The San Francisco call., 1903-01-20
CULLOM SPEAKS
FOR THE TREATY
Claims Trade With Cuba
Will Increase Under
It's Operation.
Contends That United States
Should Continue Present
Free List.

WASHINGTON. Jan. l9.-The Senate
devoted two brief executive sessions to-
day 20 the Cuban reciprocity treaty. Al
the first session the treaty was read at
length and at the second session Senator
Cullom, who, as chairman Of the Senate
committee on Foreign Relations, has
charge Of the treaty made statement OF
us ptrport and effect Senator Bacon.
also a member Of the Foreign Relations
Committee. gave notice that he would Of
Ter some amendments TO the treaty and
asked The privilege of making them pub
lie, following the example OF the Senate
in making the treaty itself public.
The request was denied after some dis
cUssiOn on the ground that il would be
i-nrolitic and unwise,
Senator CullOm's statement was ex-
haustiye. lie produced a mass of figures
10 show the extent Of the commerce be
tween the United States ana Cuba and
gave reasons for a belief he expressed
that the ratification OF the treaty would
cause a rapid increase in trade between
the two countries. He said that on the
basis OF the commerce Of 1901 the ratifi-
cation of the treaty would cause a re-
duction OF about $1,000 800 on the duty paid
or Cuban imports and a corresponding re-
cUctfoE OF about half that amount on
American articles shipped TO Cuba. He
COntended that the United States would
secure an advantage in continuing, the
treaty does. the present free list, as under
This arrangement there is about 5000, 900
worth Of American goods admitted into
Cuba free Of duty. while only about
s. 0el Oe0 worth Of Cuban goods comes into
the United States free. 1t was important.
he said, that the free list be continued as
al present for II there should be any
change In the Cuban tariff the United
States might be deprived Of this advan-
taRe.
Senator Cullom dwelt az some length on
the probability OF an increase IN the vol
ume OF trade under the operation OF the
treaty, saying that this would be a result
Tot alone Of the reduced tariff but Of the
mutual good feeling following ratiica-
ton He said he did not believe any
American industry would be injured by
the ratification Of the treaty. He consid-
cred the agreement from all standpOints
one Of mutual benefit
When Senator CullOm concluded Senator
Bacon offered one Of the amendments OF
which he had given notice. II provides
that This treaty shall not take effect un-
nj the same shall have been approved by
The Congress" This amendment is In line
with those recommended by the Commit
Tee on Foreign Relations in connection
with other reciprocity treaties, and il
adopted would require the House TO act
Ola the treaty.
] ne arnenomenr was not discussed The
Senate adjourned with the understanding
that The treaty would be taken up to-
morrow during the morning hour.
The official text OF the treaty as
amended by the Committee on Foreign
Relations, was made public to-day, along
with the text OF the treaty. II shows an
important variation from the text Of he
amendment as unof1cially printed. Ac-
ccTding 10 the Official print the prohibition
q lower rates Of duty on sugar imported
into the United States from other coun-
tries is confined to action by treaty OF
convention"
Following is the full official text OF the
amendment, which is attached to the
eighth article OF the treaty, declaring for
preferential rates between the two coun-
uies;
Provided. that while this convention IS in
force no sugar imported from the republic OF
cuba, ana being the product OF the industry
az the republic Of cuba, shall be admitted into
TIE United sta a. reduction OF duty greater
than - per cent of the rates Of duty thereon
provided by the tariff act OF the United
states approved July "a 1897. and no sugar
the product of any other foreign country shall
he admitted by treaty OF convention into the
United States while this convention Is in force
q lower rate Of duty than that provided by
the tariff act OF the United States approved
Turv 1877