The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-12
FIGHT ON RECIPROCITY.
Democrats Want to Alter the
Plan of Mr.. Blaine.
NEW SILVER BILL BY BLAND.
Mr.. Hanford Is Prominently Mem
toned for the Circuit Judgeship.
NEW SILVER BILL BY BLAND.
An International Monetary Conference
The. Anti-slavery Treaty Ratified
Jerry Simpson Wants Jerry Rusk In.
vestfgated, but Is squelched.

WASHINGTON Cry, Jan. 1.-THE Repub.
lican principle of reciprocity, as embodied
in the Mckinley act and practiced by the
present administration, was assailed for
the first time by Democrats this session in
resolution which Representative Breck-
inridge, of Kentucky, asked unanimous
consent to offer in the House today. This
resolution, the introduction of which was
objected to by Burrows, recites the letters
recently written by the secretary of
state, by direction of the president,
to the diplomatic representatives of Ven-
ezuela, Nicaragua, Colombia, Honduras,
and other nations; further recites such
action by the president to be unconstitu-
tional, onerous and UNJUST and instructs
the committee on ways and means to re-
port before February Is bill repeating
the third section of the Mckinley act.
The president is also authorized, without
further legislation, to declare the ports of
the United States free and open to all pro-
ducts of any nation on the American
hemisphere, upon which no export duties
shall be imposed as long as such nation
shall admit to its ports free of taxes dour,
cornmeal and other breadstuffs, preserved
meats. fish, vegetables and fruits. cotton
seed oil, rice. lumber, agricultural imple-
ments, etc, or such other products as NAV
be agreed upon
II believe" said Breckinridge to an As
sociated Press reporter, "that the third
section of the Mckinley act is unconstitu-
tional, also that retaliation is not only un-
wise as regards our foreign relations. but
burdensome to our own citizens, for it I'M
nOapS dntIaS W hiph fhav hou 30
where this retaliatory measure is adopted
once as to certain nations, it makes an
unjust discrimination which may also not
only be arbitrary, but may be not free
from corruption. And yet." con-
tinued Breckinridge, ''being in favor
of the freest possible trade con-
slstent with the raising of the needed
revenues of the government, appended
an instruction to report in lieu of section
A true reciprocity provision. I do not
entirely agree with some OF the leading
Democratic statesmen as to the reciprocity
treaties and arrangements. There are
grave objections to them, but think they
are better than prohibitory tariffs, and if
We cannot enact such revenue laws as I
desire, prefer to see reciprocal arrange
ments made as far as they can be with any
or all nations. believing that every move
ment In favor of free trade will serve as an
educational process, accuston4ing the
country to better views and practices in
our eem mercial relations.iS
Breckinridge's resolution appears to be
well received by the majority of the ways
and means committee. Il think very
favorably of the proposition" said Chair
man Springer. ''0f course can not say
what the committee may decide to do. l
am in favor of reciprocity. but whether 1
would be willing to go to the extent pro-
vided in the article mentioned in the reso-
luton can not say. That question, how
ever, is mere matter of detail and does
not affect the vital principle embodied in
Breckinridge's resolution