Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-29
4 MESSAGE To
CONGRESS ON
THE TREATY
ROOSEVELT WILL CALL PAR
TIcULAR ATTENTION TojTHE
! KIND OF LEGISLATION He
WISHES TO SEE PASS.

~
Roosevelt will send a special message 70
congress soon after the holiday recess
The message viii urge prompt action on
the Cuban reciprocity treaty and thealeg-
fslation needed to carry the treaty into
eject The president is not in any doubt
As to the course Of the senate, but ne
desires 10 make IL clear what kind OF
legislation he wishes 70 give the islands
He has talked the matter over with
leaders ike Senator Platt. Of Connecticut.
and CONGRESSMAN Cannon. and they agree
with him that the house must act as well
a. the senate Senator Cullum. chair
man OF the foreign relations committee,
holds to the view that the treaty once
ratified becomes the supreme law OF the
land. and that IL is a piece Of intrusion
on the part Of the house TO insist upon
having \ part in f. There are few
other senators who agree with Cullom. but
after the presidents message is read they
viii undoubtedly all fall into line
The president Is eager 20 secure the nee
essary legislation not alone, because IL Is
in accordance with his theories in con-
nection with Cuba. but because he re-
CARDS Il as q duty OF the United States to-
ward the smaller republic and one We are
bound in all honor TO give. Until re-
ciprocity is q fact. we will not be in
position 70 press Cuba TO carry out the
provisions Of the Plat amendment As
soon as the treaty Il ratified II viii mean
the dawning Of a new era OF peace and
goodwill between the republics.
The Venezuelan affair now in progress
Of being solved has brought out the need
OF United States naval stations in Cuba
and brought out that need with a promi-
hence that none can deny. Heretofore,
the administration has not felt like press
ing Cuba TO carry out the part Of the
Plat amendment regarding the naval sta
tons while the reciprocity measure was
pending. But as soon as the reciprocity
convention is a fact then the matter of
naval stations will be brought up With
be no question OF the supremacy OF the
American navy i'm the waters OF Central
and South America
There has been a great change in the
feeling in congress regarding the Cuban
treaty since the last session The states
interested in beet sugar were then much
opposed TO the treaty, but since that time
their opposition has modified great deal
The formal withdrawal OF opposition 10 a
fair measure BY the Michigan delegation,
and the reported statement that the meas
ure viii have the support OF Senator FL
kins. Of West Virginia has given the ad-
ministration and friends of Cuba much
hope
Another thing that has been a great
help 20 the treaty has been the conf
dence which is felt in General Tasker
Bliss. This confidence in the general is
felt BY both Americans and Cubans- This
treaty which he has negotiated with
Cuba meets the views of the protectiOnists
as well as the friends Of Cuba.
Many leaders in both senate and house
believe that legislation viii be necessary
10 give effect to terms OF the Cuban treaty.
Again. there are those who say that the
- ~.-.rra
the law OF the land The other conten-
ton is that this treaty affects the reve-
nues OF the country. and that It is the
constitutional prerOgative OF the house to
initiate such legislation.
This Is a contention that, II any effort
were made TO put the treaty into force
without the passage Of bill through con-
gress Il would be a decision. Moreover. the
mere announcement Of such purpose on
the part OF the administration would ex-
cite opposition. not TO reciprocity, but to
what many constitutional lawyers would
regard as an attempt at usurpation.
Such a question might come before the
courts in a variety OF ways but the issue
would probably be raised through the
refusal OF a collector OF customs. under
bond to execute the law. to accept the
losrer rates Of duty provided In the treaty.
without the additional authority OF an act
OF congress. The time limit fixed by the
Dingley act OF two years for the negotia-
tons OF reciprocity treaties has expired.
There thus being no preceding legisla-
ton 10 authorize change I'M the revenue
by treaty. it is claimed that subsequent
legislation is not necessary. That was
what was done In the cases Of the former
reciprocity treaty with Canada aud Of the
commercial treaty with Hawaii That II
Is believed. is what viii be done in this
instance Of Cuba Thus friction between
house and senate will be avoided. The
senate viii ratify the treaty IL this pro-
gram Is followed. and then the house viii
pass bill and send II to the senate ex-
plicitly fixing the rates Of duty on Cuban
imports provided in the treaty.
The congressional session already passed
has revealed pretty distinctly the purpose
OF the Republican leaders 10 90 slow in
new legislation. and to adjourn without
any large addition 70 the general statutes.
The holiday recess Is one OF the longest
on record for a session which must end
In early March. and little was done for
the week before the breakup. The senate
adjourned from Wednesday till Saturday
and then did little business. having less
than quorum present The week before
there was an adjournment from Thursday
tiiI Monday. on account OF the illness OF
Mr. Dillingham;. who was 10 lead in the
as his speech was delivered the senate
agreed 10 postpone the subject till after
the holidays
There are several reasons for this evil
dent purpose 20 go slow Many measures
are now on the stock ready to pass II
congress gets around 10 them. for which
there II only half-hearted support Rarely
have there been 50 many bills OF this
character. accompanied by still another
class which the leaders desire TO avoid
reaching congressional results. In these
circumstances the result viii largely de-
pend on the time factor
The threat OF an extra session which or
dinarily hangs over the closing months OF
an old congress. as a spur 10 activity. has
Of late lost much OF its force. The an
nouncement OF President Roosevelt's prac-
teal acceptance OF an Invitation TO visit
the Pacific coast in the spring. when San
Francisco will dedicate some Spanish war
monuments. and also his decision TO visit
the towns on a part OF the western tour
which was abandoned last fall. indicates
that he Is not expecting an extra session.
Nobody else Is now. "The least done. the
soonest mended.H seems with a few ex-
ceptions. 10 be the motto.
As an Illustration OF the class OF meas
ures that congress is ready 70 pass. but
which its leaders would just as lief see
omitted. may be mentioned the depart-
ment Of commerce bill. the immigration
bin and the new eight-hOur law. or course
each one has its strong and insistent
friends. but the prevailing tone in con-