The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-04-06

| Washington, March 20. Abso
lutely free trade with Canada is one
of the things Oscar w. Underwood
Congressman from Alabama anG
chairman of the Democratic Ways
and Means committee, thoroughly
believes in, and would like to see
brought about. He has given out an
interview to this effect
| Mr.. Underwood is not a free
trader so far as the world at large
is concerned. He is a tariff-for-rev-
enue man, first, last and always
But as between this country and
Canada" says Mr.. Underwood. Il
should welcome absolute free trade
If the Canadian government is will
ing to grant free trade to our pro-
ducts entering Canada"
| Mr.. Underwood believes because
of the similarity of the peoples of
the two countries, and other reasons
which have tendency to make reci-
procity mutually desirable, there is
no more reason why there should be
a tariff wall between the United
States and Canada than there would
be for a tariff wall between Vermont
and New Hampshire or any other
two adjoining states in the union. :,
Speaking for myself alone" said
Mr.. Underwood, Il am in favor of
adding a clause to the reciprocity
agreement authorizing the President
by executive act, to reduce the tariff
duties of this country, on any item,
whether included in the Canadian
agreement or not, whenever Canada
is willing to put them on her free
list. This would not interfere with
the present pending pact between
this country and Canada, but it
would be an invitation on the part
of our government for Canada to
unite with us in ultimate free trade"
1t is almost certain that the Demo-
cratic house will pass, at the extra
session, several bills revising the tar
if downward on particular schedules
in addition to the reciprocity act,
They will do this regardless of in
timations from the White House that
the President will veto any tariff
legislation that is not based on the
results of a so-called expert investi-
cation by men appointed by Presi-
dent Taft.
All of the members of the Demo-
cratic Ways and Means committee,
with the exception of two, Under
wood and Hammond, voted against
bill to create a tariff board at the
last session of Congress, and it is
virtually certain they will refuse to
act favorably on the president s sug-
gestion or that the much needed
downward revision be based on the
findings of the republican-appointe
board.
I'VE do not need a tariff board to
tell us that 1875 per cent duty on a
pair OF ordinary wooden blankets,
that the poor man uses is an out
rage declared representative Kitch-
en-, OF North Carolina, a member of
the Ways and Means committee.
Neither do members of Congress
need to be told by so-called board
of experts that 116 per cent duty on
the underwear that the laboringe an
has to wear to keep his body warm
is an outrage. 1t is very simple
matter to ascertain these impositions
on the poor of the land, and l do
not anticipate that congress will
have much difficulty in singing them
out for honest revision"
The Democrats do not intend to
slash rates right and left, with
reckless hand, but they propose to
frame legislation that will meet the
expectations of the people and will
be in compliance with promises made
in the last campaign.