Evening star., 1896-01-16
TO RENEW RECIPROCITY
What Representative Tawney Says is the
Suhcommittee's Plan.
Hearings to He Given to Those In
jured by the Repeal of the
Reciprocity Clause.

Representative Tawney of Minnesota has
been appointed by Congressman Dingley a
member of the subcommittee Of ways and
means on subject of reciprocity and COM
mercial treaties. When interrogated this
morning as to whether the committee would
take any action in the matter, Mr.. Tawney
stated that the subcommittee now have
pending before them several bills relating
to the subject of reciprocity.
There is very strong sentiment in the
House. he said. "in favor of reviewing the
principles of reciprocity. and. If possible, of
engrafting it upon our existing tariff law
Hearing to BE Given.
I'm Difference to this sentiment the sub
committee is now considering the prepri-
ETY. of granting hearings to all persons who
were directly benefited by reciprocity
clause of act of 1880. and who had been
directly or injuriously affected by its re-
peal.
Il have conferred with the chairman of
the subcommittee and also with Mr.. Ding
ley and other leaders of the House on the
subject of granting to these parties hear
ings before our subcommittee, and with
cut exception the proposal meets their
approval 1t has been suggested, how
ever, by some that If these hearings
are granted there is danger that 1t may
the committee on ways and means will
hear parties in respect to tariff in general
and that will create more or less confusion
in the minds of the public as to what ac-
ton Congress proposes to take on the
subject of tariff in addition to what the
House has already done.
Il do not think that there Is any neces-
sity for this fear, as hearings if they are
held will be confined exclusively to the
subject of reciprocity over which only this
subcommittee has Jurisdiction. The advan-
tages to be derived in hearings of this char
acter are very evident. The democratic
party has always characterized reciprocity
as sham and contended that there was
no material benefit resulting therefrom to
the people of the United States.
What Will Be Demonstrated.
'1f we grant hearings referred to we
will demonstrate to the country by testi-
mony of American citizens. who were di-
rectly benefited whether or not the posi-
ton of the republican party or the position
of the democratic party is correct.
I'VE have a tariff bill now hung up by
free silver Senators in the Senate, which,
l think, will ultimately pass. Should Pres
ident Cleveland veto it We can then present
to the House a measure that will revive re-
c:procity under our existing tariff.
"Of course, free sugar was the basis of
reciprocity in that act, but if President
Cleveland should refuse to sign the tariff
bill which puts wool on the dutiable list
we should substitute wool for sugar, and
say to Mr.. Cleveland that if he will per-
sist in allowing wool to come, into this
of Congress, give him opportunity to say
to those importing wool into this country
that in consideration of advantage which
they have in our market for their prin-
cipal product they should give to us cor
responding advantage in their market for
their agricultural and other products"