Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-11-12
: CONGRESS- CONV ENES
OPENING DEVOTED TO GREET.
INcs AND ORGANIZATIONS.

=
Session.
The Fifty7eighth congress convened
in extraordinary session at noon on
Monday in accordance with the proc
Iamation Of President Roosevelt for
the purpose of enacting legislation nee
essary to make effective the Cuban
reciprocity treaty. The day was de-
voted simply to personal greetings and
organization.
Crowds of eager spectators both
men and women, thronged the corriy
doris and rotunda of the capitol early
in the day, and the galleries, to which
admission was had By card only, were
taxed to their capacity long before
the hour for assembling arrived
The floral tributes to members were
in unusual profusion.
The senate was called to order by
President Pro TEN. Frye as the hands
of the clock reached noon, and the
Rev. F. ]. Prettyman of Washington
made the opening prayer. The formal
proclamation calling the congress in
extraordinary session was read Mr..
Bacon (Ga.) presented the election GER
tificate of Senator Stephen r. Nal
lory (Fla.) who took the oath. At the
roll call seventy senators answered.
Promptly at noon Alexander Nc
Dowell, clerk Of the house, dropped the
gavel, formally calling the house to
order Prayer by the chaplain fol
lowed.
Mr. Cannon, who had been selected
as the unanimous choice, of his party
for speaker, was formally elected Aft
er the oath of office was administered
by the father Of the house., title
bestowed upon the member who has
seen the longest continuous service,
the speaker administered the oath TO
the members generally.
The old officers of the house. having
been the nominees of the Republican
caucus, were reelected and sworn in
Both houses assembled at noon Tues
day to listen to the reading of President
Roosevelt's message. The document
was brief and to the point. treating
only with the object for which the ex-
traordinary session was called viz,
the establishment of commercial rela-
tons with the Cuban republic The
text of the message is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
have convened the congress that it
may consider the legislation necessary to
put into operation the commercial treaty
with Cuba which was ratified by the sem
ate at its last session and subsequently by
the Cuban government. deem such legis-
lation demanded not only by our interest,
but by our honor. We cannot with pro-
priety abandon the course upon which we
have so wisely embarked. When the ac-
ceptance of the Plat amendment was re-
quired from Cuba by the action of the
congress of the United States this gov
eminent thereby definitely committed it.
self to the policy of treating Cuba as oc-
cupying unique position as regards this
country. It was provided that when the
island became a free and independent re-
public she should stand in such close re-
lations with US as in certain respects to
come within our system of international
policy, and it necessarily followed that
she must also to certain degree become
included within the lines of our economic
policy. Situated as Cuba is, it would not
be possible for this country to permit the
strategic abuse of the island by any for
eign military power
1t is for this reason that certain limita-
tionS have been imposed upon her finan-
cial policy and that naval stations have
been conceded by her to the United States
The negotiations as to the details OF these
naval stations are on the eve of compile
tion. They are so situated as to prevent
n f71,< 80
to use them against Cuba or otherwise
than for the protection of Cuba from the
assaults of foreign foes and for the better
safeguarding of American interests in the
waters south of u.s.
These interests have been largely in
creased by the consequences of the war
with Spain and will be still further in
creased by the building of the isthmian
canal They are both military and eco
nomic. The granting to us by Cuba of the
naval stations above alluded to is of the
utmost Importance from a military stand
point and is proof of the good faith with
which Cuba is treating us. Cuba has made
great progress since her independence was
established. She has advanced steadily in
every way. She already stands high
among her sister republics of the new
world. She is Loyalty observing her obli-
cations to us, and she is entitled to like
treatment by US.
The treaty submitted to you for APP
pr0yal secures to the United States eco
nomic advantages as great as those given
to Cuba. Not an American interest is
sacrificed BY the treaty a large Cuban
market is secured to our producers. 1t is
market which lies at our doors, which is
already large which is capable of great
expansion and which is especially impor-
tant to the development of our export
trade. It would be indeed shortsighted
for US to refuse to take advantage of such
an opportunity and to force Cuba into
making arrangements with other coun-
tries to our disadvantage.
This reciprocity treaty stands by itself
It is demanded on considerations Of broad
national policy as well as by our economic
interest. 1t will do harm to no industry.
It will benefit many industries. 1t is in
the interest of our people as WHOLE both
because of its Importance from the broad
standpoint Of international policy and be-
cause economically it intimately concerns
us to develop and secure the rich Cuban
market for our farmers. artisans, mer-
chants and manufacturers. Finally it is
desirable as guarantee of the good faith