New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-01-20
CRGES R4TIFIC4T TON.
Senator CulIom' s Speech-The Sugar
amendment.

By The Associated Press
Washington. Jan I9-The Senate devoted two
brief executive sessions to-day TO the Cuban
reciprocity treaty. At the first session the
treaty read at length. and at the second
Senator Cullou. who as chairman of the Com
naittee on Foreign Relations has charge of the
treaty, made statement Of its purpose and
effect Senator Bacon, also & member Of the
Foreign Relations Committee gave notice that
he would have some amendments to offer, and
asked the privilege Of making them public. fol-
lowing the example of the Senate in making the
treaty itself public This request was denied
after considerable discussion. on the ground that
IT would be impolitic' and unwise-
Senator Cullorn's staten. Mt was exhaustive.
He produced a mass Of figures TO show the ex-
tent Of the commerce between the United
States and Cuba and gave reasons for his be
lief that the ratification of the treaty would
cause rapid increase in the trade between the
two countries He said that the basis Of
the commerce Of 1901. the ratification Of the
treaty would cause reduction Of about $1,000
600 on the duty paid on Cuban imports and
corresponding reduction Of about half that
amount on American articles shipped TO Cuba
He commended that the United States would Sc
cure advantage in continuing, as the treaty
does. the present free list under this arrange
rrent about So. 100000 worth of American goods
are admitted into Cuba free Of duty, while only
about 100000 worth of Cuban goods come
into the United States free. It was important,
he said. that the free list be continued as at
present; if there should be any change in the
Cuban tariff the United States might be de-
prived Of this advantage
Senator CuIorn dwelt at some length on the
proba bility Of increase in the volume OF
trade under the operation Of the treaty, saying
that this would be the result not alone Of the
reduced tariff but Of the mutual good feeling
ratification would cause He said he did not
believe any American industry would be In
jured by the ratifca ton of the treaty He
considered the agreement from all standpoints
one OF mutual benefit, and expressed the hope
that the treaty would be ratified without great
delay.
Senator Bacon offered one Of the amendments
Of which he had given notice. II provides that
this treaty shall take effect until the same
shall have been approved by the Congress"
This amendment is in line with amendments
recommended by the Committee On Foreign Re
lations in connection with other reciprocity
treaties. and if adopted would require the House
70 act on the treaty
The amendment was not discussed The Sen
ate adjourned with the understanding that the
treaty would be taken up tomorrow in the
morning hour
The official text Of the amendments to the
treaty made by the Committee on Foreign Re
Iations was made public to-day along with the
text Of the treaty L shows important varta-
ton from the text Of the amendments as IN
officially printed According TO the official print
the prohibition OF lower rates Of duty sugar
imported into the United States from other
countries is confined TO action by treaty or
convention Following is the full official text
of the amendment. which is attached TO Article
VIII Of the treaty. declaring for preferential
rates between the two countries
Provided That while this convention is in
force no sugar imported from the Republic OF
Cuba. and being the product OF the soil or in
dustrv Of the RepubIic Of Cuba, shall be ad-
rnitted into the United States 4 reduction Of
duty greater than 20 per centUrn Of the rates
Of duty thereon as provided by the tariff act OF
the United States approved July "a, 1897, and
no sugar. the product Of any other foreign coun-
try. shall be admitted by treaty convention
into the United States while this convention is
in force at a lower rate Of duty than that pro-
yfded BY the tariff act OF the United States ap-
proved July y, 1897
The treaty did not clash with the Statehood
bill to-day, but Senator Quay has served notice
On Senator Cullorn that every day at o'clock
he will insist that the Statehood bill shall be
considered Il would require vote TO take the
Senate out of executive session II the friends Of
the treaty insisted. Senator Quay says he
thinks there is q discrimination TO defeat the
Statehood bill by delay. and he will not give
way until time for q vote on the bill is fixed.
Senator CuIlora will Try and have the treaty
considered il the morning hour and at other
times when no Senator desires 70 speak on the
Statehood bill