The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-30
CUBAN TREATY
NO SURE THING
Some of the Senators Look
Eskance at 1t.
TEDDY WORKING WITH THEM
RESULTS LIKELY TO FOLLOW ITS
RATIFICATION.
Dec. 29-Consider-

WASHINGTON, Dec 29.-Consider-
w able opposition is developing to
the ratification of the Cuban
reciprocity treaty now pending in the
senate. 1t is not taking quite the form
that the opposition to the Cuban legis-
lation took last spring, but it is suf-
hcient in substance to give concern to
the friends of the treaty. From time
10 time, as opportunity offers, the pres
ident is discussing the matter. with
senator's particularly those who are
known to have objected to legislation
extending tariff concessions to the Gu
ban republic. Several weeks ago it
appeared that the treaty, when pre-
scented to the senate. would be ratified
without difficulty but some senators
now are taking as strong grounds
against the treaty as they took against
the legislation proposed al the last seS-
sion of congress. These senators are
of two classes, those who are opposed
on principle to any tariff tinkering'
and those who represent states whose
products may be affected by the con-
cessions extended to Cuba by the pend
ing treaty.
Will Breed Requests.
Senators of the first class might be
induced to support the treaty, mas
]
view, an attack upon the system of
protection, were it not for their appre-
hension that the ratification Of the
Cuban treaty might lead to demand
from other countries that they, too,
be accorded special tariff concessions
by the United States 1t has been in
dieated to the president that in the
event of ratification of the Cuban
treaty. a demand may be expected
q % Wit In
concessions similar to those accorded
Cuba. The most distinct desire of the
German emperor, it is pointed out, is
for the extension of the foreign COM
merce of his empire. He, of course,
: regards Cuba as "A nation foreign to
the United States. and, so far as that
| point is concerned, on a par with Ger
many.
May Make Demands.
If tariff concessions are granted to
Cuba, Germany, under the most fav-
oved nation clause. will request that
she be given similar concessions. That
request may take the form almost of
! demand. If it be not granted, the
! fear is expressed that Germany may
i initiate legislation that will be mi
mical to the industrial development of
this country so far as Germany is con-
/ cerned. even if it should not curtail
Z
/ lished in Germany and its possessions.
! The same argument is applied to 9TH
! er countries Germany being simply used
as an example of what may be expected
( of all the great foreign nations with
which the United States has extensive
commercial relations.
Afraid of Precedent
/ Today the president had an hour
! conference with Senator Scott of West
/ Virginia, during which they discussed
] the reciprocity question in all its
phases. Senator Scott is offering no
! captious opposition to the Cuban
treaty. but he is particularly DESTROYS
that nothing should be done that in
the end might result in any departure
/ on the part of the United States from
its present tariff policy.
The president. it is understood, be-
be ratified. He desires that it should
4 with as little friction as may be. He
sees in the proposed ratification no pos
sible assault on the tariff system of
/ this country. and believes that it would
be simply the redemption of a promise,
direct or implied, made to the Cuban
/ people when thew were in the throes
of the organization of their govern
ment. IN this view the president is
supported by a large majority of the
Republican senator's While some
trouble is anticipated in effecting the
ratification of the treaty, it is believed
generally that ratification will not be
delayed seriously.