The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-15
THE RECIPROCITY TREATIES.


With the adjournment of the Senate all
of the reciprocity treaties-ten or a dozen
| which had been negotiated by Mr. Kss-
son failed, and Mr.. Kasson resigned, for
the reason. apparently. that ne saw that
there was no prospect that the Senate
would ratify any treaties of that kind.
! 1t would be interesting to know what
the policy OF the Senate is with regard to
our foreign commerce. We now have COM
/ mercial treaties with the principle COM
mercial nations. but they will expire with
in two years. They are of very great ad-
vantage to us-so great that 1t is al
most certain that the nations with which
we have these treaties viii not renew
them on the terms contained in the trea-
ties that failed
Without such treaties We may find 1t
extremely difficult to ind markets for the
surplus OF our manufactured product.
Without markets for it there would be
a very distressing condition of affairs in
this country. 1t would not be possible for
our workmen TO ind steady work The
reciprocity treaties, which are permitted
by the Dingley tariff act. were intended
to take the place of the commercial
treaties.
The basis of them is the provision in the
DingIey tariff act which provides that
there may be a reduction Of twenty per
cent. of our tariff duties on imports from
countries which make a similar conces-
sion to US It is the understanding that
q he Tora
les, but for some reason or other the SEN
ate does not regard them with sufficient
favor to ratify them. There is, of course,
opposition to them by those whose inter-
ests are affected adversely. but It is not
possible to negotiate a treaty OF any kind
20 which there would be no opposition.
A reciprocity treaty was being negotIat-
ed with Russia when the Secretary of the
Treasury imposed the countervailing duty
on Russian sugar. That put a stop TO
the negotiations. Had that treaty been
negotiated there would not now be trou-
Bile OF a commercial character between
Russia and the United States.
a war with fleets and armies would do
the United States less harm than a great
commercial war. and there are unmistak-
able signs of such a war. The PROPOSE
ton to unite all OF the countries of Eu-
rope in commercial war against the
United States has been made more than
once In the leading newspapers of Eng
land and the continent. There are fears
in ell OF the countries Of Europe that they
are not able TO compete successfully with
this country in manufacturing, and
it is probable that the most of them would
like to see tariff bars put up against
It.
Some of the interests that are being
hurt by the action OF Russia. in retalia-
ton for the order of the Secretary of the
Treasury placing a countervaiIng duty on
Russian sugar. are trying TO create the
impression that the sugar trust Is respon-
sible not only for the countervailing duty
on Russian sugar but also for the failure
Of all of the reciprocity treaties. It may
be that IT is, but there ought to be GER
tainty in respect 10 the matter before max
ing such a charge 1t does not seem to
be possible that the administration and
the Senate would sacrifice vast interests
OF the country simply to advance the in
terests Of the sugar trust. The question
as 90 whether or not the sugar trust is
responsible as charged ought to be inves-
tigated. and If found to be true not only
should there be the most severe legisla-
ton against the sugar trust, but the ad-
ministration should be condemned.