The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-24

Washington, March 19.-After ratify-
ing the Cuban reciprocity treaty, the
senate adjourned sine die today at ff-
teen minutes past 3 o'clock. Practical
ly the entire day was spent behind
closed doors, in executive session. Most
Of the time was devoted to considera-
ton Of the Cuban treaty. Several
speeches were made in opposition to
the treaty and one in favor of it, and
then, promptly at the hour agreed, 8
o'clock, voting began. Roll calls were
had on a number of amendments and
the treaty itself vas made the subject
Of an aye and no vote. The motion to
ratify was adopted by a ballot of so to |
16, somewhat more than a three-fourths
vote, whereas, only a two-thirds vote
was necessary to secure a ratification
Immediately after the doors were
closed, a few minutes past II o'clock,
Senator Foster, of Louisiana, took the
floor, in order to make a set speech in
opposition to the treaty. In the main.
the speech was an appeal for the pro-
lection of the American sugar refining
industry. He spoke especially for the
cane sugar interests of Louisiana, but
said that while the sugar interest was
a paramount Importance in his state
on account of the cane produced there,
the beet sugar industry had grown to
such proportions that many other por-
lions of the union also were coming to
have a pronounced interest in the
making of sugar. He drew a graphic
picture of present conditions in Louis
lana and said if the treaty should be
Tn fiffn1 tho rnc1,1f &c 10 h1n fn hA 1-a-xSD
disastrous to many of his constituents. /
He appealed to senators from north
and south alike to refrain from infiict-
ing this hardship upon his people. Mr..
Foster also made the point that there
was nothing to prevent the introduce
ton of Chinese coolie labor into Cuba,
and said that if such labor should be
introduced, American labor could not
compete with it.
Other speeches in opposition to the
treaty were made by Senators Berry
and Carmack, while enator Simmons,
of North Carolina, spoke in support of
it.
Senator Berry based his opposition
to the agreement on the amendment
offered by the committee on foreign re-
~lations, providing against any further
reduction by treaty of the duty on
sugar, while the treaty remains in
force.
DSIdlOI odIIlldNh oppOStu lft treaty
on general principles, declaring hat it
was contrary to our theory of gov
eminent.
Senator Simmons was the only DEM
ocrat who made a speech in advocacy
of the ratification of the treaty. He
replied at some length to the speech
of Senator Foster, declaring for the
treaty as a means of promoting friend
ly relations between the United States
and Cuba. He said that he spoke for
the United States and not for Cuba,
declaring he did not accept the theory
that the United States is under any
obligations to Cuba, saying hat he
thought that we had lone all for the
CubanS that any one nation could be
expected to do for another. But, HI
believed that with the ratification of
this treaty, Cuba'S prosperity would be
materially enhanced and that on ac-
count of the improved feeling on the
part of the Cubans toward this coun-
try, our expectations to Cuba, which
now amount 10 about $28. 900. 900 annual
ly soon may be doubled. He said he
refused to accent the theory that the
American uga producing industry
would be injured by adopting the re-
ciprocity relations proposed by the
treaty and contended that the only
advantage Cuba would have over the
United States, in the production of
sugar, would be found in the fact that
the Cuban soil is somewhat better
adapted to that industry than is ours.
Even after the reduction proposed, the
Guty on Cuban sugar, he said. would
amount to 81 cents. ad valorem, and
he was satified that that rate would be
sufficient to maintain the industry in
the United States.
On the conclusion of Mr.. Simmons
speech, voting began. The committee |
on foreign relations announced through !
Senator Cullom, its chairman, the ac-
ceptance of two amendments in addi- |
ton to those already recommended by
the committee. The first of these was
the amendment increasing the rate of
reduction on flour, corn meal n corn
imported into Cuba from the United
States TO so per cent. The other amend |
ment adopted by the committee was
suggested by Senator Bacon and fixed
the uniform reduction of thirty per
on American cotton goods i'm
ported into Cuba.
The only aye and no vote taken on
the committee amendments. was on the
amendment adopted some time ago By
the committee at the instance of the
beet sugar republican senators, pro-
against further treaty reduction
the duty on sugar imported into the
States for the next five years.
or while the treaty remains in force.
a division was called for on this
amendment and it was sustained by a
majority of twenty-five votes, the vote
being A to for the amendment and %
against it, the negative votes being
by democrats. The final COM
amendments. including those ac-
today and the amendment max
the approval Of the entire con-
greSs necessary to render the treaty
then were adopted.
After the committee amendments had !