Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-27
Used by Sen. La Toilette in
Attack on ''Recipr0city. y
Root Amendment Defeated by
Overwhelming Vote.
Seven Hours Of Crisp Dshats...
Ready Now for General Fight: :

washington, June 26.-The Canadian
reciprocity bill emerged from its first
i ordeal in the Senate tonight ufl-
seathed. The Root amendment pro-
posing modification of the wood pulp
and print paper section of the agree
| ment was defeated after seven hours of
debate. by an overwhelming vote. The
friends of the amendment were so sat
| isfied OF its defeat that a roll call on
| the vote was not demanded.
This leaves the reciprocity measure
open to the general fight which Is to
follow for amendments of important
provisions of the Payne tariff law La
Toilette announced in speech oppos-
ing the Root amendment that he would
give the Senate chance to pass on
general tariff amendments for free
paper, free lumber and lumber prod
ucts. and for reductions in many other
schedules. Clapp announced his inten-
ton of offering a free paper amend
ment later and other senators evil
denced their purpose to force, from
now on. consideration of tariff revis-
ion on the widest plane.
Attacks on the Root amendment
"CiC ltlttt opel Sto Will dlldChS On ttiS
whole reciprocity measure in the de-
bate which ran through the afternoon
and resulted in the defeat Of Roots
proposal to change the House bill by
requiring that all Canadian provinces
should remove their export restrictions
on pulp wood and it's products before
the reciprocal feature of the wood pulp
and print paper section of the agree
ment went into effect.
II am opposed to this so-called reciproc-
ity legislation as whole because | be-
lieve 1t is wrong harmful and uniustih-
able" said La Toilette. IF it must pass.
| want to see it made as nearly perfect
as possible. shall vote against the Root
amendment because | believe 1t will de-
feat the very purpose of the wood pulp
and print paper paragraph of the agree
ment La Toilette said there was no
Justification for any duty on print paper.
lie analysed the tafifT ,,oards figures 10
show that the best mills in the United
States actually produce paper cheaper than
the best mills in Canada. To continue a
high tariff on paper, he said. was to put
premium of efficiency and sloth" and make
the protective tariff "Deaden all construe-
two force for the development of effcient
management.
La Toilette criticized the newspapers for
having urged the reciprocity measure as
means of relief from the oppressive
charges of the print paper manufacturers.
He said they had Joined with the pack
ers. the railroads, the flour milers." and
others who would obtain Advantages by
the passage Of the reciprocity bill.
For my own part" he said. II shall
stand for proposition which will give TO
the users OF print paper a free product
But I contend they are not fairly entitled
to that at the sacrifice of any other in
dustry or great class OF people. I am
sorry they should have Joined to sacrifice
tho agricultural interests In this bill.''
La Toilette said that In the testimony
taken by the finance committee 1t would be
shown that the newspaper suppressed the
news OF the reciprocity proceedings. but
on this point, Senator Stone also mem
Der OF the finance committee, said the Wis
consin senator was mistaken.
THAT is the BLACKLIST page In the
newspaper history of the United
States said La Toilette. Il regret
that the fact must become part OF the
history of this legislation But it is q
stubborn fact. There Is no one who
heard the hearings but known those
who favor the Canadian reciprocity
were given greater space. but when
the agricultural interests came before
the committee making great showing
of the injury they would suffer. the
news filled but meagre space in the
great newspapers of the country.
II want to interrupt the senator
Said IN dafond tina
newspapers, but because / think his
statement is not quite justified by the
facts. 1t was shown that The Associat-
ed Press for example had given great
space to the pro-reciprocity contentious
which the papers had greedily accept
ed and widely spread.
1.-The facts as developed show as I
understand them that far more space
was given the anti-reeiprocity arsu-
ments by The Associated Press and by
the newspapers of the country. than
was given by either the one or the 9TH
er in favor of reciprocity. wish simply
to put that statement, as represent
ing my judgment of the facts against
the statement of the opinion of the
senator from Wisconsin as TO the facts.
so that his statement may not go I'M
challenged"
La Toilette expressed the belief that
other members of the finance commit
tee would side with him in the con-
troversy.
Clapp of Mimi. opposed the reci
proeity bill as a deception, delusion
and snare" and said the Root amend
ment would make 1T only worse
Simmons. Democrat, declared the
bill was not a Democratic measure.
Townsend of Michigan said the paper
and pulp clause of the reciprocity bill
Continued on Page Twelve.e