when ques-
tons asked to show the amount of goods i'm
ported from France last year on which 1t is pro-
posed lower the rates of duty for the benefit OF
the manufacturers and exporters such articles
and goods when imported into the United States
He not supplied with figures showing the ex-
ports to France from the United Kingdom. Ger
many and the United States, respectively. of ar
ticles which will be required to pay the maximum
rates Of duty even in the treaty shall be
ratified and become operative. the respective
maximum and minimum rates on said articles
which, II imported into France from the United
Kingdom. Germany and all the other countries of
Europe except Portugal, enjoy the advantages of
the minimum rates.
OF course the information and facts above are
essential to any intelligent consideration OF the
pending treaty by Congress. and the Commissioner
promised to supply them as soon as practicable.
in response to the request of the committee
Mr.. Kasson's argument in favor of the treaty
is said to have been earnest and skilful, well
as strong in some respects. One statement he is
said to have made, however, which will be sharply
challenged by the Republicans In both branches
of Congress who actively identified with the
tariff LEGISLATION of 1897 and that was that many
or the rates purposely made nIgner unan
necessary in order to make it easier and more de-
slrabe to negotiate commercial reciprocity treaties
with France and some other European countries
Several members of the Finance Committee of the
Senate and the Ways and Means Committee of
the House of Representatives have already ex-
pressed themselves pointedy and emphatically in
private conversation against that or any similar
ranted by facts
OF course, the members of the Finance Commit
tee are deeply concerned in the fate of the pend
ing treaty, and several of them of the opinion
that as it and other reciprocity conventions refer
exclusively to tariff provisions and rates Of duty
they should have been referred the Finance
Committee in the first instance instead of to the
Committee on Foreign Relations. Chairman Davis
that there was justice in this contention when he
suggested to Chairman AIdrich of the Finance
Committee that he appoint subcommittee to at
tend to-day's and other hearings with view CO..
operative consideration and action. The suggestion
did not bear fruit, none of the members of the
Finance Committee being present at to-day's hear
ing except Senator WOlcott who Is also member
of the Committee on Foreigu Relations Late this
afternoon, however. conference was held at
which most of the Republican members of both
cussed and considered. Out of this will probably
come harmonious action all the treaties by the
two committees most deeply concerned. What
members of the Finance Committee most want
what advantages will be reaped by the parties TO
the respective treaties, and whether the French
treaty any all of the pending treaties if
ratified and carried into effect will probably result
to the advantage or disadvantage of the United
States.
Members Of the Committee Foreign Relations
are equally anxious to obtain information these
essential If not vital points before they decide what
action to recommend
The Committee on Foreign Relations has not yet
operative according to it's terms must be ratified