The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-26
lRx c. Arthnr Willlams. }

ton is had with reference TO the plan TO reduce
tho duty on Cuban sugar.
This, just at present, is the position Of the
leading members OF the house. They are pre-
pairing to resist in every way IN their power
the plan to have the Cuban reciprocity treaty
submitted to the senate only, because, in their
opinion, that plan seeks to ignore the house in
a matter OF great Importance matter the set
Element Of which, the leaders of the house con
tend they are entitled to a voice.
The indications arc that the fight over this
point will be commenced Immediately after con
sress reconvenes on January s, and that it VIII
bc as bitter and as vigorous the struggle
over the reciprocity bill last session Then 1t was
the president and a faction Of the republicans
against the democrats and the rest Of the re
pubcans. In the coming contest It appears that
the lines will be drawn between the president and
the senate side and the house on the
other, irrespective Of politics.
Mr.. Roosevelt has already expressed the opin-
ion that the reciprocity treaty can be handled by
the senate without any assistance interference
on the part of the house. Before taking this
attitude he went into the question very carefully
and since the result Of his Investigations was
what il was, it is reasonable to assume that the
majority of his advisers favored the course
which was finally decided on, Notwithstanding
this, it is the opinion Of many well informed peo-
pie in Washington that all matters affecting the
revenue OF the country should be passed on by
the lower house of congress and that the Cuban
reciprocity treaty should be submitted to that
house, despite the fact that ordinarily the house
has nothing 10 do with treaties. 1t might be
stated incidentally that those who entertain this
| opinion are not all members of the house. Both
sides TO the controversy confident that theirs
is the correct position and it is plain that unless
some middle ground is discovered a long drawn
out controversy will be in evidence.
4
Several Of the points involved in the present
discussion are identicay the same as those
which cropped out last spring, when the fight
over the reciprocity bill raging hercest One
| of these questions concerns the right OF the
| president TO negotiate and the senate to ratity,
| treaties affecting the tariff revenues. One OF
! the provisions of the Dingey tariff law express
| ~ limited the negotiation of such treaties to the
! two years immediately following the passage of
the bill. This time has long since expired, so
as has been previously pointed out in this cor
! respoudence, it would seem that the present
reciprocity treaty is nullihed by the Dingley law,
Notwithstanding the general understanding is
that the treaty was negotiated under the provis
| ions Of that law. Those interested have sought
for some authority for the negotiation Of such
treaties subsequent to the expiration Of the time
limit, but have sought in vain. The opponents OF
the movement to give relief TO Cuba are build
ing strong hopes this point alone.
Another feature which is being urged by those
Opposed 10 the penang treaty, IS that SectlOn OF
the Dngley law which says that all reciprocity
treaties negotiated within the two years time
limit shall be approved by congress in addition
to being ratified by the senate. The argument is
made that a resort to the courts would show that
the president exceeded his authority in nego-
| tating the present treaty without having secured
the consent OF both houses of congress. This
is based the we'll known fact that all measures
affecting the revenues must originate in the
house
Despite all these things the president seems
Ia be going gaily ahead with his plan to have the
Cuban treaty ratified by the senate and then put
in immediate effect This action on his part has
already aroused the opposition of many members
OF the house who, although favorably inclined
toward reciprocity with Cuba. are jealous Of
the rights and privileges of the house to an ex-
tent which will not allow them to sit dly by
while in which they should have a
hand is being disposed OF by the senate without
the slightest attention being paid to the lower
body.
One of the house members who looks at the
case in this light is Mr.. Cannon Of Illinois. who
will be speaker of the house in the Fifty-eighth
congress il he lives. Uncle Joe" wants to see
some reductions made in the duties on Cuban
| sugar and other products. but he does not waa+
| 70 see the work done without his assistance and
the assistance Of other members of the house
de has always been great stckler for the right
OF the house, having gone so far during the last
session as TO threaten to hold up the army and
naval appropriation bills unless the senate showed
more consideration for the members of the lower
body He has always been a powerful factor in
! legislative matters and now, with the speaker
ship of the next house fguratvely tucked away
| IN an inside pocket he is even more formidable
than before
One of Mr. Cannons principal lieutenants will
be Representative Tawney of Minnesota, who led
the night in the house against reciprocity last
session. Mr. Tawney is an aggressive fighter
and 1t is conceded that he will be in a position
to cause his opponents a great deal Of trouble.
1t is even said by some he will lead the fight
against individual action on the part of the SEN
ate and that he will be assisted by Mr.. Cannon.
This is mere matter of detail Unless there is
material change in the situation, Mr. Cannon
ana Mr. Iawney will be at the head of the anti
treaty movement and it makes little difference
which will be the more prominent
4 \ Z
One OF the things on which the senate leaders
VIII place great reliance is the report made nv
| committee OF senators last session on the right
OF the senate to ratify reciprocity treaties with
out JOINT action on the part OF the house, The
| report IN question was quite voluminous but in
few words it was to the effect that the senate
! mad the right and that no action on the mart of
the house was necessary The senators who
/ made this report went into the question very
thoroughly OF course and are quite sure that
| their position is the correct one. 1t is. there
| lore presumed that the senate will proceed with
the ratihoation OF the treaty which is expected n
De placed before 1t Immediately after the holiday
recess and that II will rely on the supreme court
| OF the United States TO finally pass on tho c,so