The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-23
1 The IRE E! ! TIES
REClPl| R| !! II I
The President IS Annoyed BY the.
Opposition: 70 Them.
WllrExERT ALL HIS lNFLuENC E
10 Have Tho Treaties Ratified. and In
Conic srs Between, the Executive
and Congress the Former Has
Usually Been the Wilmer.

81 WASHINGTON. D. c.. Jan. = Especial.
The President Is showing signs of annoy
8nce III the symptoms OF opposition 10
the reciprocity treaties now pending be-
tween the United States and france. the
Argentine Republic, and Great Britain, on
Behalf OF her West India colonies. The
possibility Of failure. however remote. OF
a policy authorized by a Republican Con-
sress and made possible only through
legislative enactment upon which those
treaties are based. is not looked upon
with cquaninity by Mr. McKin-
ser and during the past week
a,e has not been backward In calling sena-
Tors and members of the House to the
Executive Mansion for a conferences On
the subject
These men are the leaders of the two
nanuses, and the President has talked
freely with them about these treaties.
Some who have convcrsed with the Presi-
dcEt have gathered the strong impress
sionA that tho President does not propose
TO be turned down BY Congress after
going ahead and acting upon its own
legislation and following the almost man
-datory provisions OF the Dingley law.
'.The President" said one of the most
prominent senators. who recently con-
{ vcrsed with him on this subject. is irri-
Natcd by the opposition That has sprung
UP in some quarters over these treaties.
He has ut adj times expressed his alter
opposition to anything that would weaken
the American system of protection, OF
which he was eminent as an exponent
when 4 member OF The House and chaii-
man OF the Committee on Ways AND
Means. He denies that there Is anything
an these treaties that interferes With the
protective tariff now in force. l., myself,
have talked with him, and he has pointed
out the largely increased trade that Will
fellow the ratification of these treaties,
although 1T may be true that an occa-
sional industry may be slightly touched
hero and there.
GIVE AND TAKE.
..Recfprocity, the President has contend
ed, involves a giving and taking, and the
concessions that have been granted are.
he holds. Tor the general good of the
whole country He believed In reciprocity
when IN Congress. and he believes in re-
ciprocity now. He holds that Congress
cannot now Tepudiate the very policy it
ordered and provided for, because to do
that would be to repud1ate Its own acts
and offer an unwairanted affront to those
governments where we have sought re-
ciprccal trade relations. and which have
been given us, In many instances, only
after the most urgent solicitation y
Whatever may be the result of the
action OF Congress, 1t is apparent that
the President will exert all that power
and influence lodged In the Executive.
to have these treaties ratified. IN che
contests of the past, which have ar1'ayed
the Executive against the Legislative
branch of the government, the President
has usually had his way. Cleveland,
against an adverse majority in his own
party. forced Consrcsszto repeal the pur-
chasing clause of the Sherman act. Pres
ident Mckinley and Republican leaders
werc at odds during the trying time that
led up TO the war with Spain. In the
Senate the majority was determined to
pass a resolution recognizing the belliger-
ency of the Cuban insurgents, The Fresi-
don't opposed It and won. In the House
the President was met with the anita
gonism OF former Speaker Reed. That
potential opposition melted away when
the crucial moment came
PRESIDENT WILL WIN.
There are some prominent men in both
houses of Congress who. believing that
these treaties are ill-advised and unwise.
still think the President will have his
way, and WIFI use that persuasive power
he so well knows how to use, and In
duce Congress 10 ratify these treaties.
despite the opposition that now seems
determined to repudiate the work Of Spe-
cial Commissioner Kasson. after SO many
months OF diplomatic negotiation. That
there is a contest between the Executive
and the legislative branch over these
treaties. no one conversant with the situar
1ion can deny.
One Of the most serious mistakes, ap-
parently, is the secrecy with which the
pending treaties have been negotiated
nrd conducted so far In the Senate. Even
the Statement OF Commissioner Kasson
before the Foreign Relations Committee,
although relating entirely to rates Of
duty, and the comments made by the
French Ambassador during the conduct
of the treaty negotiations. has had the
seal OF secrecy placed upon it at the
request of Mr.. Kasson, and copies have
thus far been denied even the members
OF the Finance Committee. who are sup
posed to be the tariff experts of the
Senate. More publicity wocld tend to
clear up the atmosphere and might mini
anize the opposition to the treaties