The sun., 1903-11-07
HOW TO RATIPY CUBAN TREATY
REPUBLIC4N SENATOR'S WISH TO
AVOID TARIFF DEBATE.
A General Plan or Procedure Agreed Upon
by Them. Which Provides for bili
on Joint Resolution Approving the
treaty as Ratined by the Senate.

WASHINGTON, Nov. GA number Of
Republican leaders OF the Senate who are
members Of the committees on Finance,
Foreign Relations and Relations with
Cuba were in consultation for several
hours to-day outlining q method OF pro-
cedure for enacting the Cuban reciprocity
legislation for which the President has
called the extraordinary session. The
result Of the conference is that q general
plan of procedure has been agreed upon,
the details Of which are to be perfected
SO that 1t can be put into execution as soon
as Congress meets and the House organizes.
The Senate having ratified the Reciprocity
treaty at the last session, with an amend
ment providing that before going into effect
it shall be approved by Congress, the first
step is for the House to pass such an act OF
approval. The precise form which this
act will take has not yet been decided upon
Representative Serene O. Payne Of New
York, who will again be chairman OF the
Ways and Means Committee, will introduce
whatever bill or joint resolution that Is
framed, and it will be referred to his com
mittee, reported back to the House and
passed under a special rule which will set
limit upon debate and shut out amend
inent. The act approving the treaty can
take one Of three forms:
First, it can be simple bill or joint resolu-
ton approving the treaty as ratified and
authorizing the President to promulgate
it, such as was passed in connection with
the Hawaiian reciprocity treaty.
Second, it can be a bill or joint resolution
approving the treaty as ratified and en-
bodying its text in the act itself,
Third it can be bill giving the details
of tariff act between the United States
and Cuba, setting forth all Of the items in
the various schedules and naming the rates,
as fixed, by making the deductions from
the terms Of the treaty giving tarin con-
cessions to Cuba.
A number OF members Of the House and
few Sens tors hold that the latter method
Of putting the treaty into force is the only
one that can DO properly adopted, but
large majority of both the Senate and
House seem opposed to this contention.
The form Of the proposed legislation,
as it shall be presented to the House, Is
not regarded az important, because under
the rules amendment and debate can both
be prevented. But in the Senate. where
freedom Of debate still prevails, there
would be danger OF an unlimited tarif
debate il a measure should be brought in
giving in detail the various tarin schedules
with the rates Of duty on each article named,
and this will be avoided if possible.
The Republican Seneto5s have in mind
the fact that next year. Presidential cam :
paign will be fought upon lines invol, ing
certain pledges as to tariff changes by the
Fitty-ninth Congress, and they regard IL
as very bad politics to allow their political
opponents to force the issue upon them
now. There Is. therefore, almost unant-
mona opinion among the Republican Sena-
tors that the course of wisdom Is to put the
treaty in force by brief expression OF ap-
proval that will not be subject to amend
ment and debate.
1t is understood that Senator Teller and
others, who are always radical In their
opinions, contend that tariff debate can
be just. a. easily naintsiped on simple
joint solution uofapproval as If the subject
matter were a regular tariff bill setting
forth the rates Of duty. His Republican
colleagues do not admit this. however.
and declare that any Senator who attempts
to 60 into a general tariff fight over reso.
luton approving treaty already ratified
would simply make himself ridiculous.