Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-15
HOT FOR RECIPROCITY
National Board Of Trades
Decisive Action.
STANDS BY MCKINLEY
DELEGATES PAY RESPECTS TO
THE PRESIDENT.
Convention Declares in Favor Of Uni
versal One-Cent Domestic Postage
Immigration Laws.

Before reassembhng at the Shoreham this
morning the delegates to the thirty-thlrd
annual convention of the National Board OF
Trade called at the White House TO pay
their respects to President Roosevelt. Mr.
Blanchard Randall Of Baltimore. president
of the National Board of Trade, speaking
for the delegation, said:
Mr. President, we have come here merely
to present ourselves and to make our an
nual call on the President of the United
States. We thank you for meeting u.s."
President Roosevelt responded: Il shall
not try to make you any speech. l wish
simply to say what very real pleasure
it Is to see you, and also to say this, that
I am glad to see the meetings Of the big
business interests take place sometimes in
Washington.
Nothing can be better both for the bust
ness interests and for legislation than to
have as close a touch as possible between
the elective representatives here and the
men whose welfare Is so interviewer WIN
what is done in the halls OF Congress. It Is
a very great help to all of us to have you
come here. thank you for coming
In Favor Of Reciprocity.
The question Of reciprocity took up con-
siderable time at the forenoon session. 1t
was brought to the attention of the con-
vention by the report of the committee on
reciprocity through ITS acting chairman,
Nathan French of the Illinois Manufacture
ers' Association. The report was as fol-
lows:
Whereas the necessity of the establish
ment of better trade relation with other ma
lions, through such adjustments and con-
cessions as may be deemed mutually ad-
vantageous, is now generally recognized;
therefore.
..Resol1ed. THAT the National Board of
Trade urges legislation on the part of the
national Congress regarding reciprocal
trade relations along the lines laid down
by the late President Mckinley in his last
address at Buffalo, and by President
Roosevelt in his recent message to Con-
gress, including the ratification Of the
treaty with France and the other treaties
negotiated under the administration Of
President Mckinley, now pending in the
Senate; and further urges negotiations of
treaties on the same lines with Germany
and other countries.
Cuba and Canada.
Whereas there has been submitted to
this country by the republic Of Cuba
treaty Of reciprocity with the United
States providing for the admission into
Cuba of the products of the United States
with reductions of 20, %, 30 and 40 per
cent from their present tariff, and for the
admission of the products Of Cuba into the
United States at uniform reduction of 20
per cent; and
Whereas by the Platt amendment we
recognized that We are under obligations
to make treaty such as is now presented
to us, and which is distinctly to the ad-
vantage of our country at large, as well
as to Cuba: therefore,
BE 1t resolved, that the national board
of trade respectfully urges the immediate
ratification Of this treaty with Cuba by
the Senate of the United States.
Whereas. the Hay-Bond treaty of reci-
procity with Newfoundland would be a
large benefit to the business interests of
the country as a whole.
Resolved, that the national board of
trade respectfully urges that the said
treaty be ratified by the Senate of the
United States.
Whereas. man for man, the Canadian
people are the best foreign customers that
the United States possesses; and
Whereas. unless more favorable rela-
tions can be established between the two
countries, there is danger that the market
We now possess in the dominion will be
seriously curtailed. to the loss of all classes
of American producers; therefore, be it
Resolved that the national board of
trade respectfully petitions the President
and the Congress of the United States and
the American members Of the Ango-Ameri-
can joint high commission to do all that
lies in their respective powers to secure
a trade treaty between the two countries
upon the broad business principle of reci-
procal concessions.
Free Coal.
Resolved, that as a step in this direc-
ton the national board Of trade favors the
measure now before the United States
Serate. authorizing the President to re-
move the duties upon Canadian coal in re-
turn for similar action by the Dominion
of Canada with regard to coal from the
United States"
A minority report was submitted. signed
by John Hopewell, Henry W. Peabody and
]. T. McHugh, which read: 1--WE concur in
the first resolution"
Mr.. French championed the adoption Of
the majority report in convincing speech.
Mr.. Peabody and Mr.. McHugh defended the
Philadelphia seconded the motion to adopt
the majority report, and the convention
sustained the motion unanimously. Mr.. La
lame said experience had shown that adj
versity usually follows prosperity and he
said he looked forward to a very great
panic, the greatest ever known because Of
the expansion we have had" He consid-
cred reciprocity OF tmmeasurable benefit to
the country at large.
immigration Laws.
The report of the committee on immigra-
ton laws. submitted by G. Waldo Smith Of
New York, and which was adopted urged
on sena tors and representatives the impor-.
lance of prompt and favorable action to
prohibit undesirable immigration by means
of such educational tests as In their wisdom
might seem best adapted to that end. The
international complications arising from the
abuse of our naturalization laws by natural
lied citizens who return to the country of
their birth. for more or less permanent resi-
sdence, call, the report declares, for amend
ment of the law respecting their right to
claim protection from the United States
while residing in the country to which they
have returned.
postal affairs, submitted series of reso-
buttons. embodied in q report. urging upon