Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-20
EX1BA SESSION IN NCUBA
Palma Requested to Call Cuban
Congress to Ratify the
Amended Treaty
THE TIME LIMIT is SHORT
Compact as Left BY the United States
Senate, Not Satisfactory to President
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Beet Sugar
Man Have Practically Nullified the
Agreement. s.

washington, Marcn 2u.-ActlHS Sec-
retal.y Of State Loomis and Cuban Min
lister Quesada, after discussing the
OF the Cuban treaty within the time
limit, this morning decided to cable
President Palma, requesting him to
call the Cuban congress into extraor-
dinary session Immediately for this
purpose, as that body would otherwise
not meet until April Z, seven days after
the expiration of the legal time limit
for exchange Of ratifications.
Washington. March 20.-With the
amendments adopted by the senate yes
terday the Cuban treaty, as ratified,
may not be acceptable to Cuba An
entirely new ratification by Cuba will
become necessary, and there is bare
possibility that ratifcaticns can not be
exchanged within the limit of time.
Thus to satisfy the piratical demands
OF the beet sugar crowd, the treaty has
practically been nullifiad.
Under the amendment made requir-
1Eg the consent of congress before the
treaty goes into effect all possibility Of
beneffting the Cuban sugar planters on
this years crop is disposed of. For
this reason it is quite within the range
o. possibility that the Eubans may de-
cline to ratify the treaty. There are
some fears Of this, AMI If it should
prove to be the case the United States
will lose a large and profitable exclu-
sive trade with the island OF Cuba.
Most people have lost sight OF the
fact that tha Cuban reciprocity treaty is
double barreled affair. 1t does let in
to the United States Cuban sugar and
reduction Of 20 per cent below the
Dinghy tariff rates. The same treaty.
however, gives a preference to Ameri-
con manufacturers, amounting in some
cases to 40 per cent of tle Cuban tariff.
This preference in the markets OF
Cuba will be absolutely denied to the
i United States all Of this year owing to
the selfish opposition Of the beet sugar
trust, and farmers, cattle raisers and
manufacturers OF the United States will
lose more this year by the delay than
would pay for the entire beet sugar crop
OF she United States.
Under the treaty ratified yesterday
manufacturers OF iron and steel, cotton
goods, whiskies, fish, pottery and all
articles OF glass except window glass
will be admitted into Cuba at reduc-
ton Of 25 per cent from the established
tariff rates there. Butter. window glass,
malt liquors in bottles, musical instru-
ments, tobacco wrappers, cutlery.
pasteboard. boots and shoes, common
soap and nearly all wines would get a
reduction of 80 per cent If the treaty
were to go into effect Immediately.
Knit goods and other manufactures
OF cotton, cheese, weolen goods, fruit,
glucose. watches,s silk manufactures, rice
and cattle under the treaty would be
entitled to reduction of 40 per cent
from the Cuban tariff. Thus 1t will be
seen that the delay in rne final opera
ton Of reciprocity with Cuba will work
with particular hardship upon the
farmers thruout the United States.
If the treaty went into effect at once
the farmer could Immediately secure a
concession of 40 per cent on the tariff
rate for his cattle and the manufac-
turer of machinery and agricultural i'm
& Il
per cent of the Cuban rates on all goods
he sends to the island. The concessions
C. the United States in the Cuban reci-
rroclty treaty are SO sweeping that
this country would have secured almost
the absolute monopoly OF tbs entire
trade with the island OF Cuba European
nations could not competa in any arti-
Gle which can be produced in the United
States at profit.
As it Is. however, European manu-
.facturers have been given by the beet
sugar men an ample opportunity to
stock up the markets of Cuba with
everything which may be necessary in
open competition with the United
States. Until next winter at least the
farmer, manufacturer. fisherman, cat
tie raiser, glass blower, dairyman and
brewer, among others, will have to NEE,
in Cuba the old, old competition Of the
cheap labor of Europe. and as mat
ter of course the profits of the Ameri-
can exporter will be much below those
ipf the European in spite Of the differ
ience in freights
The situation is so unsatisfactory
that President Roosevelt was tempted
to call an extra session of congress tc
dispose of the treaty finally one way
or the other, but it would be useless tc
take such action now, as it would be
practically impossible to keep congress
in session with any hope of serious
work at this time. The president still
believes that the treaty should be dis
posed of before next winter so that il
Cuba is to have any benefits from it
these benefits shall be given to this
years sugar crop.
He will probably call an extra ses-
sion of congress Immediately after tbs
November elections so that there vii
be enough time to dispose of this ques-
ton before the holiday recess. In the
meantime diplomacy will be used ane
Z Cuba encouraged to stanG pat and abide
by her agreement, setting an example
to the congress OF the United States
which seems to have dropped into the
old manana methods of Spain in deal
ing with that island.
The United States is perfectly ablt
to deal with England and Germany ant
ignore their requests without fear o.
rataliation In fact Germany has al.