New-York tribune., 1900-01-03
THE RECIPROCITY TREATIES
a STRONG OPPOSITION DEVELOPING TO
THEIR RATIFICATION BY THE SENATE.


BE DEFEATED UNLESS PROMPT Ac-
TIoN IS TAKEN-NATURE AND
GROUNDS OF OPPOSITION
PROVISIONS THAT ARE
CRITICISED.
Washington Jan (speciaD.-wfn the CONNER
cial reciprocity conventions negotiated with the Ar
gentine Republic and France and with Great Britain
In behalf Of several of her West India colonies,
under the authority conferred by Section OF the
Tariff act OF July a. 1897 and pending before
the Senate. be ratified and carried into eect7 is
question which is exciting considerable interest and
discussion in Administration quarters well
among Senators and Representatives in Congress
and the representatives of various industries and
business interests which likely to be affected
II the answer is affirmative one. In the Senate
the papers were referred to the Committee on For
eign Relations which has not yet begun to consider
them. The status OF these conventions is
what peculiar one. The negotiations were opened
and conducted under and by virtue of section Of
the Tariff law which prescribed that whenever
such treaties should be entered into by the Presi-
dent OF the United States ''by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate within two years from
ana after the passage OF the act, and should be
duly ratified by the Senate and approved by Con-
sress and public proclamation made accordingly"
1hey should become operative The two years ex-
pired on July a. 1899, and the treaties above men
toned were signed on or before that date, but the
Senate had adjourned about FIVE months earlier and
therefore action taken by that body within
the prescribed period. There was no halt in the
reciprocity negotiations, however on that account
either with the countries named with other coun-
tries. for the authority of the President under the
Constitution negotiate treaties and for the SEN
ate TO grant or withhold its advice and consent is
paramount and 1t is understood that reciprocity
negotiations initiated under the provisions OF the
act OF 1897 with several other still in
progress. question has been raised as to whether
the approval of Congressional is Of both the SEN
ate and House of Representatives-wil be neces-
sary as regards the treaties which have been en-
tered into but yet ratified by Senate accord
Ing to the provisions of the of July "a 1897 but
1t Is not considered Of vital Importance.
DANGERS OF 4 TINE LIMIT
A more serious consideration is that by the terms
OF the respective conventions favorable action by
the Senate will be required within few weeks
months. at most If the pending treaties to be
saved In order to become effective the with
the Argentine Republic be ratified and ratii-
cations exchanged before February 10, 1900
that with British Guiana on before March 49, that
with Turks and Caicos islands before March
q, that with Jamaica or before March o. that
with Bermuda on or before March "a that with
France on or before March "a, and that with Bar
bados or before June 16 1900. Thus 1t will be
seen that the first treaty Chat with the Argentine
Republic1 must be ratified and ratiications ex-
changed within five weeks after Congress reas-
sembles. Wednesday next, in order to become
operative, and that all the Others except the one
with Barbados, must be ratified before vari-
dates in March, they will fall by their own
terms. The opponents of several of the treaties
find some encouragement in this fact, and they
hope TO be able to exert sufficient influence pre-
vent postpone action until 1t becomes too late
TO any Of the treaties. They rely to some
extent the fact that the several conventions
appear before the Senate having been negotiated
and signed under the authority conferred by Sec
ton A. of the act of July "a, 1897.
There is still another ground upon which the op-
nj of of +hx traar arfeG alyl
headway and prevent ratification. Although little
Or nothing has been publicly said about it, they
not without hopes of being able to make com
mon cause with the sugar, tobacco and certain
other important domestic industries and interests
which they expect exert powerful influence
adverse 10 any legislation which would place like
Industries and interests in the newly acquired insu
lar possessions of the United States on the same
footing under the tariff laws as they themselves
enjey 1t is understood that efforts to form such
alliance of interests already being made
and, it is asserted with some prospect of success
If ii should be effected 1t would probably be power
full enough to prevent favorable action by the Sem
ate the reciprocity conventions within the lin
tied period prescribed In fact the short duration
Of that period is the chief danger to which they
exposed. 1t is difficult to see how such COM
bination is proposed be made effective be-
cause of the diverse elements to be considered
which would be likely to conflict with one another
and prevent unity and concert Of action.
The sugar and tobacco interests, even If they
were united, could not, for example, prevent the
bringing of Puerto Rico under the tariff and navi-
CATION laws Of the United States the granting
TO the people of the island Of the other rights and
privileges of citizens Of the United States. Against
this proposition hardly single murmur has been
heard il either branch of Congress. So far the
Industrial interests before mentioned concerned
they care comparatively little about Puerto Rico
legislation, except they fear that 1t may fore
shadow and be forerunner OF future legislation in
regard 70 Cuba. That is rather impressive bug
bear in the minds Of many of them. The status of
Hawaii has been already defined and virtually de-
remote. that the Philippines will be brought
United States.
no OPPOSITION TO ARGENTINE TREATY.
Against the ratification of the Argentine treaty
not word has been heard in Washington by the
Senators who you'd have been most likely to re-
ceive the news. 1t proposes to admit. at a reduc-
of 20 per from the existing rates of duty
Argentine sugar. hides and wool For example the
duty on hides would be reduced from Is per cent
10 u per cent ad valorem and the duties on sugar
and wool In like proportion. The reduction wool,
X is held will not be injurious the wool growing
industry of the United States, and the stand taken
by the negotiators has been explained and defended
sn an official statement concerning the scope and
bearing that and other provisions of the Argen-
tine convention which statement has already been
published IN The Tribune.
Argentina produces little sugar for export, the
total importatons OF sugar in 1899 from all South
America, except Brazil, amounting to only 50 341,-
T13 IN value. In consideration of the concessions