The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-28
Canadian Reciprocity Is Not
 Favored By Congress
TAFT IS NOT DISCOURAGED
The President Has Already Heard Un> favorable Rumors of His Pet Project Hut He VIII Con-
 tinue the Fight

Washington. January 27-Snags boz gan to loom up in the pathway of the Canadian reciprocity agreement before 1t had been in the hands of Congress 24 hours. and confident predictions of its failure were made freely by the pillars of the protective tariff faith. It was said that even should the House accept the terms of the arrangement (which republican high tariff advo- cates did not concede for a moment) 1t could not pass the Senate.
 These direful prophecies were car ried to the White House today by members who visited the President os- tensibly on other business, but instead of their creating a pessimistic feeling there, MT. Taft, 1t is said, received them with smiles, which indicated that one defeat would not turn him from his purpose. If his own party. before surrendering control of the House of Representatives, fails to seize the op- portunity. and the credit of putting into operation this reciprocal trade pact, the President. it Is believed, will not hesitate to submit his programme to the democrats. perhaps even In an extra session of the new Congress-
 One man in the confidence of the President. who has been the adminis- tration mouthpiece on more than one occasion, came from the White House tonight with the declaration that the proposed Canadian arrangement would !, N,-
 Taft was in the White House
 Taft in Dead Earnest
 "The President was never more earnest in his life." said he "He in- l tends to stay with It through this
 session and to carry it to the next if
 necessary. He would not hesitate to
 call an extra session ifshe thought such | a course would be necessary
 MT. Taft believes the mutual con-
 and Canada, especially the large num- | Der of articles of foodstuffs which would be put on the free list. promises great Humanitarian movement that ultimately would mean a material re- ducton in the cost of living. He be- lieves that even If the promised reduc-
 tions are not at once apparent, the very presence of this document in Con- gress will prove a deterrent force against continued advancement In the prices of food.
 It is well known that MT. Taft was greatly disappointed that the tariff board had not completed its investiga- tion of schedule R." the wool tariff so that he could recommend at the same time reduction in the duties on clothing. He believes this combina- tion would have appealed so forcibIy to the great army of wage workers who have felt the pinch of constantly advancing prices of what they eat and wear. that there would have been man. ifested at once an overwhelming de- mand throughout the country for the adoption of his programme.
 Relations With Canada The commercial relations of the Unit ed States and Canada, according to the view held by the President, should
 be placed above partisan political con- alterations. and there is the best pos
 sible reason to declare that he will
 take his stand upon this belief and | hold it until some action is taken by Congress.
 The overturning of the republican ma | jorty of the House and the great change which will be made in the complexion of | lDe senate a1tef March 4 IS thought by | some to supply President Taft with more | than an even chance of success. When | his message was read in the House yes terday it was received with exclamation l by the democrats and appearances seem | to favor an indorsement of it by the pres l ent minority. which soon will be the ma | jority. Of the attitude of the democratic | leaders proves a trust position which mi nority members of the ways and means committee will take on a joint resolution | to put the trade agreement into force, | then such a resolution can be brought out | of the committee. The seven democrats | on the committee are believed to be in | sympathy with the agreement and it is certain that four republicans will vote to | report it. This makes a clear majority | of the 19 members.
 Favorable to Treaty
 The republicans counted upon by the administration to vote to report the reso- lution are Mccall of Massachusetts, Hill of Connecticut, Needham of California and Longworth of Ohio. Chairman Payne and Representative Dwight, both of New York. are believed to be opposed to the agreement, but 1t Is regarded as doubtful If they will take a determined stand against the Presidents wish. Should the
 resolution be brought out of the ways and means committee within the next | fortnight. count could be had on 1t in the House during the present session. Whether it passes or not. 1t Is likely majority of the present democratic mem | bers will vote for 1t. This would be ac- | cepted as committing the democratic l House of the next session to its pas sage
 Barriers in the Senate
 l It is in the Senate that the barriers now | look impregnable. A republican member | of the finance committee said today that
 not one of the majority of that body fa- | vored the proposed arrangement with l Canada, some being opposed because l they believed interests of their states to | be jeopardized and others basing their ! objections upon the ground of supposed
 menace to the principle of protection. i The estimate by this member of the sen | timent in the committee concerning the I agreement may not be entirely correct. | Some of those who favor the arrange | uent believe that Senator Cullom will | vote for it and that Chairman Aldrich | would give 1t his support were he In | Washington. However this may be- 1t Is | admitted that q majority of the commit | tee as now constituted is opposed to the D, oposed arrangement, and that it proba-