Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-12
TRUE RECIPROCITY.

lBy telegraph TO ths DisDasch-I

WASHINGTON, D. c.. January 1.-THE
Republican principle Of reciprocity. as en-
bodied in the Mckinley act and prscticed
By the present Administration, is assailed
for the first time by the Democrats this
session in resolution which Representa-
tive Breckinridge, of Kentucky, asked
unanimous consent to offer in the House
to-day. as get forth In the report OF House
proceedings. The resolution IL the sub
ject of great discussion tonight.
II believe" said Mr.. Breckenridge to an
Associated Press reporter, THAT the third
section Of the Mckinley act Is unconstitu-
tional in comforting upon the presidents
the power to impose taxes without con-
gressional action. ! also believe that the
retaliation allowed in that act is not only
unwise as regards our relations with for
eign nations, but is really burdensome
TO our own citizens, for 1t imposes
duties winch they have TO pay. Ana
when this retaliatovy measure Is adopted
only as TO certain nations. ii makes an I'M.
just discrimination which may also be not
only arbitrary but not free from corrup-
ton. /, therefore, am anxious to have
that clause of the Mckinley act repealed,
/ desired to call the attention Of the coun-
try to this measure and thought 1T might
be done by connecting this movement IN
the House with the letter which Mr. Blaine
had written and which had been published
all over the country.
TRUE RECIPROCITY Provision.
And yet" continued Mr.. Br rkinridge,
"being in favor of the frees possible
trade consistent with the raising OF the
needed revenues of the Government, APP
pended to tie resolution provision IN,
structing the Committee on Ways and
Means to report bill repeating. the third
section Of the Mckinley act, and instruct
ing it to further report true. reciprocity
provision by which the President is given
the power, which undoubtedly is constitu-
tional, to open the ports of America to
the products of such countries as DO make
true reciprocal arrangements with US. L
do not entirely agree with some OF the
leading Democratic statesmen as TO reel
procity treaties and arrangements. There
are grave objections to them, but l think
them better than prohibitory tariffs. And
IL we cannot enact such revenue-laws as
desire, prefer to see reciprocal arrange
ments made as far as they can be with any
or ali nations, believing that every move
| ment in favor of freer trade will serve as
an educational process. accustomlng the
country to better views and practices IN
our commercial relations
WHY OFFERED AT THIS TIME.
II was further led to offer this resolu-
| ton just at this particular moment be-
cause the Committee on Ways and Means
| has not vet had time to become entirely
organized and get to work on the various
propositions which have been submitted
| to il, and by selecting at this particular
| juncture this particular provision OF the
| Mckinley act | might concentrate the at,
| tentlon of the country upon 1T separated
from the other provisions of the
act. / selected as the reciprocity
provision to be reported by the
| Ways and Means Committee one that had
received the sanction Of large number
| If not. indeed. all of the DEMOCRATIC Sena-
| tors in the fifty-frst Congress. And while
| there may be differences of opinion in our
party as TO the extent TO which 1t - wise
| 10 go. there is no difference among us that
| the provision adopted in the Mckinley act
ought to be repealed and that some liberal
measure could be well enacted IN lieu OF
| itn
Mr.. Breckinridge's resolution appears to
| be we'll received BY the majority or the
Ways and Means Committee.
| II think very favorably of the PROPOSE
| ton of Mr.. Breckenridge" said Chairman
| Springer. "Of course. cannot say what
| the committee may decide to do IN the
| matter. am in favor of reciprocity, but
whether ! would be willing to 90 to the
| extent provided in the articles mentioned
| in the resolution cannot say. That ques-
| ton, however, is a mere matter OF detail,
! and does not affect the vital principles
embodied in Mr.. Breckinridge's resolu-
tionn