Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-03
sMoTHERING RECIPROCITY.

A very lively allegation was made in Sat-
urday's debate in the House over the diplo-
matte and consular appropriation bill by
Mr. McCreery, a leading Democrat on the
Committee on Foreign Relations. This allie
cation may be discredlted as bit of parti.
sanship; but its importance, both as polit-
ical indication and as bearing on legislation
for the advancement of business interests,
calls for more attention than has been given
it.
The statement is that no less than seventeen
measures designed to carry out the policy of
reciprocal trade with other American coun-
tries have been favorabiy passed upon by the
Committee on Foreign Relations. The poll
icy OF reciprocity. it may be remembered,
was fully outlined and advocated by Mr..
Blaine last year, and was formally en-
grated on the tariff bill as a result of the
Secretary of States arguments. The meas
ures recommended by the Committee
on Foreign Relations were designed
to further reciprocal trade with
the countries represented at the
Pan-American Congress, and to carry out
the policy which has been the leading feat
ure of Mr.. Blaine's administration of the
State Department But having approved
these measures, the Committee on Foreign
Relations applied to the Committee on Rules
to have days set on which they were to be
considered and passed, and were informed
that but one day would be allow for the
whole seventeen bills. AS that day was tie
one on which the consular and diplomatic
appropriation bill was also to be considered,
namely, last Saturday, it was evident, &C.
cording to Mr.. McCreery's statement, that
the House would be permitted to do nothing
for reciprocity this Congress.
The membership of the House Committee
on Rules, which has the steering" power
for all measures, gives this statement a
decided significance. The Republican ma
jority of that committee consists of Speaker
Reed, Mr.. Mckinley and Mr.. Cannon. The
personal motives which these gentlemen have
for not desiring to hasten to support Mr..
Blaine's great policy are widely known.
Mr.. Reeds antagonism of Mr.. Blaine
dates long before the present Con-
gress, while Mr.. McKinley's feeling
toward the Secretary for compelling
the modification of his pet tariff measure to
the reciprocal policy is the reverse of CRATE
full. 1t is possible to explain this action
on other grounds than that of satisfying
personal grudges. Possibly the House lead
ers recognize that so much time has been oc-
cupied in their grand policy of maintaining
political supremacy by act of Congress that
none can be wasted on mere measures to ad-
vance the nations business interests. But
the affair. also affords ground for the charge
that these gentlemen, having found their
grand schemes turning to dust and ashes,
took this method to prevent Mr.. Blaine's
policy for the extension of American trade
from securing any favorable legislation
while they retain their grip on the House
machinery.
1t is not necessary to decide whether the
pressure of public business or private
grudges inspired the suppression of these
reciprocal measures, as asserted by Mr.. Nc
Creery. The fact remains that the course
of the House leaders has been to spend
the entire session in trying to force the
passage of measures for partisan benefit,
and consequently little or nothing has been
done in the way of needed business legis-
lation. Other important business measures
have been sacrificed with reciprocity,
though none of them were strangled In so
marked a way. Nor had any had a better
right to command attention of Republican
Congress than reciprocity. It furnished
the one feature of the Republican policy
during the present administration that has
risen to the plane of broad international
craftsmanship. 1t was designed to spread
the commerce of the United States and to
draw closer our relations with neighboring
nations. This broad and beneficial policy
is postponed if not sacrificed, because the
House leaders regard it as more important
to pursue futile attempt to maintain Re-
publican supremacy in the House by act OF
Congress-
II Messrs. Reed, Mckinley and Cannon
are not able to make an effective disclaimer
of the charge that they took this action to
satisfy their personal dislikes and disap-
pointments, the matter will be remark.
abe ending of the career Of one of them as
Speaker and of the other two as members oil
Congress.
BREACH OF PROMISE SUITS.