The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-20
Cuban Reciprocity Treaty, With
Committee Amendments, Is Rat
flied by Three Fourths Vote.
FIFTY AYES, SIXTEEN NOES.
Senator Foster of Louisiana Makes
Speech Against Convention in
Which He Says Will Hurt
Beet Sugar Industry.

Washington, March ls-After ratifying
the Cuban reciprocity treaty the Senate ad-
| journed sine die to-day at fifteen minutes
| past o'clock.
Practically the entire day was spent be-
hind closed doors in executive session. Most
| of the time was devoted to consideration OF
| the Cuban treaty. Several speeches were
| made In opposition to the treaty. and one
| in favor of it. and then, promptly. at the
agreed hour, 3 o'clock, voting began.
Roll calls were had a number of
amendments, and the treaty itself was
made the subject OF an aye and noe vote.
vote OF % to 10. somewhat more than
three-fourJhs vote. whereas only a two
Thirds vote was necessary to secure rati-
fication.
SENATOR FOSTERS ARGUMENT.
Immediately after the doors were closed
few minutes past II o'clock Senator Eos
Ter OF louisiana took the iiooT in order to
treaty: He spoke for about two hours and
a half. His address had been prepared
carefully. and on its conclusion Mr.. Foster
very generally was compiimented on his
manner Of presenting the opposition view
In the main. his speech was an appeal
Tor the protection OF the American sugar
producing industry. He spoke especially
Tor the cane sugar interests oil louisiana,
but said that, while the sugar interest was
OF paramount Importance In hia own State,
on account of the cane produced there. the
beet sugar industry had grown to such pro-
portions that many other portions of the
Union also were coming to have very
pronounced interest in the making Of sugar.
ditions in Louisiana and said that. if the
treaty should be ratined, the result was
liable to be very disastrous to many Of his
constituents He appealed to senator's
from North and South alike TO refrain from
INJECTING this hardship his people.
AR; Foster also made the point there was
Chinese coolie labor into Cuba and said that
II such labor should be introduced American
labor could not compete with 1t.
AMENDMENTS ADOPTED.
Tho Committee on Foreign Relations an
nounced through Senator Cullom. its chair
man, the acceptance OF two amendments in
addition to those already recommended by
the committee. The first Of these was the
amendment increasing the rate of reduc-
ton on flour, cornmeal and corn imported
into Cuba from the United States. Senator
Nelson spoke, yesterday in support OF an
amendment along these lines, and Senator
Burton perfected the amendment. As Of
fered 1t provided for q reduction Of 10 per
cent, put the committee modified the
amendment SO as to provide for reduction
Of 80 per cent.
The other amendment adopted by the
committee was suggested by Senator Bacon
and fixed uniform reduction of 50 per cent
Cuba. 'eN 'N''
The only. aye and nay vote taken on the
committee amendments was on the amend
ment adopted some time ago by the COM
mlttee at the instance of the beet sugar
republican Senators providing against fur
ther treaty reduction of the duty on sugar
imported into the United States for the neGt
t i've years, or while the treaty remains in
force. A division was called for on this
amendment and II was sustained by a ma
!oTlty or twenty-five votes, the vote being
ferty-fonr for the amendment and twenty
cast by Democrats.
The other committee amendments, includ-
Ing those accepted to-day and the amend
ment making the approval of the entire
congress necessary to render the treaty
effective. then were adopted
AFTER the committee amendments had
number of amendments but they were all
voted down by strict party vote One of
these amendments provided for the striking
out OF article of the treaty. which makes
specific declaration against the granting of
any concession to American tobacco inn
Senate. ~ ~
Senator Foster presented an amendment
providing that the treaty shall not 20 into
effect until Cuba should accept the Chinese
exc exclusion laws Of the United States. but 1t,
like the Mctnery amendment, met defeat
Senator Newlands withdrew his amend
ment authorizing the United States to issue
an Invitation to Cuba to enter the Union !
and become a State thereof but gave no.
tice that he would renew it when the cues
ton of approving the treaty should come in
in the next regular session.
DETAILED VOTE.
The vote then was taken on the motion tn |
ratify: which was made by Senator Cullom.
and the motion prevailed, 30 to l6 the vote
being in detail as follows: