The San Francisco call., 1903-01-15
BEET SUGAR
MEN SCORE
A VICTORY
Secure Amendment Of
Cuban Reciprocity
Treaty.
Further Reduction in Tariff
Is to Be Prevented for
Five Years.

CALL BUREAU. 1406 G STREET, ".
w. WASHINGTON. Jan. l4.-with the
removal OF all Republican opposition 10
the Cuban reciprocity treaty to-day, the
danger OF fatal obstruction on the part Of
Democrats in the Senate increased and
there is now fear among the friends Of
the measure and belief among its. oppo-
nents that enough Democrats will be
found 10 defeat H. Senator Foster of
Louisiana who. has been organizing the
opposition TO the treaty for the purpose
Of saving the cane interest in his State,
found Yesterday and to-day an increasing
desire among members Of his party TO de-
feat what they consider ROOsevett's pet
measure Of this Congress.
Inquiry among leading Democrats to-
night as TO extent OF this feeling devel-
oped that all were unoOmmunicatiye
some said that they might oppose II on
constitutional grounds and others SAID
that il needed much amendment yet. Ger
tain il is that among friends Of the treaty
On the Republican side there is new
alarm.
The action Of the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations to-day in agreeing to
recommend an amendment providing that
q reduction of % per cent in the tariff on
Cuban sugar should not be further in
creased for a period Of five years during
tie operation of the treaty had the effect
Of eliminating all opposition among the
Leet sugar contingent When this action
became known Senator Burrows Of Michs-
gan said:
This is an amendment which have sug-
gested and on which have insisted Michi-
gan will now withdraw all opposition 10 the
cuban reciprocity treaty. ana know OF no
Republican Senator who Is disposed to vote
against it,
Some objection has been made by the
F.-fs Of he her
The sugar reduction amendment. They
take the position that the provision ths
sugar shall not be imported from other
countries than Cuba at less than the
rates of the DingIey law will have the
effect Of fatally injuring a number OF the
other treaties II It should be Incorporated
into the treaty. as a reduction on sugar
imported into the United States is a ma
terisl feature Of several Of the reciprocal
agreements now pending in the Senate
This question. however, has received very
little attention al the hands of the Senate.
The amendment relating to Cuban sugar
was drawn by Senator Lodge and il is un-
derstood that the committees first object
was 10 continue the protection now voueh-
safed TO American sugar.
The amendment agreed upon is in the
shape Of a provision attached 10 the
eighth article Of the treaty and is as fol-
lows:
Provided. that while this convention is IT
force no sugar being the product Of The soil
said republic 70 the United States at greater
reduction ~ dHty than 20 Per cent below the
rates prescribed by the act of July p 1891
and provided further. thar while this conven-
ion il in force no sugar snail be imported
INTO the United states from another foreign
country lower rate OF DUTY than that i'm
posed by the act Of July "a, 1897.
To-dsy's meeting Of the committee also
served TO develop objections to other fes-
lures Of the treaty Senator Taliaferro OF
Florida made an argument urging amend
ments TO the provisions relating 10 to-
bacco and cattle. and Senators Bacon and
Bailey. both Democratic members of the
committee. indicated opposition TO the
treaty on other grounds. Senator Bacon
offered an amendment placing the Cuban
treaty on the same basis as other reci-
PrOcify treaties with reference to the
House Of Representatives, but tho
amendment was not acted upon. Senator
Bailey took positive ground against the
policy OF securing reciprocal relation.
with other countries by means of trea-
ties -gsaying such 2 course was uncOnsti-
tdtIoHal in that ii is an Interference with
the authority vested in the House of Rep
resentatives 20 originate all tariff Iegisla
ton
The opposition TO the striking out Of IN,
provisions regarding tobacco was becaus,
Il the plea on the part Of the Cuban.
t.at under il American tobacco might be
shipped 10 cuba and then exported froT.
that island as Cuban tobacco. If the Ba.
con amendment should be adopted n,
treaty would not become effective until 4
should be acted upon by the House.