The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-06-01
REVISION AND RECIPROCITY.

Philadelphia Press,
Secretary Gage and others familiar
with the presidents views Of the ,arin
queston are very much amused over
the statemen; in number Of newspa-
pers to the effect that the presiden;
wants the tariff modified. HIS express
slons OF opinion ON ,he reSiprocitv
question furnish the ground from which
such differences are made
There is the very best authority for
saving that all such inferences are with
out any foundation whatever The
president; does 10; want any tariff
changes now. and has not long ago ex-
pressed himself TO that effect at meet
ing in the White House. So far as
reciprocity is concerned, his opinion On
thar subiec; j. just the same now as II
was when he supported the reciprocity
provision in the Mckinley act OF 1890.
He frequently sroke in favor Of reel
rrocity IN the fifty-hrs, congress. and
time and again advocated the subject
on the stump before ne became mesi-
dent, Hence his recent expressl )ns OF
opinion in regard to reciprocity ara ~
indication OF any change in vlew an his
part on the tariff QUESTION
The Republican party has always IA
vored tariff changes when deemei n
be wise. In that way the 'arin has
been changed a, different times. :, that
instead Of practically all articles beirg
on the dutiable list. as was The ease at /
one time. nearly half Of the imports are
now altogether free Of duty. At ,he
same time there have been reductions !
in rates on the du;iable articles. There |
will be other changes in the future. but
President Mckinley is no; in favor OF
any action in the way Of revision OF |
the tariff In the existing congress. But !
be is IN favor Of reciprocity. and un-
Ouestionablv something will be done on
that subject at the next session. His
views in that respect. however. as al
ready stated. have not changed in the !
least degree in the last zen years.
Some of the reciprocity .-eatIes sent
to the last congress. ii can be said. did
not represent any ripe opinion in their
favor on the part OF the president. He
never recommended the ratification OF
the French treaty. He transmitted 1t
10 the senate without recommendation.
In private conversation he is under.
stood 10 have told some senator's who
opposed that treaty that he had not
time personally to investigate he mer-
Is Of each article, but ;hat ne was in
favor Of a reciprocity treaty. and that
Z the treaty was not acceptable to the
eaate it should amend i; and make it
acceptable, as it has done with other
treaties. He was opposed. however, TO
shelving il as was done in the senate.
Sill that was largely the result OF
Democratic opposition to the shipping
and some other MEASURES which isI To
he consumption OF SC much time that
the treaties could not be acted On.
Such OF them as ar alive will un-
loubtedly be considered by the next
senate, but Il does no; follow by any
,Leans t'at they will he ratified as
!rawn up y ,;onmiss'oner Kasson. If
he had taken III pains TO consult with
senator's 1n1 had not 'e'iel 50 much on
MS own ideas a. 10 how the trearies
should BE- drawn. hey would have
'ared better alta ihs senate. Secretary
Hay has learned lesson in tha' re- ,
ipect and now, when n is negotiating
| treaty, like that concerning the Mica
aqua canal, he takes pains to consult
he senators, and has said that he
would not send another treaty to con- )
'ress without knowing whether or not {
would be ratified. For that reason
e has not negotiated any treaty since
ongTess adjourned. /