The Washington times., 1902-12-23
CLEAR SAILING FOR
CUBAN RECIPROCITY
Treaty Soon to Be Taken
Up in the Senate.
OPPOSITION IS WITHDRAWN
Leaders to See That There Is No Con
fict Between Two Branches Of
Congress.

The Cuban reciprocity treaty viii DC
taken up in Tho Senate very soon after
Congress comes together again i'm Jgu-
Uary. The Foreign Relations Committee.
to which it has been referred, VIII not
spend much time in considering 81, but
VIII report promptly.
There is little doaut about it's early
ratification by tho Senate. Senator Bur
rows and Senator Elbins. who led the
fight against the reciprocity bin last
spring. have thrown up their hands.
Both OF them are willing now that the
Administration should secure by treaty
what they were unwilling TO grant
through direct Legislation
They say that treaty Is not so harm
ful as a bin, because 50 precludes the
opportunity for tariff agitators to pro-
pose misunderstanding amendments.
Clear Sailing.
once ratified by the Senate friends Of
reciprocity are not worried at all about
the course OF the House OF Representa-
tives. The program IS entirely clear in
ahe minds OF Senate and House leaders.
There Will be no controversy between
the two bodies. The preCedCnts are
already established and they viii be fol-
lowed.
When reciprocity treaties were ne
gotiated with Hawaii and Canada years
ago legislation was promptly enacted
putting in force the rates Of duty desig-
mated in the treaty. That was done by
concurrent action OF the House and
Senate-tne House taking the initiative.
The same course viii be followed now.
Any other course would precipitate a
controversy FOR which there Is no need.
II the Senate were to ratify the treaty
without asking for confrmatory legis-
lation. collectors Of customs who are
under oath and bonds would not feel al
liberty to follow the new tariff rates
which did not have the ratification OF the
House Of Representatives as prescribed
by the Constitution.
The question would have 10 so 20 the
Supreme Court and there C would be
fought over at the expense OF great de-
lay and confusion. with - chance that
the new rates would De declared uncon-
stitutional and the whole question would
be thrown back into Congress.
ConfrnatoIy Measure
The issue IS one which has been q sub
3ect for controversy Tor years between
the House and the senate. and whatever
the technical views of each body insist
ing on its own perogatiye. in actual
practice. leaders Of both parties agree
that the safe course IS to have a con-
frmatory tariff bin enacted. IL viii not
be necessary for anybody iu the House
TO raise the question.
The proposition is entirely distinct
from that involved in the framing of
treaties under the Diagley ard Mckinley
laws. With those treaties there was no
reason to raise any question
The Mckinley law and the Dingley
law contained special provisions author
izing the President and the Senate with
Ia a certain period 70 negotiate and rat
ify reciprocity treaties based specifically
upon the terms Of the law. In the pres
eut instance there is no such authorize
tion and there is no disposition TO arouse
controversy.
The House has already pasted a Cuban
reciprocity bill and there IS 40 question
but that it viii willingly pass another %
put the provisions Of the treaty in force.