Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-24
Negotiations on a Bill Pro-
crossing in Senate.
ACTUAL SITUATION
WORK BEING CONDUCTED WITH
EXPEDITION AND CARE.
Annoyance at Gratuitous Suggestions
From Outside Sources-An Open
Letter as to Cuban Interests.

Letter as to Cuban Interests.
Negotiations among republican Senators
in the preparation Of a Cuban reciprocity
bill are still in progress in a delicate way.
No agreement upon bill has been reached.
The actual situation is thus stated briefly,
in authoritative quarters:
We are hopeful of obtaining an agree
ment among the republican senators of the
committee on relations with Cuba on bill
which all the members of that committee OF
the majority party will support and which
may be expected 10 receive the concurrence
of a majority of republicans OF the Senate"
1t further is stated that the work to this
end is being conducted as eXpeditiously as
the delicate nature of the proceedings will
admit; that with so many differing views
to be reconciled and opposing interests to
be considered the preparation of bill likely
to command harmonious support must be
accomplished with care.
AS one Senator put il. The republicans,
in getting up a bill for the relief of Cuba,
must work the thing out on common
sense basis, and this they are doing
Some Annoyance Manifested.
Some annoyance is manifested by repub-
lican senators over gratuitous criticisms
and suggestions from outside sources which
at this time are not calculated. it is said, TO
aid in harmonizing divergent views upon
this question. The latest instance of this
character is furnished in an open letter"
which has been sent to all senators 10y the
counsel for the committees of commerce
and industry of the Associated Economic
Corporations of Cuba" The letter has just
been received by senators.
1t purports to be the views of the asso-
citation upon the reciprocity bill as passed
by the House. and among some of the con-
tentions set forth in the letter is the tol-
lowing:
From the Cuban point of view the pro-
visions and conditions of the proposed Jaw
are very Objectionable. The bill does not
provide for reciprocal trade relations with
Cuba. 1t provides for unequal trade rela-
tions with Cuba. The unequal conditions
are all in favor of the United States aud
imposed by the superior power OF great
nation upon new and weak
Alleged Unfairness.
The letter says that the Associated
Economic Corporations of Cuba consider
the House bill unfair to Cuba for the fol-
lowing reasons:
THE imposition of the immigration, eX-
clusion and contract labor laws of the
United States upon Cuba is unjust because
these laws may prove to be unsuitable TO
under its present conditions. Thes may
paralyze and obstruct the reconstruction
and development of the country. These
matters should be left to the free control OF
the independent government Of Cuba unless
the United States proposes to enter INTO
free and full commercial union with Cuba.
THE reduction of 20 per cent offered by
the United States in the American tariff in
favor of the products and manufactures OF
Cuba is insufficient To promote the recon-
Sfr sti Of the country and to nut end
to the economical crisis that equally affects
all the producing classes and impels them
to bankruptcy.
bill are not reciprocal and equiv alent be-
cause while the United States only binds
itself to impose upon Cuban products and
manufactures 50 per cent Of the duties
fixed in the Dingley tariff Cuba is to inn
pose on the products and manufactures OF
the United States duties that are to be at
least 20 per cent Oliver ad vaiorem than
those levied on similar articles imported
into Cuba from the most favored country.
Tie United States will reduce by 20 per
cent its present tariff in favor of Cuba,
but does not bind itself to make the same
reduction I'm the rates it has already
granted or may grant in future TO other
nations by reciprocal treaties or by
legislation. The United States does
not bind itself as it demands Of Cuba,
to grant Cuban products and manu-
factures the benefit of rates Of duties at
least 20 per cent lower ad valorem than
those levied upon Ike articles from me
most favored country.
THE United States ought to bind itself
to deduct % per cent in favor Of Cuba's
products and manufactures from the rates
actually granted to the most favored coun-
try in order that the concession granted
NAV be reciprocal and equivalent and not
illusory. In these two methods of deduct
ing 20 per cent there is a wide difference,
which does away with any true reciprocity
in the BILL
Fears of Some Senators.
Some senators are beginning to fear that
whatever is done for Cuba may fall short,
in the estimation of the Cubans. of the full
measure which they expect. The represen-
tatives of the Cuban commercial bodies
apparently are obivious of the difficulties
attending the passage of any reciprocity
bill. and are not sensible of the sacrifices
which republican Legislators already have
made in the work they thus far have done.
1t is said that whatever kind of a bill is
enacted into law the benefits TO Cuba will
exceed those which American mercantile
interests will receive from il. Some ad-
vantage to American trade will follow, it
is assumed. but more from the friendliness
and more intimate relations growing up be-
tween Cuban and American merchants
than from actual abatement of tariff rates.
Certainly, in view of this fact If the Gu
ban commercial bodies intimate that the
gain with Cuba and manifest a spirit of re-
sentfulness and suspicion over the con-
scientious efforts which American states
making for them fhe "a %