The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-29
President Roosevelt of Opinion that
Great Care should he Taken i'm
Drawing the Conventions.
CONFERRED WITH Mr.. ALDRICH
AND FOUND THE SENATOR'S VIEWS
ACCORDED WITH HIS OWN.
Expert Commission to Investigate All
Phases of Reciprocity Proposed
to the President.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, oct. 2S.-Light has COM
menced to break in upon the reciprocity
situation. and new line of thought is be-
ing worked out. AS President Roosevelt
delves into the problem he discovers more
and more the impracticability, if not the
impossibility, Of putting the existing treat
les Of reciprocity through the Senate. They
were all too hastily drawn by Mr.. Kasson,
and in some instances they were drawn
under a misconception of their supposed
advantages So President Roosevelt finds
that the whole subject must be gone at
from a new and broader standpoint-there
must be a very careful study of each treaty
drawn, or proposed to be drawn, and this
study must be made on a strictly economic
basis. When the President had his con-
ference to-day with Senator Aldrich, of
Rhode Island, who fought the Kasson
treaties, and who is an authority Of high
standing on tariff matters, he found that
Mr.. Aldrichs objection to the existing
treaties was based on their looseness. and
not on opposition to the principles OF real
reciprocity with other nations.
The protectionists in the government
and there are no other men in the govern
sion that reciprocity is such an involved
question, its principles so complex and far
reaching. that in order to properly get at
it there ought to be appointed a tariff and
reciprocity commission, composed of the
very highest tariff and international trade
experts to be found in the United States.
The work of this commission would be to
study out and suggest to the State Depart
ment lines upon which reciprocity treaties
might be drawn with other nations without
abandonment of the principle of protection
and without considerable damage TO any
American interest. 1t is believed that Sen
ator Aldrich favors this course, and that
he has suggested it TO the President. The
American Protective Association, which
bitterly opposes reciprocity, favors it, and
several of the leading members of the Sen
ate have spoken well of the plan. For one
thing this plan would make congressional
action necessary, and after that must come
extensive Investigations by the commission
which would put off actual reciprocity for
from one to three or four years The pro-
tectionists nearly all believe this delay
would be a very good thing, for by that
time the actual trade conditions, as be-
tween the United States and the rest OF
the world, will have developed-this govern
ment will then know whether the talk OF
European trade retaliation is serious OF
not, which is very important point in de-
termfning what concessions the United
States must give in making treaties OF
reciprocity.
The outlook at present is more than ever
against any action being taken on reel
procity treaties during the coming session
Of Congress, although there will be, as a
matter of course, some steps toward ulti-
mate reciprocity.