The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-06
Senator Teller Says the Cuban Reel
procity Treaty VIII Open Up the
Whole Tariff Question.
LONG DEBATE IS EXPECTED
THERE NAY BE NO ACTION IN
TIL WELL INTO REGULAR SESSION.
Leading Members of the House of
Opinion a Simple Resolution of APP
prevail Is Not Sufficient.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.-There were
some interesting developments to-day as to
the method of congressional procedure on
the Cuban reciprocity treaty. That treaty
was amended by the Senate adding the
words: This treaty shall not take effect
until the same shall have been approved by
the Congress-
1t has been generally supposed that a
joint resolution or a bill approving the
treaty would be all that was necessary,
but members of the House and some SEN
ators take an entirely different view. They
say that a bill must be passed reducing the
duty on the products of Cuba and that ev-
cry provision affecting duties must be en-
acted in the legislation.
Representative Tawney, of Minnesota.
who was leader of the Republican minority
that opposed the reciprocity bill in the last
Congress, said to-day that the provision
requiring congressional approval when in
serted in the treaty was known by him to
be defective and open to constitutional OBJ
jections. The treaty of 1854 with Great
Britain for reciprocity with Canada and the
reciprocity treaty of 1873 with Hawaii, he
added. both contained a provision at the
very beginning stating that when suitable
legislation was enacted by Congress to car
ry out the provisions of the treaties then
the President should issue a proclamation
announcing the fact and the treaty there
upon should become effective. Both these
treaties were followed by legislation in the
form OF a bill reciting the articles that were
to be admitted duty free. Mr.. Tawney con-
tends that to approve the treaty by a SIM
pie resolution would be void. end asserts
that the sugar provisions of the treaty is
nothing more than a pledge of the good
faith of the government and tina the
duties ON sugar shall not be changed during
the life OF the treaty. Any tariff bill, he
contends. can abrogate this provision of
the treaty or the treaty itself.
The finance committee, which meets to-
morrow. will take up the subject of the
form of legislation necessary tc carry the
treaty into effect. Generally the senator's
believe that a simple resolution Of approval
will be all that is necessary, but some
senator's. notably Senator Teller, of Colo
RADIO, think that If approval is attempted in
any such form 1t will raise a constitutional
question which will cause a long debate in
the Senate. Senator Teller expects that the
whole tariff question will be opened up for
discussion by the Cuban measure and that
it will be well into the regular session be-
fore action on the matter is taken by the
Senate.
This afternoon Representatives Payne,
Hemenway, Dalzell, Tawney n Mann
conferred with Mr.. cannon on the form of
the proposed Cuban legislation. Later Mr..
Cannon said the matter would be determined
by the ways and means committee. Mr..
Payne, who Is to be chairman OF that COM
mittee, said he could make no, definite
statement about the form of the legislation
Until he had consulted all members of the
committee but IL was his opinion that the
measure in form would be q bill rather than
a resolution. as he did not see how the
House could do otherwise.
Senators Allison, Aldrich, Srooner and
Platt. of Connecticut. arrived IN Washing
ton tonight and Immediately went into
conference in Senator Allison's apartments
at the Arlington Hotel. At the conclusion
Senator Allison said he believed the Cuban
treaty would be made operative by joint
resolution. He cited the method adopted
by Congress in relation TO the Mexican
treaty as q precedent.
The special committee appointed by the
Senate at the last session TO prepare n
financial bill to be submitted for consider
alton OF the fifty-eighth session Of Con-
and Senator Allison said tonight he does
However, the Senate finance committee will
meet tomorrow and some definite pro-
gramme may be made.
A call for "A caucus of the Republican
members of the House was issued to-day to
take place Saturday evening, Nov. Z. 1t is
signed by Messrs Cannon and Louden-
Slayer, chairman and secretary, respective
ly, of. the caucus In the last Congress and
nv Mr.. TIA wneV- the Repuhlican whin