The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-19
Possible 1t May Be PrOlOnge'
Another Day.
''FREE LIST" REPORT.
Is Submitted to the House This
Afternoon.
President Taft Quoted Through
out the Document.

/ Washington, April 19--Den1OcrdIC
leaders of the house hope to bring the
long debate on Canadian reciprocity to
an end tonight and to pass the bill be-
fore adjournment tomorrow. 1t is pos
sible however, that another day on
general discussion may be agreed to.
for Chairman Underwood Of the ways
and means committee does not desire
to shut off any one who wants to speak
The fact that former Speaker Cannon
was to make one of the principal argu-
ments against the reciprocity agree
ment today brought a throng to the
galleries.
Having expected an opposition speech
from former Speaker Cannon as the
opening of the reciprocity fight today,
the house experienced a surprise wher
the first attack of the day came FROM
southern Democrat member. Repre-
sentative Gudger of North Carolina
characterized the bill as a Republican
measure, he attacked his colleague, MIR.
Kitchin, for his speech of Saturday, de-
claring he was marching side by side
.th the Republican leaders and that
he had impugned the motives of At
least three members of the North Caro-
lima Democrat delegation who proposed
to vote against the measure.
The report of the ways and means
committee on the farmers free list bill.
promised today was awaited in the
house with much interest. This bill will
be taken up as soon as the reciprocity
measure is out of the way
The senate meets tomorrow.
The Free List Report.
The majority report of the ways
and means committee on the so-called
farmers free list bill, submitted to
the house today by Chairman Under
wood, is a merger of Democratic poll
tical argument and an analysis of the
proposed duty exemptions.
The report shows that ths bill
would reduce the tariff revenue $10,-
016, ,495, based on the importations for
the last fiscal year, an amount de-
scribed as "inconsiderable in conIpari-
son with the great saving and advan-
tagesy to all of our people from the
additions to the free list provided for"
Quoting President Taft's recent Ca
madam reciprocity speeches. the re-
port seeks to convey the impression
that the administration is convinced
that protective tariff rates are too
high.
I'm several public addresses it
says, "he ,(the president) has admit
ted that tariff rates are too high. that
such rates have resulted in excessively
high prices felt especially in the in
creased cost of living which now bears
heavily on our people, and that they
have not received the long promised
benefits of domestic competition un-
der high protective duties
Referring to the presidents state
ment that the Republican party had
modified it's tariff policy so as to limit
it for purposes of protection to the
difference in cost Of production here
and abroad with a reasonable profit
to the United States producer, the con-
mittee report says:
fHThiG q a confession 10
Republican platform of 1908, that the
theory of high protective duties. as
put forth by the Republican party.
has broken down, that combinations
and trusts which prey upon the peo-
pie have been fostered by the tariff,
and that under high tariff protection,
United States manufacturers have
formed unreasonable profits from the
people,
Protective Policy Injurious.
Again the report declares:
THE Canadian reciprocity agree
ment now before the house is a recog-
milton on the part of the administra-
ton of the injurious effects of the ex-
treme protective policy which has so
long been imposed upon the country,
and is an effort to mitigate it's Effects
The reciprocity agreement. the
committee asserts, cannot afford the
United States people all the needed
the agreement involves the necessity
of further and immediate action in
removing number of duties on i'm
ports from other countries in order
that justice may be done to the great
army of agricultural producers who,
| in the Canadian agreement, are to
have all the alleged protection re-
moved from their products without a
| corresponding or reciprocal removal
of the protective duties most burden
some on the commodities they must
| purchase as necessary to sustain their
| lives and industries"
The report takes up in detail the
classified list of articles included in
the free list bill. Regarding agricul-
tural implements, it says their manu-
| facture is controlled by trusts and
| combinations that have sold in for
! eign countries at lower prices than at
home, building up their foreign trade
| from s3,S59,1 in 1890 to $2S,124,O3
| in 1910.
Bagging and paling materials, essen
| tfal in the transportation of agricul-
| tural products the report saws can
home markets and duties on them,
| ''have annoyed and burdened the farm
ers to add to the profits of exactine
trusts and combinations.
Concerning hoops. bands and ties OF
| iron and steel bdrbed wire for fenc-
| ing, etc. the report says the high du-
ties make the people dependent upon
the "giant steel industry which for
years has sold products abroad lower
| than to domestic consumers, and de-
| clares that placing them on the free
| list will be "a long delayed measure OF
/ equity and Justice
| Beef Trust AssaiIed
The placing on the free list of al
| forms of leather from cattle, hides
| and skins, together with boots, shoes
| harness, saddlery, ETC., the committee
argues. will be of advantage in manu-
| 70 nd af e