Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-02-04
TARIFF BILL IS UP
RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA
NOW BEFORE CONGRESS
FOR CONSIDERATION.
Representative Mccall of Massachusetts
Presents Bill on Subject-Wil Soon
Be Reported-Opportun May Be
Given for Hearing of Representa-
tives of Industries

To carry into effect the terms of the
reciprocity agreement concluded by rep
resentatives of Canada and the United
States January 26 the first move has
been made by Representative Mccall
of Massachusetts, a member of the
ways and means committee of the
house, when he presented the admins
tration bill on the subject Saturday.
Mr. Mccall will take a leading part
in engineering its progress on the floor
of the house.
While members of the committee de-
cline to discuss their attitude it has
become well established that the bill
to put the new rates into effect will
pass through the committee and come
out on the floor of the house within
comparatively short time.
The first move of the committee will |
be to determine if any hearings shall |
be held upon the measure. 1t is the
opinion of several members that if
certain delegations representing indus
tries seriously affected by the lowering
of tariff rates wish to be heard an OPP
portunity will be afforded them before
final action.
Will Be No General Tariff Debate.
There will be no opening of the bars
to all the tariff arguments that might
be introduced for and against the new
arrangement. Members of the commit
tee believe the facts on the various
items were fully elected in the hear
ing held during the preparation of the
Payne-Aldrich bill, and that to renew
extensive hearings upon the reci-
procity agreement would needlessly de-
lay its consideration.
The form of the Mccall bill is such
that its future consideration is a mat
ter of uncertainty. AS a bill to raise
revenue it would be subject to amend
ment and change, unless rule of
cloture is first put through the house
prohibiting them and forcing vote
upon the reciprocity agreement as a
whole.
The negotiations with Canada re-
suited in a definite and concrete ar
rangement which can not be changed
in any particular without upsetting
the whole. For this reason it is the
opinion that the ways and means COM
mittee and the rules committee will
prepare rule providing for its con
sideration as a whole and without
amendment.
The impression has been strength
eDed that President Taft's determine
ton to secure action at this session is
such that he will resort to an extra
session if it becomes necessary to
bring the matter to final consideration
in congress. The extra session talk
has caused no little worry at the cap
ital. The leaders of the house say
frankly they do not believe it will be
necessary thus to dispose of the trade
agreement.
Senate May Defeat.
If defeat comes it is expected in the
senate. The democrats of the house,
after fairly careful poll by the mi
nority, are apparently disposed to ac-
cept the agreement and to support it
in debate and with their votes.
According to a democratic member of
the ways and means committee the
democrats are likely to accept the bill
without serious attempt to amend it..
They look upon it both as a tariff
change in line with democratic ideas
and as a serious effort of the repub-
Iican president to take the tariff out
Of politics.
Representative Mccall has been the
subject of some speculation, because he
comes from state that has COM
planned bitterly against the free fish
provisions of the agreement. Mr.. Nc
n.1 -, lttf
made no secret Of his approval of the
plan for reciprocal agreements between
the two countries
Seceral members of the committee
whose positions have also been in
doubt have indicated that the ways and
means committee will under no circum-
stances fail to report promptly, and
have given limitations that the report
is likely to be favorable to the treaty.
The Mccall bill, after indicating the
duties that are to be levied upon Cana
dian products, provides these shall be-
come effective as soon as the president
ascertains and issues a proclamation
showing that Canada is levying similar
duties against American products. The
free importation of certain articles is
to become operative as soon as the
president becomes satisfied that Can
ada is making similar concessions to
the United States.
Last Years Trade Movement.
Figures of the trade movement be
tween Canada and the United States
in the articles included in the pend
ing reciprocity agreement for 1911
were compiled by the bureau Of sta
tistics Of the department of commerc'
and labor. They include: