The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-20
Two Brief Sessions Devoted to
 Reciprocity Measures
SENATOR CUlLAM IN CHARGE
As Chairman of Foreign Commerce Committee He Presents Big Stock of Figures Showing U. s.
 Would Be Beneficiary.

Washington, January 19.-Tne senate devoted two brief executive sessions to- day to the Cuban reciprocity treaty. At the first session the treaty was read at length, and at the second session Sena- tor Cullom, who, as chairman of the sem ate committee on foreign relations has charge of the treaty, made statement of it's purport and effect. Senator Bacon also member of the foreign relations committee, gave notice that he would have some amendments to the treaty to offer, and asked the privilege of making them public, following the example of the senate in making the treaty itself pub lc This request was denied after con siderable discussion on the ground 1t would be impolitic and unwise. Senator Culloms statement was exhaustive. He produced a mass of figures to show the extent of commerce between the United States and Cuba, and gave reasons for a belief he expressed that the ratification of the treaty would cause rapid increase in the trade between the two countries.
 Would Cause Big Reduction. | He said that on the basis of the com merce of 1901. the ratification of the | treaty would cause a reduction of about $5, OOO, 900 on the duty paid on Cuban inn ports and corresponding reduction of about half that amount on American arr tices shipped to Cuba. He contended that the United States could secure an advan- tage in continuing as the treaty does, the present free list, as under this arrange | tc al 70 n00 000 worth of American goods admitted into Cuba free of duty, while only about $2,000 900 worth of Cuban goods come into the United States free. It was important, he said, that the free list be continued as at pres ent for if there should be any change in the Cuban tariff the United States might be deprived of this advantage.
 Senator Cullom said that an increase in the volume of trade would result not alone from the reduced tariff, but from the mutual good feeling after ratification. He said he did not believe any Ameri- can industry would be injured by the rat | ification of the treaty. He considered the agreement from all standpoints, one of mutual benefit.
 Senator Bacon offered one of the amend | ments of which he had given notice Ii l provides that t'this treaty shall mot take effect until the same shall have been ap- | proved by the congress-, This amend ment, if adopted. would require the house to act on the treaty. s.
 Amendment Not Discussed.
 The amendment was not discussed. The senate adjourned with the understanding that the treaty would be taken up to- morrow during the morning hour.
 The official text of the amendment to the treaty made by the committee on for eign relations was made public today along with the text of the treaty. Ii shows an important variation from the text of the amendment as unofficially printed. According to the official print the prohibition of lower rates of duty or sugar imported into the United States from other countries Is confined to action "by treaty or convention"
 The following Is the full official text of the amendment which is attached to the eighth article of the treaty declaring for | preferential rates between the two coun- | tries.
 Provided, that while this convention Is in force, no sugar imported from the re- public of Cuba and being the product oi the soil or industry of the republic of Cuba shall be admitted into the United | States at a reduction of duty greater than 20 per cent of the rates of duty thereon | as provided by the tariff act of the 1 United States approved July 24. 1897, and no sugar, the product of any other for eign country, shall be admitted by treaty | or convention into the United States while this convention is in force, at Q lower rate of duty than that provided by the tariff act of the United States ap- proved July 24, 1897.