New-York tribune., 1911-02-22
UNWILLING SENATORS
YIELD To PRESIDENT
Finance Committee Will Report
Reciprocity Bill Without
Much Delay.
EVEN HALE ADMITS THAT
he Seeks TO Show That Interests
Affected Were Not Consulted
-Grangers Oppose
Agreement.
From The Tribune Bureau.l

TdIeHt hstetlnlHdtlon or meDlo ocrs or the
Senate Committee on Finance TO make
the way Of reciprocity as rough as pos
sible. IL became evident to-day that no
great delay VIII be encountered in re-
porting the Mccall bill to the Senate
The probable success OF President Taft's
efforts to obtain consideration for the
agreement at the present session was In
directly admitted even by Senator Hale,
who, next to Senator Hepburn. is the
most bitter opponent OF reciprocity.
In reply TO Aaron Jones, master OF the
Indiana Grange. who expressed the hope
that the bill would get no further than
the committee, Senator Hale said:
Don't you appreciate that the admin
istration Is using every force to, cram
this through? Don't You understand
that it is displeased even that we should
have hearings?"
81 know that" replied Mr.. Jones; "but
It need never come to a vote. / hope it
WON'T"
we hope so. too, added Senator Hale,
"but you must not hope too much"
'If we had thirty days more the meas
ure would never pass" said Mr.. Jones.
That" said Mr. Hale. lis very true"
Mr.. Jones told the committee that the
farmers depended on the Senate 10 defeat
the agreement.
You know how" he said.
Il don't know about that" replied Mr.
Hale. you must not rely upon us too
much. You know this has been thrown
in here upon u dying sossion."
When NJ. Jones ,epta-od that the Sem
ators on the Financc Con- '''ttee knew
how to Kill the agreemeu ~ Fa''
asked him what he had IN =.
Jones said that the Senator. eJu.I pre-
vent the agreement from coming to
vote II they wanted 10.
We'll, the President Is pretty deter
mined" said Mr.. Hale. What II We
fall down before he does?"
Hearings to End To-day.
The hearings will be closed by the
committee tomorrow. 1t Is not expected
that this will delay the bill. When the
hearings end number OF amendments
will be taken up. The most important
OF these was submitted by Senator Root,
who appeared before the committee to-
day. This eliminates the Mann amend
ment, which was added by the House
committee, and substitutes for 1t the
language Of the agrecment Itself. BY
the Mann amendment, relating 70 the
wood pulp and paper provision. the artf-
cles included are placed on the free list
If they are manufactured from pulp
wood cut on lands which impose no re-
strictions. Under the agreement none
of the articles in the wood pulp and pa
per provision are TO be placed OH the
free list until all restrictions are re-
moved by all the Canadian provinces.
Senator Roots amendment would have
the effect of leaving the paper and wood
pulp rates unchanged until this Is done.
Amendments will also be offered to place
a number OF articles, such as -four and
meats, on the free list.
Representative Gardner. OF Massachu-
setts, appeared before the committee In
behalf Of the fishing interests. and a
number Of representatives OF oranges
testified in behalf of the farmers. Among
them were Nahum J Bachelor, master
of the National Grange: +. y. Godfrey.
master OF the New York Grange: W. T.
Greasy. master Of the Pennsylvania
Grange; ". p. Hull. master OF the Mich
igan Grange and president Of the Amer
lean Dairy Farmers Association: George
s. Ladd, chairman Of the executive conf
mittee OF the Massachusetts, Grange. and
T. c. L.aylin, master Of the Ohio Grange
Hale Attacks Presiaent's Course.
Mr.. Hale endeavored to snow that
President Taft Secretary Knox and the
American commissioners had failed 10
consult any of the interests affected by
the agreement
Were you ever consulted by any one
about the effect tho proposed agreement
would have upon the great fshlng indus
try in advance OF the agreement being
sent IN here?' he asked Mr.. Gardner.
Il called NJ the Office of the Secretary
Of state, but was unable to see him"
Mr.. Gardner replied Il was told that
I could have one minute. saw the
President. He told me he was interested
In my statement. but was not able to
discuss II. He gave me to understand
that the question was closed isaue."
DO you know il either Of the Massa-
chusctts Senator'S who are familiar with
this subject and the consequences OF the
agreement, were consulted by the r.>si-
dert or the Secretary Of State or any
one?" asked Nj. Hale.
Not that / ever heard OF. | can't
answer foi others"
WAS any member OF Congress asked
for advice on this subject?"
Not so far as | know"
do YOU know whether either OF the
Senator's from Maine. either my COL
league or mysef-both of us have had
thirty years experience here and know
this subject--was corsulted?"
Mr.. Gardner replied In the negative.
Told Subject Was Closed.
do you know whether my other men,
Der Of Congress had the same expert
ence as you had at the tate Department
or at the White House whether any
member when he sought information as
10 the intertion o. the administration,
was told that the subject was fore
closed?" asked Mr.. Hale
question, senator replied Mr. Gardner.