The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-20
Senate Committee VIII Consider
It After Holidays
HASTE IS VERY NECESSARY
Treaty Names More Liberal Provision
for Importation of American Arti-
cIes Into Cuba Than Has
Been Heretofore Stated.

Washington, December 19.-The friends
of the reciprocity treaty recently nego-
tiated between the United States and
Cuba have been assured by members of
the senate committee on foreign rela lions
that the treaty will be taken up by that
committee as soon as Practicable after
the Christmas holidays. There were sew
eraI conferences on the subject at the
capitol today, which resulted in the I'M
derstanding. The terms Of the treaty re-
quire that it shall be ratified before the
31st of January and it's supporters APP
preciate the necessity for expedition In
getting it out of the committee in order
to avoid the necessity for an extension
of time. The treaty means more liberal
provision for the importation of American
articles into the republic of Cuba than
has been stated here before, there being
provision for reductions in some cases Of
as much as 10 per cent in others of 30 per
cent, and still others of % per cent On all
American-grown. or American-made ar
ticles, except tobacco imported into Cuba
and not specified in the 25 30 and 40 per
cent classes, there is to be a uniform
Agrees to Uniform Reduction.
In return the United States agrees to a
uniform reduction of % per cent without
exception on all importations from Cuba.
The new island republic does not agree
to any reduction on tobacco grown in
the United States or in the territory Of
any of its possessions and imported into
Cuba. The products of the United States
which are to be admitted into Cuba at
reduction of % per cent from the rates
of the existing Cuban tariff, including
pottery, salt fish, copper, made machine
ry, cast and wrought iron. and steel and
articles manufacturing them, glass, cot
ton and some cotton goods, ships and
boats, whisky and brandy. The thirty
per cent reduction includes cutlery, shoes,
plated ware, drawings. photographs, en-
cravings, etc, materials used in making
labels and bands for tobacco, common
soaps, preserved vegetables, butter, drugs,
bottled beer, etc, minerals and articles
made of hemp and kindred fabrics: musi-
cal instruments and writing and print
ing papers The list of American impor-
tatiuns into Cuba on which a forty per
cent reduction is made. includes watches,
umbrellas, knit cottons, preserved fruits,
perfumery and wooden and silk goods.
Rates Fixed for Each Party.
There is a specific declaration to the
effect that the rates are fixed for each
party to the convention as against all
countries. There also is a provision
against discriminating tax on the articles
affected in the country of their origin
In case either country changes its tariff
rate, so as to deprive the other of ad-
cantages granted, the other country is to
have the privilege of abrogating the
treaty. No specific provision is made for
a subsequent reduction of the Cuban duty
SO as to let American goods in at lower
rates by the regular methods of leglsla-
ton rather than by treaty but there is
a clause under which, If this reduction
is made, the Cuban government may re-
open negotiations to secure a modiflca-
ton of the treaty. 1t provides for such
a change only in case the Cuban tariff
SHOULD be so reduced as to make the re-
duetion unreasonable from the Cuban
point of view. The treaty is to go into ef-
feet ten days after its ratification by
the authorities of both countries.