The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-11
THE CUBAN RECIPROCITY TREATY.

The Cuban reciprocity treaty which Con-
gress is called In special session to give
effect to was negotiated in Havana Dec. IL,
1902. between Gen. I. II. Bliss. representing
the United States. and two representatives
OF the Cuban government. The United States
Senate made several amendments to the
treaty. aud after prolonged discussion finally
ratified 1t on last March 10. AS ratified by
the Senate il provides that all merchandise
produced by either country which now en-
ters the other duty free shall continue free
OF import duties. All other Cuban products
imported into the United States shall enter
at reduction of 20 per cent. from the regu-
lar tariff rates, and all imports into Cuba
from the United States. not entitled to free
entry, shall be given reduction Of 20 per
cent, except three schedules Of articles,
which shall be entitled TO a reduction, re-
spectively, of % per cent. 80 per cent. and
10 per cent. from the regular Cuban tariff.
The list of articles thus entitled to reduced
tariff rates, ranging from 25 TO 40 per cent,
includes nearly everything exported from
the United States to Cuba. and all commod
tiles not included in these rates shall be en-
titled to n reduction of 20 per cent. Both
countries agree that the rates of duty
granted during the life of the treaty shall
be preferential as respects like imports from
other countries. American tobacco imported
into Cuba is not under any circumstances to
have rebate of duty Of more than 20 per
nd Csr,ba cd into he
United States the same. The treaty Is to re-
main in force for FIVE years from the date 1t
goes into effect which shall be ten days
after the exchange of ratifications In rati-
tying the treaty the Senate adopted an
amendment that Ii should receive the sane
ton of the House before 1t could go into
effect, and that is the cause of the present
extra session. Immediately after the rati-
fieation of the treaty by the Senate Presi-
dent Palma called the Cuban Senate in extra
session to consider the treaty as amended
by the Senate. Resenting what they re-
garded as the dilatcry practices of our
Senate in discussing and amending the
treaty, the Cuban body was inclined not to
ratify 1t except on condition that ii should
go into effect on or before an early date
definitely fixed. They did not like the
amendment that the treaty should not go
into effect until II had received the sanction
of the House. President Roosevelt, how
ever, allayed this feeling by giving the
Cuban government positive assurance that
he would call Congress in special session
before Dec. / to pass upon the treaty.
This assurance, joined with the influence of
President Palma and his supporters, secured
the acceptance of the treaty by the Cuban
Senate on last March 2S, by vote of II to g.
Ratiications of the treaty were exchanged
by the two governments March 81, and now
all that remains to give it effect Is the
sanction of the House. This can be done
in a very short time unless the interests op-
posed to Cuban reciprocity block the way
the House, called by the country debate
| There would be excuse for this, as the
whole subject was thoroughly threshed out
| by discussion In Congress and the press last
year, and the sense of the people shown to
| be overwhelmingly in favor of reciprocity
! There can be no doubt that the treaty would
| be beneficial TO the United States as we'll as
| to Cuba, opening up a new and valuable
market for many of our products, and any
material delay on the part of the House in
| approving it will be a wanton waste OF
| time