Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-01-14
THE FIRST BLOW.
RETALlATORY CLAUSE OF M'KlNLEY
ACT ASSAILEO IN THE HOUSE.
MIR. Breckenridge Attacks the Action OF
the President and Calls for II Bill Re-
pealing the Objectionable Section OF
the Tariff Law which he Declares is
Unconstitutional.

WAsHlNGToN, Jan. II. The republican
principle OF reciprocity embodied in the
Mckinley act is assaled for the first time
by the democrats this session in a resolu-
tion which MIR. Breckinridge of Kentucky
asked unanimous consent to offer IN the
House to-day.
This resolution, which is the subject OF
great discussion tonight and the intro luc-
ton of winch was objected to by Mr.. Bur
rows, q republican, recites the letters writ
ten by the secretary of state, by direction
OF the president, to the diplomatic represent
atives of Ven luela, Nicaragua, Colombia,
Honduras and other nations calling atten-
tion to the reciprocity section or
the Mckinley act stating that
the president deems the duties imposed
by these countries to be rec!procally un-
equal and unreasonable, and that unless on
or before March - next some satisfactory
commercial arrangement is entered into, the
president will issue proclamation sus'
pending the provision Of this section, and
further recites that such an action by the
president would be unconstitutional, oner-
Gus and un Just and nstructs tic committee
on ways ami means to report before Feb
ruary % bill repcaing the third section
of the Mckinley act.
The president is also authorized to de-
clare the ports OF the United States fire
and open to all the products of any nation
of tho American hemisphere on which no
export duties are imposed so long as such
nation shall admit to its ports free of all
national, municipal and other taxes four,
cornmea and other breadstull', preserved
meats fish, vegetables and fruits, cotton
seed oil, rice, lumber, agricultural inpe-
monts, etc, or such other products as may
be areel upon.
Il believe" said Mr.. Breckinridge to-
day that the third section OF the Mchin
ley act Is unconstitutional in conferrinq
! upon the president authority to impose
taxes without congressional! action. alsc
believe the retaliation allowed IL that act
is uuwise us regards on: relations with for
! egn nations and really burdonsome to oul
own citizens for it imposes duties which
they have TO pay. And When this retalia
tory measure is adopted only as to certal
nations II moiias an unjust discriminate.
winch may not only be arbitrary but my
al.o he not free from corrUp on. "
NJ. breckenridge stated tAat he had ap-
pended TO his resolution an instruction tC
report "a true reciprocity provision hy
which the president is given the pO"er
which is individually constitutional, to
open the Iorts of America to tAe reduce
OF such countries 90 make true rec ,proca
commercial le.ltisus wi h IL,
Air brcchiurd .,e's resolution appears tC
be wei! received - the majority OF tLt
ways ami me4H3 committee. al think vcrl
favorarly Of the propo5ition.' said Chair
mau Spriu ger. II aln in favor OF rpoIprCcI
lily but whether / would he Wiling 10 =
to the extent provided in the article
mentioned in the resolution | cannot say. -