The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-30
THEREMAYBESOMEDELAY
Ia Ratlfyiug the Pending Cuban
Reciprocity Treaty.
STRONG OPPOSITION IS DEVELOPING.
sut the PRECEDENT, Willis Confident Ia
Working to Secure Its Prompt
Ratification.

Washington, December as.-copslderaSle
opposition is developing to the ratincatiop
% the Cuban reciprocity treaty. now mend.
ING IN the senate. II is not taking ouite
the form that the opposition to the Cuban
hesitation took last spring, but Il "a suf.
noent IN substance 20 give cDncern "a fbe
friends Of the treaty.
From time to time as opportunitv offers
the president IS discussing the matter with
senators, particularly those who are known
10 nave objected TO the enactment OF leg
isiation extending tsriT CONCESSIONS 70 the
Cuoan republic Several weeks ago IL an.
peared mat the treaty when presented to
the senate would be ratified but some sen
ators now are taking as strong grounds
against the treaty as they took against the
legislation Proposed at the last session Of
congress. These senators are Of two
classes. who are opposed on principle to
any 'tArin tinkering," aud those who rep
resent states whose products may be ar,
Cuha.
Senators OF the nrst class might be in.
duced TO support the treaty, in as much
es IT does not involve, IN their view, an
attack on the system Of protection, were
Il not for their apprehension that the rat.
incstion may lead to q demand from other
countries that they, too, be accorded spec
ial tariff concessions by the United states
II has been Indicated to the president that
IN the event Of the ratification Of the Gu
ban treaty demand may be expected from
Germany within thirty days tor conces-
slons similar 10 those accorded to Cuba.
The most distinct desire OF the German
emperor, II is pointed out, Is for the eX.
tension Of the commerce Of his empire. He,
OF course, regards Cuba as a nation foreign
limited "a
point is concerned, on all tours with Ger.
many. II tarin concessions are granted
10 Cuba, Germany, under the most favored
nation clause, Will request that she he
given similar concessions. That reQue5t
may take the form of O demand. II Il
| be not granted the fear Is expressed that
Germany may initiate legislation lnimical
I 10 this country, even II II should not cur
tail American commerce. The same argu
meut is applied to other countries. Germany
being used simply as an example OF what
may be expected Of all Of the great for
eign nations with whlch the United States
/ has extensive commercial relations.
Today the president had an hours con
! ference with Senator Scott of West Viz
! glnia during which they discussed the
reciprocity question in all Its phases Sen
ator Scott IS Offering no captious opposi
/ ton to the Cuban treaty, but he Is par
/ ticulnrly DESTROYS that nothing should b'
| done that in the end might result In any
/ concession by the United States from III
The president, It is understood, believet
| the pending treaty Will be ratified. He de
| sires that II should he ratified as prompt
| " as possible and with as little frlcuoI
J as possible He sees IN the proposed rati
/ fcation no possible assault on the tariff
/ system Of this country and believes i
would he simply the redemption Of prom
| Use, direct OF implied, made to tine CubaI
! people when they were IN the tnroes o
| the organization OF their government; II
this view the president is supported BY
large minority Of the republican senators
While some trouble is anticipated IN et
is believed ratification will not be delaye'
| seriously.