Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-02-20
THE EXTRA SESSION.
Continued from Page One.)

With appropriation bills in badly
conges.ed condition, with the Lorimer
case pending. with the permanent tar
in board bill pressing for constdera-
zion, With the general pension Dill De-
ing urged by many senators ana with
The resolution for the popular election
of senators coming up daily as the
unfinished business. it seems that the
chances for action upon the Canadian
reciprocity agreement are slight: but
of course, conditions may change
There is some prospect that the
Lorimer case may be disposed OF on
Wednesday, after speech which Sen
ator Lorimer will make in his own be-
half, but there is no apparent hkeil-
hood of early votes on any of the other
important measures mentioned.
Opponents of the reciprocity agreement
in the Senate are viewing with mpla-
eency. not 10 say satisfaction. the con-
gested conditions existing in that body
The demands Of the public business are
such that vote on reciprocity can be
avoided easily without the appearance OF
a filibuster. The bill carrying the agree
nent into effect will probably not be re
ported out OF the finance committee be-
fore Thursday next at the earliest VI
that time there will remain only seven
and half legislative days OF the pres
ent session. After his interview with Mr..
Taft, Mccall also made the interesting
announcement that the President would
veto any tariff legislation passed by the
Democratic House and approved by a
nearly Democratic Senate If that should
be necessary to maintain the Republican
party's protective principles. Mccall $
statement, which is generally understood
to have been approved formally by the
President, is as follows:
II believe Republican senators are
gradually coming to recognize that. with
the certain prospect Of an extra session
unless they bring the reciprocity bill to
vote. there will be very serious incoh-
venlence and embarrassment If not dan
ger TO the business and industrial enter.
prises that are really entitled to protcc-
ton. The President feels that he is under
an International obligation to summon an
extra session. lie will do this reluctant
~. because 1t Is bringing into power a
Democratic House and Senate much
Senate. But if the Senate should fail to
act. the President feels that under his
agreement with the Canadian government
TO use his utmost endeavor to have the
reciprocity agreement confirmed, he will
be compelled TO call the session immedi
atcly. | imagine the Democrats are not
anxious for all extra session. They
would naturally feel that they cannot eX-
temporIZc a revision of the tariff SEIZED
ules. The light remark that you can
prepare tariff bill over night or in two
weeks. or month. everyone knows to be
unfounded
But what an extra session Is likely to
mean is a constant agitation and a con.
tinuous investigation into the industries
that are made possible for protection and
interference with their business that
BODIES no good for business at large. The
consequence is that If anyone should pre-
vent action on the reciprocity bill he
would be in the position of helping to
bring about a condition most injurious
10 those industries which really need pro-
lection. What follows IN an extra ses-
sion will not be the Presidents fault.
The President is protectionist and ex-
poets to use the veto power SO far as he
properly may, to maintain the party 8
protective principles. But it would be d
misfortune to have this inevitable con-
fiict come nine months ahead of the time
when 1t is naturally due.
Garfield. when in the House, voted
against denouncing the Elgin treaty
which was drawn on almost exactly the
same lines as the present agreement. In
| Grants administration a treaty in nearly
the same terms was negotiated and re.
| jected by the Senate. Mckinley, in latter
time. advocated a like policy, and after
many years of agitation the present ad
ministration has been able to take advan
| tage of an international situation and t,
| bring to a conclusion fair. equitabl,
reciprocity agreement which fills tn
measure of Mckinley's requirement
| namely: That it shall injure no interes
| at hone and shall further increase GU
foreign trade. The President is impresse,
| with the extreme Importance to the coun
try of the ratification of the agreement
and also with the solemn obligation h