Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-29
TAFT OPENS FIGHT
Fires First Gun in Effort to
Have Reciprocity Ratified.
MCCALL HIS SPOKESMAN
Massachusetts, Representative Intro
duces Administration Bill
in the House.

10 carry into effect the terms OF the
reciprocity agreement concluded by rep
resentatives of Canada and the United
States last Thursday, and which was
placed before Congress that day by Presi-
dent Taft with a special message. urging
legislation. the first move was made yes
terday when Representative Mccall OF
Massachusetts, a member of the ways and
means committee. presented the admins
tration bill on the subject. The bill was
referred to the committee on ways and
means, which will take it mp next week.
The Introduction OF the bill by tho
Massachusetts member, instead of by Mr..
Payne OF New York, chairman of the
ways and means committee. occaSioned
some comment. 1t is interpreted In
many quarters to indicate that Mr.. Nc
Call will take 4 prominent part in steer
ing the bill through the committee and in
engineering its progress upon the floor
of the House.
1t has become fairly we'll established
that the bill TO put the new rates into
erect Will pass through the committee
and come out upon the floor of the
House within comparatively short time.
Take Up Bill Early This Week.
The first move of the committee will
be to take up the bill at meeting
early this week, and determine If any
hearings will be held upon it. 1t is the
opinion of several members of the COM
mittee now that if certain delegations
representing industries seriously affected
by the lowering OF tariff rates. wish to
be heard an opportunity will be afforded
them before any final action is taken.
Members of the committee believe that
the facts upon the various items We're
fully elected in the hearings held dur
ing the preparation of the Payne-Aldrich
bill. and to renew extensive hearings
upon the reciprocity agreement would
needlessly and dangerously delay its con-
sideration by the House.
The form of the bill introduced by Mr..
Mccall is such that its future conSdera-
ton in the House is matter of uncer-
tainty at the present time. AS a bill to
raise revenue 1t will he subject to amend
ment and change, unless u rule of closure
is first put through the House prohibit
ing amendments and forcing the House
to vote upon the reciprocity agreement
as Il whole.
Cannot Amend Bill.
The negotiations with Canada resulted
in n definite and concrete arrangement.
which cannot be changed in any par
ticular without upsctting the balance
and the effectiN encss OF the whole agree
nent.
The impression has been strengthened
that President Taft'S determination to Sc
cure action upon the reciprocity measure
at this session is such that he will resort
to an extra session if it becomes neceS-
sary to bring the matter to final consid-
Grafton in both houses OF Congress-
II defeat comes for the measure. It is
expected in the Senate. The democrats OF
the House. after fairly careful poll by
the leading members of the minority are
apparently disposed TO accept the treaty
and to support it in debate and with their
votes. According to a democratic MEM
Der of the ways and means committee.
who has canvassed the situation the
democrats are likely to accept the bill
without any serious attempt to amend it,
They look upon it both as a tariff change
in line with democratic ideas and as a
serious attempt on the part of A repub-
lican President to take the tariff out of
politics and elevate it above political dis
pute.
Mccall Declines to Talk.
Representative Mccall, who presented
the bill, has been the subject of some
speculation because of the fact that he
comes from a state that has complained
bitterly against the free fish provisions of
the agreement. Mr.. Mccall declined to
declare himself upon the specific terms
of the new agreement, but lie made no
secret of his thorough approval of the
plan for reciprocal arrangements between
the two countries.
Tho Mccall bill, after indicating the
duties that are to be levied upon Ca
madam products, provides that those shall
become effective as soon as the President
ascertains and issues Il proclamation
showing that Canada is levying similar
duties against American products.
The free importation Of certain articles
is to become operative as soon as the
President becomes Satisfied that
Canada is making similar concessions
to the United States"
The Senate was not in session yes
terday. and there were few members
of that body at the Capitol. 1t was
impossible to learn If there had been
any change in the open hostility with
which the measure was received Thurs
day.