Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-04-05
His Message to Con-
gress is Short and to
the Point.
Is RIPE
Felt His Duty Required Sum-
moning of Extra Session
to Avoid Delay.

Washington. April 5.-The senate
was in session only % minutes today.
The only business transacted was the
reading of the presidents message,
and its reference to the finance com
mittee. The fight in the house over
the new rules was interrupted to per
nit the reading OF the presidents
message. 1t was referred to the COM
mittee on ways and means
YIELDS To SENTIMENT.
President Tafts message urged ear
ly action on the reciprocity agreement
with Canada. He stated that he based
this message upon Difference to pop
ular sentiment and duty to the great
masses of the American people. The
message follows:
To the senate and house Of repre-
sentatives-I transmitted TO the 61st
congress, on January &c last. the text
of the reciprocity trade agreement
which had negotiated under my direc-
tion by the secretary of state with the
representatives of the Dominion OF
Canada. This agreement was the con-
{
ing over a period of nearly n year. on
the part of both governments to effect
a trade arrangement which. supple
menting as it did the amicable settle
ment of various questions OF a diplo-
matte and political character that had
been reached, would mutually promote
commerce and would strengthen the
friendly relations now existing.
PEOPLE WELCOME 1T.
| The agreement In It's intent and IN
the terms was purely economic and
commercial. While the general sub
ject was under discussion by the COM
missioners | felt assured that the sen
timent Of the people of the United
States was such that they would wei
come a measure which would result in
the increase of trade on both sides OF
the boundary line. would open up the
reserve productive resources OF Can
ada TO the great mass of our own con
sumers on advantageous conditions,
and at the same time offer a broader
outlet for the excess products OF our
farms and many of our industries De
tails regarding a negotiation of this
kind necessary could not be made
public while the conferences were
pending. When, however, the full text
of the agreement, accompanying cor
respondence and data explaining both
its purpose and its scope became
known to the people through the mes
sage transmitted to congress, it was
Immediately apparent that the ripened
fruits OF the careful labors of the com
missioners met with widespread ap-
proval. This approval has been
strengthened by farther consideration
Of the terms of the agreement in all
their particulars. The volume of
support which has developed shows
that it's broadly national scope is fully
appreciated and is responsive 10 the
popular Will
HOUSE CONFIRMED.
The house OF representatives Of the
6lst congress after the full text Of tine
arrangement with all the details in re-
gard TO the different provisions has
been before II, as they we're before
the American people. passed bill con
hrming the agreement as negotiated
and as transmitted to congress. This
measure failed Of action in the sen
ate
In my transmitting message of
the 2Gth of January. | fully set forth
the character of the agreement. and
emphasized its appropriateness and
necessity as response 10 the mutual
needs Of the people of the two coun-
tries. as we'll as its common advan-
tages. now lay that message, and
the reciprocity trade agreement, as part
IF the present message before the 62d
and again invite earnest al
tention TO the consideration therein
expressed.
REASON FOR HASTE.
am constrained in Difference 10
popular sentiment and with a realiz-
ing sense Of my duty to The great
mass of our people whose welfare Is
involved. 70 urge upon your consid-
ration early action on this agree
ment. In concluding the negotiations
the representatives Of the two cOun-
tries bound themselves to nse their ut
most efforts to bring about the tariff
changes provided for in the agree
ment by concurrent legislation at
Washington and Ottawa / have felt
It my duty, therefore, not to acqui-
esce in relegation OF action until the
opening OF the congress in December,
but to use my constitutional preroga-
tive and convoke the 62d congress IN
extra session In order that there shall
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