The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-27
Reciprocity Bill Emerges From First Ordeal With
 out a Scratch W
MEASURE LEFT OPEN
 TO GENERAL FIGHT
Senators Lal7ollette, Clapp and 9th CTS Will Force Consideration of Revision-Newspapers
 Are Raped

Washington, June 2e.-The Canadian reciprocity bill emerged from it's first ordeal in the senate tonight unscathed. The Root amendment proposing a modi- fication of the wood pulp and print paper section of the agreement was defeated by an overwhelming vote after seven hours of debate. Friends of the amend nlent were so satisfied of it's defeat a roll-call on the vote was not demanded.
 This leaves the reciprocity measure open to the general fight that is to fol- low for amendment of important pro- visions of the Payne tariff, law. sena- tor BaFollette announced, in a speech opposing the Root amendment he would give the senate A chance to pass on general tariff amendments for free paper, free lumber and lumber products and for | reductions in many other schedules. Sem ator Clapp also announced his intention l of offering a free paper amendment later and other senators gave evidence of their purpose to force from now on consider ation of tariff revision on the widest plane. Attack on the Root amendment was interspersed with attacks on ths whole reciprocity measure in the debate that ran throughout the afternoon and which resulted in the defeat of Sena- tor Roots proposal to change the house bill by requiring that all Canadian prov inces should remove their export restric- tions on pulp wood and it's products be- fore the reciprocal features of the wood pulp and print paper items of the agree ment become effective
 'I am opposed to this so-called reef procty legislation as a whole because believe 1t is wrong. harmful and un- 1ustifable," said Senator LaFolette. Ut it must pass l want to see 1t made as nearly perfect as possible. I shall vote against the Root amendment because I believe it will defeat the very purpose of the wood pulp and print paper para graph of the agreement"
 Duty on Paper Unjustified Senator LaFollette said there was no Justification for any duty on paper. He analysed the figures of the tariff board to show that the hest mills in the United States actually produce paper cheaper tlsan the best mills of Canada. To con- 1 tinue a high tariff on paper he said. | and sloth." and to make the protective l tariff "deaden all constructive force' for the development of efficient management. Senator IaFollette criticised the news papers for having urged the reciprocity measure as a means of getting relief from the oppressive charges of the print paper manufacturers. He said they had joined with the packers. the railroads. the flour millers' and others who would secure advantages through favorable ac- ton on the reciprocity pact For my own part" he said, "I shall stand for a proposition which will give 10 the users of print paper a free product. But l contend they not fairly entitled to that at the sacrifice of any other in- dustry or great class of people l am sorry they should have joined to sacrifice the agricultural interests in this bill.
 LaFollette Criticises Press
 Senator BaFollette declared that in the i testimony taken by the finance commit tee would be shown the newspapers had 1 suppressed the news of the reciprocity | proceedings but on this point Senator 2 1 Stone, who also is a member of the | finance committee, declared the Wiscon- sin senator was mistaken
 That is the baekest page in the news paper history of the United States" said l Senator LaFolette.
 l part of the history of this legislation. But it is a stubborn fact. There is no one who followed the hearings before the | finance committee but knows that those l who favored the Canadian agreement were given great space, but when the agricultural interests came before the committee making a great showing of the injury they would suffer. a showing which ] consider the most important made before the committee, the news 1 filled but meager space in the great news papers of the country" l 'I want to interrupt the senator,'' said Senator Stone, mot to defend the news papers, but because I think his statement | is not quite justified by the facts. It was charged that the Associated Press for example had given great space to the pro-reciprocity literature and to the pro- reciprocity contentious which the news papers had greedily accepted and widely exploited.
 Associated Press Was Fair
 "The facts as developed show. as I un- derstand them. that far more space was given the anti-reciprocity arguments by the Associated Press and by the news papers of the country than given by either the one or the other in favor of reciprocity. I wish simply to put that statement, as representing my judgment
 
 the opinions of the senator from Wiscon- sin as to the facts, so that his statement may not go unchallenged.'
 | Senator LaFolette expressed the belief that other members of the finance com mttee would side with him in the con- | troversy.
 Senator Clapp of Minnesota opposed the reciprocity as a deception, deluson and a snare" and said the Root amend ment would but make it worse. Senator Simmons, democrat, said the bill was not 1 a democratic measure. l Senator Townsend of Michigan said the paper and pulp clause of the reciprocity bill would undoubtedly be open to diff ferent interpretations if the Root amend ment were not adopted and that the courts would finally have to pass on the matter.
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