The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-08
NEW SESSION is ON
ROTH HOUSES RECEIVED THE
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
BUT LITTLE BUSINESS DONE.
SENATE DISCUSSED THE CUBAN
RECIPROCITY BILL.

senator CullOm, Who Has Charge OF
the Cuban Bill, Made Speech,
Advocating Its AdOptiOn-His
Showing of the Trade Relations
between Cuba and the United
States-POst Office Investigation
Discussion.
washington, Dec. THE Senate to-
dav closed the extraordinary session
and entered upon the duties of the reg
Mar session. but the transition was so
natural as to be scarcely noticeable.
The unusual features were the close of
the called session by announcement
from the chair and the Offering of two
prayers in the Senate within half an
hour of each other.
The business transacted consisted in
the reading of the Presidents message
and the beginning of the discussion on
the Cuban reciprocity bill. On this
hill. Mr.. Cullom, who has charge of it,
made a speech advocating its passage
in the interest of American trade.
Mr.. Kean made favorable report
from the Committee on Contingent EX-
nenses on the resolution of Mr.. Pen
rose. requesting the transmission to
the Senate by the Postmaster General
Of all the papers relating to the post
office investigation. Mr.. German sug-
gested a number of amendments, the
effect of which was to make it man
datorv for the committee to make an
investigation into postoffice affairs, and
TO compel the committee to make a
report to the Senate by May l, next.
Mr.. Penrose. as author of the reso-
luton and chairman of the committee,
indicated a willingness to accept the
amendments, but Mr., Platt of Connec-
ticut. objected. Mr.. Platt said that as
originally introduced the resolution
left it optional with the committee to
extend it's investigation If 1t thought
necessary, after seeing Gen. Bristow's
report. That. he thought, was just
what should be done. To order sem
atorial investigation now would be 10
make a start in the dark, which he did
not consider wise.
After some informal discussion the
resolution was laid over until to-mor-
row, and MIR. Cullom began speech on
the Cuban reciprocity bill. He spoke
especially of the effect of the bill upon
the trade with Cuba, which he con-
tended would be greatly stimulated by
its passage. Situated as we are. with
in a few miles of the Cuban coaStt,
we should control the Cuban market,
but as a matter of fact this country
supplies less than one-half of Cuban
imports Spain had lost most of her
trade with Cuba, but the trade thus
lost had gone to Great Britain, France
and Germany, instead of coming to the
United States.
Mr.. CullOm conceded that an in
creased production of Cuban sugar was
probable, but he did not believe there
was danger to the American sugar in
dustry because of the corresponding
increase in the population of this coun-
try, making great capacity for, cons
Based on last years imports from
Cuba, he said that the aggregate con-
cession of the United States would
amount to about $10,000000. The Gu
ban concession would amount to only
S1109,0 900. This great difference he at
tnbuted to the fact that Cuba's tariff
was much lower than ours, and also
to the fact that our exports to Cuba
We're. of much smaller volume than our
imports from that country. This dis
crepancy would, he predicted. con-
tinue, unless the reciprocity bill be-
came a law.
The Senate adjourned until to-mor-
row.