The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-15
REDUCTIONS FOR
NONE BUT CUBA
Material Amendment to the Reciproc
ity Treaty Recommended.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 14.-The
senate committee on foreign relations
today agreed to recommend the adop-
ton of an amendment to the Cuban
reciprocity treaty providing that the
reduction of 20 per cent in the tariff on
Cuban sugar shall not be further re-
duced by any preferential rate given
to another country. This action was
taken at the instance of the beet sugar
men.
Today's meeting served to develop
objections to other features of the
treaty. Senator Taliaferro, Of Florida.
made an argument before the commit
tee, urging amendments to the provi-
sionS relating to tobacco and cattle.
and Senator Beacon and Bailey, both
Democratic members, indicated oppo-
sition to the treaty on other grounds.
Senator Bailey took positive ground
against the policy of securing recipro-
cal relations with other countries by
means Of treaties. He said that such
course is unconstitutional and an
interference with the authority vested
in the house to originate all tariff leg
islation.
The amendment agreed upon is in
the shape of proviso attached to the
eighth article of the treaty and is as
follows:
Provided, that, while this convention
Is in force, no sugar being the product
of the soil of the republic of Cuba
shall be exported from said republic to
the United States at a greater reduc-
ton of duty than 20 per cent below the
rates prescribed by the act of july %.
1897; and, provided further, that.
While this convention is in force, no
sugar shall be imported into the
United States from any other foreign
q n -
that imposed by the act of July "a.
1897"
The committee did not reach a vote
on motion made by Senator Bacon
to strike out Article vi of the treaty.
exempting American tobacco from
preferential rates given by Cuba to
American articles.
1t is claimed the adoption of the res
olution relative to the duty on sugar
will have the effect of insuring the
support of practically all the Repub-
lican senators. The opposition to the
striking out Of the provision regarding.
tobacco was because of the plea on the
part Of the Cubans that under If
American tobacco might be shipped to
Cuba and then exported from that ISL
and as Cuban tobacco. If Senator
Bacon's amendment should be adopt-
ed the treaty would not become ef
fective until it should be acted mon
by the house. That amendment reads.
This treaty shall not take effect until
the same shall have been aDprovad
by the congress"
Some objection has been made bv
the friends of the other reciprocity
treaties to the sugar reduction amend
ment to the Cuban treaty agreed unon
today. They take the position that
the provision that sugar shall not be
imported from other countries than
Cuba at less rate than the rates of
the Dingley law will have the effect
of fatally injuring a number of the
other treaties if it should be incor-
porated into the treaty as a reduction
on sugar imported into the United
States is a material feature of several
of the reciprocal agreements now pend
ing in the senate. This question, how
ever, has receive very little attention
at the hands of the senate. The
amendment relating to Cuban sugar
was drawn by Senator Lodge, and IT
is understood that the committees first
object was to continue the protection
now vouchsafed to american sugar.