New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-09
FRENCH TREATY BLOCKED.
NAY BE WITHDRAWN so THAT TIME
FOR RATIFICATION CAN BE
EXTENDED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

Washington, March S.-The pending recproc-
ity treaty with France may be withdrawn from
the Senate in order that the time within which
1t may be ratified be extended. Its advo-
Gates realize that it will probably be impraeti-
cable to obtain the consent of the Senate to the
treaty before March "a on which date it will
lapse by its own terms unless the ratiflcations
have been exchanged They probably realize
also that an attempt to force the treaty through
at this session would be premature and likely
to fail The Committee OF. Foreign Relations
has it's hands full of more urgent matters than
the French treaty at this time and the Senate
Is In the same condition. Chairman Davis and
his colleagues of the committee just
absorbed in the consideration of the Hay
Pauncefote Treaty, and may be so for some
time to come.
SITUATION REALIZED BY PRESIDENT.
The President who is keener witted than those
who have assured him that there would be no
serious opposition in the Senate to the rati
fication of the reciprocity convention, realizes
that they were mistaken and that the opponents
are not only powerful and influential. but very
determined. They will fight for the motion to
refer to the Finance Committee if necessary, and
If that shall fail they will demand the fullest
discussion and consideration before a vote on
ratification is taken.
1t is understood that Senators who do not
favor the treaty, and some who have not yet
decided to oppose 1T, have taken pains recently
to inform the President of the state of affairs in
the Senate in relation to it, and it is said that he
has heard some pretty plain talk the subject.
Some of them, who are among the warmest sup
porters Of the Administration, will feel com
PEELED however reluctantly. to speak and vote
against ratification and the President now real
ICES that II the motion to ratify should be cdopt
ed 1t would be by almost the solid vote of Demo-
cratic Senator's in the affirmative
There are indications that the publication in
newspapers of arguments signed by Commits
sioner Kasson and Commissioner Porter have
injured rather than benefited the prospects of
the treaty In the Senate. One Senator who read
tneSe statements remarked that he did be-
cause he wanted to ascertain what II ANYTHING
the treaty contained TO commend it to his own
judgment. and he did not find It, He did not
consider that mere fiourshing of ad vaorems
and percentages furnished the information he
required. 1T reminded Of the lingo of Nor
rison and Mills" he added. The constant reitera-
ton or the statement that the trainers Of the
Dingley tariff imposed rates which were un-
reasonably high in order to have a leeway for
reciprocity negotiations, which has been denied
by them over and over again. has at last
cited their resentment and they will the
treaty all the more vigorously on that account
Among the representatives of industries who
have come to Washington to oppose ratification
is Titus Sheard, of Little Falls n Y In con-
versation ne said:
fashioned hosiery industry in the United States
and serious blow to manufacturers OF knit goods
speak have been established in this country less
than two years. Last year was not very good
eTn machinery. pay good wages and are ready
to establish our business a permanent basis IL
goods it will render our plants worthless The
treaty will literally drive us out of business.