The Washington herald., 1911-04-12

House should go ahead in its own way
10 leg1slate in the manner desired by the
public. They proposed that the free list
| bill should be attached to the reciprocity
| measure as a rider and sent over to
the Senate in that shape. There was
much warm debate, but it was apparent
that the faction which opposed the views
OF Clark and Underwood was in the
minority.
Members Withdraw.
A number of members requested that
| they be excused from participation in the
caucus action, declaring they were pre-
Viously pledged to their constituents
against reciprocity. Among these MEM
bers were Representatives Webb, of
North Carolina: Doughton, Of North
Carolina; Gudger, of North Carolina
Rucker, Of Colorado; Hammond. of Min
nesota; Ashbrook. of Ohio; Pujo. of
Louisiana, and Wicklifre, of Louisiana.
Mr.. Hammond is the only Ways and
Means member included among those
who protested against the programme of
the leaders.
Other members demanded that addi-
tional items be added to the free-list
bill. They urged that the list as pre-
sented to the caucus by Chairman I'm
derwood. of the Ways and Means Com
niittee, was not sufficiently comprehen-
sive. They contended that other manu-
factured articles should be added to the
number mentioned. in order to compen-
safe the farmer for the boss entailed by
the placing Of SO many of his products
within the reciprocal zone. There was
disposition on the part of the ma jority
OF the caucus, however to accept the
Judgment of Mr.. Underwood and his
associates
Measures Decided Upon.
1t was practically decided that the reci-
procity, the free-list bill, and the
Wooien and cotton schedules should be
the only propositions upon which the
Democrats should caucus. This means
that while there will be no party caucus
on the election of Senators by direct
vote of the people. the publicity of cam
paign contributions. and the other items
CT the general legislation programme al
ready indorsed by the caucus immedi-
ately preceding the cOnvening of Con-
sress, these measures may come into the
House at any time and be acted upon as
5eneral propositions of party policy in
the regular way.
The proposition to make reciprocity the
first thing on the programme was car
ried by large majority. The vote was
l2S to %. six members voting present
An additional paragraph was added TO
the reciprocity bill requesting the Presi-
dent to expand the negotiations with
Canada with respect to reciprocity-in
other words. to include other articles in
the agreement
Representative Fitzgerald OF New
York. chairman of the Appropriations
Committee, moved to strike out this last
paragraph. but he was decisvely beaten
He pointed out that this was unneCeS-
sary: that President Taft was already
inclined TO make the reciprocity blanket
cover as much as possible and that no
instructions along this line from the Con-
gress were necessary. He said. after the
Of the caucus. that he had
made this motion largely to bring about
a vote on reciprocity, inasmuch as the |
discussion had shown no signs Of termi- !
mating.
The only significance of this additional |
paragraph is to indicate that the Demo- |
Gratis are apparently willing to vote for |
complete free trade between the United /
States and Canada and take this method !
Of notifying the Chief Executive to this |
effect.
The blanket tariff bill proposed by the
Democrats, while intended to bring re-
lief &c all classes. is designed particu- !
lariy to help the farmers and to Offset |
which are demanded of them |
in the reciprocity agreement The move |
to help the farmer is a clever maneuver
on the part of the Democrats to cut the
ground from under the Republican insur-
gents and regulars who have been rails
ing their voices against the sacrifices
demanded of the tillers of the soil with
oUt any adequate return.