The Washington herald., 1906-12-02

President Roosevelt has been asked to
urge Congress 10 enact a law permitting
him TO negotiate with foreign countries
for reciprocal trade arrangements which
viii provide untrammeled foreign mar
kets tor the livestock interests of the
United States
The suggestion comes from the cattle
men ef the West and Southwest. through
two Of their organizations the Texas
Cattle Raisers' Association and the
American National Live Stock Associa-
ton. Samuel H. Cowan, of Fort Worth,
Tex. who is attorney for the two. organi-
cations, has expressed the conviction that
the President win take up the matter in
his message He enjoys close and con
fidential relations with Mr.. Roosevelt.
The cattlemen have been urging the en-
actment of such a law for some time
past and they have now succeeded in
concentrating their energies. in a way
that enables them to exert considerable
influence
This added demand for reciprocity from
an element which is composed largely Of
Republicans may have some effect on
jeC: OF tariff revision Just now the cat
tlemen are going no further than to de
mand that the reciprocity features Of
the Dingley bin be restored. as provided
in the bill which Representative Curtis.
OF Kansas. introduced last year But if
something is not done i'm their behalf in
the immediate future. it is not improb-
able that they will ask fer even greater
changes.
Live stock Interests Suffer.
They maintain that foreign trade in
live stock has been made TO suffer Sc
verely by the imposition Of high tariff
schedules on manufactured articles. While
many OF them favor general tariff re-
vision, they realize that action uIonE
that line is quite improbable just now,
and the next best thing. they think, is the
passage of a bill clothing the Executive
with authority 10 make reciprocal trade
arrangements. Such a law would bring
the desired relief to the livestock in
tcrests and others. according TO the cat
tlemen and at the same time would not
harm any of the legitimate industries
which are entitled 20 protection.
Live stock raisers throughout the West
and Southwest have taken the subject up
with their Congressman. Every Iegisla-
tor who has been approached has pledged
his assistance in bringing about the en-
actment Of the desired statute. and. alto
gether the movement in its favor has as
sumed considerable proportions. II is not
known as yet whether the principal sup
pOrteTs of the plan in the House will
agree to support the Curtis bill. or viii
introduce another intended to bring about
the same resglt- The Curtis measure
seems 70 cover the gsDUnd thoroughly
and its author viii try u get it pushed
to the front as early as possible
The standpatters VIII resist even the
preliminary consideration of the question
holding that TO do anything with the
Curtis bill, even in committee would
have "a tendency TO stir up agitation of
the whole tariff question, which they wish
to avoid, pending the election of 1908
Opposition of this character Will have a
tendency TO make the cattlemen and
their friends more insistent. and the situ-
alton. therefore, seems to contain all the
necessary ingredients for a frst-class
row.
Permanent Loss Possible.
The cattemen say that if something is /
not done Immediately the United States
viii lose permanently very large por-
ton Of the livestock trade IL now enjoys.
Other countries. notably Argentina, Can
ada, Australia, and New Zealand. are max /
ing vigorous. efforts TO extend their com
meree in cattle and other live stock. All
four Of the countries named look favorabIy
on the idea Of reciprocity, and in this
respect have the advantage of the United
States.
The livestock interests probably viii
have Judge Cowau and pcraaps one or
two other representatives here to look
after their interests during the coming
session