Evening star., 1911-01-27

Ihe administration $ proposed Canadian
trade agreement has set the tariff factions
in Congress by the ears. President Taft S
recommendation for speedy legislative
action takes the lid OFF the tariff question
and opens with bang immediate tariff
revision.
For the first time the highly protected
American farmer gets jolt. Agricultural
products are to bear the burden of tariff
reductions in the main. The American
manufactures is but slightly menaced.
and at that is largely compensated by re-
duced raw materials. The imports into
the United States from Canada of the
manufactured articles placed on the free
list or reduced were negligible in amount
last year. and the total did not aggregate
the imports of one of half a dozen COM
niodities of the agricultural schedule.
Pleasing to Manufacturers.
This consideration is important as bear
ing upon the possible action of Congress
on the trade agreement. The great manu-
featuring interests with their powerful
representation in Congress will not be
lined mp against the agreement. it is
thought.
Indeed. there are several reasons why
ihe manufacturing interests are expected
to view the reductions with complacency,
ON the ground that it 'is the other fel-
lows OK that Is gored." The Canadian
imports will not menace American pro-
duction. but on the other hand the influx
Of cheaper food products will make the
purchasing power of the wages of the
American workingmen greater.
So the community of interest which has
heretofore existed between the manu-
facturers and the farmers for upholding
uniform high protective tariff Will be
lacking. il is said, in this case and the
farmers will have TO fight their battle
alone.
With the ink on the trade agreement
hardly dry, IL is impossible at the outset
to forecast the probable action Of Con-
gress on the agreement Senators and
representatives today could do little more
than speculate upon the outcome.
Easy to Defeat Treaty.
One thing is certain: If group of
senators determine to defeat ratification
Of the agreement IL can easily be done.
IL will not require very much of fillibus-
ter. in the congested condition of legis-
lative affairs, TO prevent action at this
session, and no one believes that the
President would call an extra session to
take up the agreement, since that would
open the whole tariff question to agita- :
ton at once. with the lower branch of
Congress i'm possession of hostile ma
jority.
IL the wl!eat-g growing states. the border
states. the fisneries industry and the
lumber industry combine to prevent rati-
hcation OF the agreement. they can sue
ceed with comparatively small effort.
The administration friends in Con-
gress, however, are counting upon pub
Hc opinion TO force the sanctioning of
the agreement. They pronounce President
Tafts special message 10 Congress 10 be
great humanitarian document, an APP
cal for the broader principles OF the
general good as against local selfshness,
and they think the country will fall IN
behind him with pressure 10 be brought
10 bear upon Congress.
Point to Recent Elections.
They also count upon the effect OF the
recent elections. as demonstrating the
widespread demand Of the people for
cheaper food products. and they claim
that President Taft in his message sug-
gests a practical. speedy and effective
way of meeting this demand
Some republican politicians in Congress
contended today that II would be unwiss
to defeat ratification OF the agreement be.
cause such action would certainly in
crease the popular unrest which woulC
he voiced in demands for an extra ses
zion OF Congress. They argue that te
grant these reductions on food product:
will appease popular clamor and let ths
whole tariff question go over until mex
Congress.
Skeptical Of Ratification.
Influential republicans il Congress
were very skeptical today in their ex
pressions of favorable action on tn,
treaty al this session. Viewing the stu
alton as II is. from a practical stand
point. none Of them could see the wa,
clear TO ratification.
The House OF Representatives. II wa
in order 10 make the agreement effective
Even IL II were brought into the Senat,
as q treaty. subject 10 the necessity O
ratification under the rules there thu
House still would have to pass a resolu
tion making II effective. because IL af
fscts revenue. and under the Constitution
all legislation affecting revenue mus
originate in the House
All republicans in Congress Were agreet
that the question precipitated upon Con
gress by the transmission Of the trad
agreement spells trouble politically
II 10 a fact that the administration ha
gone ahead with the preparation OF thi
trade agreement without consultation wit
the leaders OF the party in Congress, tn
hcdy which must pass upon il. The pre-
l.minaries were arranged by the execu
tive branch OF the government with grea
secrecy and with the total elimination o
the legislative branch.
Senators and representatives holdin
leading positions I'm Congress did no
know INT the general public was ap
prised the scope ard caaracte. OF IN