Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-12
First Assault on the Reel
procity Act.
A Proposed Amendment to the
Mckinley Bill.
Breckenridge Of Kentucky Is the
Author of the Measure.
Many New House Bills-senator Teller
Proposes an International Mon
etary Conference.-The Congo
Treaty Ratified.
Associased Press dispatches.

can principle OF reciprocity as emDodleu
in the Mckinley act ard practiced by
the present administration was assailed
for the first time by the Democrats this
session in resolution which Represen-
tative Breckinridge of Kentucky asked
unanimous consent to offer in the house
today. This resolution, the introduction
of which was objected to by Mr.. Bur-
rows of Michigan, recites letters recently
written by the secretary of state, by the
direction OF the president, to the diplo-
matte representatives of Venezuela, Mic
aragua, Colombia, Honduras and other
nations. 1t declares the action by the
president to be unconstitutional and un-
Just, and instructs the committee on
ways and means to report before Feb
ruary 25th bill repeating the third Sec
tion OF the Mckinley act. The president
ig also authorized without further legis-
1ation to declare the ports of the United
States free and open to all the products
of any nation in the American hemi-
sphere. upon which no export duties are
imposed, 80 long as such nation shall ad
init to its ports free of taxes flour, corn
meal and other breadstuffs, preserved
meats, fish, vegetables and fruits cot
ton-seed oil, rice, lumber, agricultural
implements, etc., or such other products
as may be agreed upon.
81 believe" said Breckinridge to
reporter, "that the third section of the
Mckinley act is unconstitutional; also
that retaliation is not only unwise as re-
CARDS our foreign relations, but really
burdensome to our own citizens, for it
imposes duties which they have to pay,
and where this retaliatory measure is
adopted once, as to certain measures, it
makes an unjust discrimination which
may also not only be arbitrary, but may
be not free from corruption"
-sAnd yet" continued Breckinridge,
"being in favor of the freest possible
trade consistent with the raising of the
needed revenues of the government, /
appended an instruction to report in
lieu of the section, true reciprocity
provision. I entirely agree with some
of the leading Democratic statesmen as
to reciprocity treaties and arrangements.
There are grave objections to them,
but I think them better than pro-
hibitory tariffs, and if we cannot
enact such revenue laws as desire, l
prefer to see reciprocal arrangements.
so far as can be, with all nations, be-
lieving that every movement toward
free trade will serve as al educational
process, accustoming the country to
better views and practices in our COM
mercial relations"
,Breckinridge's resolution appears to
be we'll received by the ways and means
committee. II think very fayorably of
the proposition," said Chairman
Springer. "Of course cannot say what
& l. n<,<< Boz la - =
in favor of reciprocity, but whether |
will be willing to go to the extent pro-
vided in the article mentioned in the
resolution, cannot say. That ques-
ton, however, is a mere matter of de-
tail. and does not affect the vital prin-
ciple embodied in Breckinridge's reso-
luton"
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
After the introduction of the resolu-
tion by Breckenridge, above referred to,
the call of states was resumed and the
usual food of new bills were introduced.
Dockery of Missouri asked unanimous
consent for consideration of resolution
calling on the secretary OF the treasury
for certain information regaid ding unex-
pended appropriations, expenditures,
etc.
Henderson of Iowa objected, and the
resolution was referred to the committee
on appropriations.
Simpson of Kansas asked unanimous
consent for the immediate consideration
OF resolution reciting allegations that
the department OF agriculture is harbor
tor political employees; that reports are
made to board of trade market wreckers
and operators before they are conveyed
to the knowledge OF the husbandmen,
and providing for committee of investi-
cation.
Hopkins of Illinois moved that the
subject be referred to the committee on
ways and means, but on motion of
Springer it found a resting place in the
committee on rules.
SOME OF THE NEW HOUSE BILLS.
Among the bills introduced in the
house today were the following:
By Sweet of Idaho-Providing for an
international bimetallic arrangement.
Scott, Illinois-Appropriating 500, 900
Tor a display Of corn products at the
worlds fair.
Chapman, Michigan-Requesting the
president to inform the house what ne
gotiations have been carried on with
foreign governments relative to the re-
establishment and use of silver coin as
legal tender money.
Hatch, MISUNDERSTANDING options and
futures, and imposing tax on the deal
ers therein. ~
Bland, Missouri-For the free coinage
of silver.
Brosius, MISUNDERSTANDING
500, 900 for the relief of the famine suf-
ferers in Russia.
At the conclusion of the call of states
the house adjourned.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the senate to lay, the vice presi-
dent presented several official and other
documents, including one from the in
terror department asking an appropria-
tion of 0,000 as deficiency to supply
subsistence to the Sioux Inoians.
A large number of bills were reported
from committees and placed on the cal
endar.
A communication from Ryan, Ameri-
can minister to Mexico, to the late Sem
ator Plumb, suggesting that it would be
> generous and neighborly act to return
70 Mexico the trophies of the war cap
tnred by the United States troops in the
Mexican war in l847, was presented and
referred to the committee on foreign re-
lations.