BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-11-29

has already been pretty well foreshadowed.
He will call the attention of congress to the
treaties now before the senate ald will re.
commend legislative action looking toward
the establishment of reciprocal commercial
relations between the United States and
other countries on a'protection basis. Those
who have seen this portion of the message
say that it is admirably drawn and that
it will meet with general approval. The
question will be left for congress to deal
with, end in spite of the aversion of many
Republican leaders to the opening up Of the
tariff question it will be hard to avoid discus.
sion altogether. A favorlte scheme with
many Republican leaders, leaders, as has
already been noted, is to establish system
of maximum and minimum duties to be
used in bringing about reciprocal arrange
ments with other governments. They be-
lieve that this will be much more effective
and simple method than the signing Of reci.
procity treaties which would provide spe-
cial tariff schedule between the United
States and each country with which trea.
ty might be arranged. One Of the great
objections to the treaties in the minds Of
many Republican leaders has been that they
would create complicated series of tariff
schedules so elaborate as to lead to in6nit
confusion.
The President is favorable to the extension
tof the Chinese exclusion act and to further
restriction of immigration in general. Bott
of these questions are pretty certain to give
rise to interesting contests in congress
There will be bitter fight especially on th'
Chinese exclusion act, the extension o
which is favored by Commissioner Pow
derly and opposed by his immediate 81
perior in the Treasury Department, As
sistant Secretary Taylor. Those who art
interested in Hawaiian sugar raising viii
oppose the extension of the exclusion &C
unless Hawaii can be made an exception
| to the lao. If they can get such an e1.
! ception they will not object to further re
strictive legislation.
There is sure to be an interesting contes
in congress ovether question of tariff con-
cessions to Cuba so that Cuban sugar and to
lbacco may be admitted to the United States
at lower duties than the Dingley rates. Some
of the strongest protectionists in congress
like Senators Aldrich and Platt of Oonnec
ticutt. are favorable to such concessions
One of the strong arguments which they
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can market to Cuban products will prove
such blow to Cuban industries as to force
annexation, which Republican leaders dc
not desire.
The question of Pacific cable will come
before congress. In the opinion Of the Pre-
sident and other leaders q cable should be
built by private enterprise rather than al
government expense. A concession to q
private company for landing is . matter
within executive control, but on question
of such farreaching importance the Presi'
dent probably prefers that congress take pre-.
| liMinary action. It is important that any
cable between the United States and Phi
lippines shall have landing place in Japan.
But no strictly government cable could OK.
pect such concession from the japanese
government.
The coming congress will be expected to
establish civil government for the Philip
pines and to take steps looking to the in.
dustrial development of the islands by Ame-
rican capital. This will be one of the most
important of all the questions before CON.
gress, but the President and the Republican
leaders are waiting for the arrival Of the
report of the Philippines Commission, which
will outline the organic law that 10 most
likely to meet conditions there. This report
has been delayed several times through the
disabling Of transports by which it was to
have been sent, but the recommendations of
the commission will be in Washington very
early in the session:
It is believed that the new Hay -Paunce.
fote treaty will be ratified by the Senate
before the holidays. There is practically no
opposition to it now, and its ratification will
clear the way for speedy legislation for an
istkmian canal.
It is understood that the canal commission
will again pronounce in favor Of tke Mica
raguan route, but if it should leave any lee
way for the consideration Of the purchase Of
the Panama Canal some Republican leaders
believe it would be wise to incorporate the
Panama alternative in any legislation in
such way that 1t might be used as club
with which to secure necessary concessions
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