Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-17
Smith, Michigan, Raps Ad-'
vocates Of Reciprocity.
penrose Claims 60 Votes and
Wants immediate Action.
Week. Defends American WOODEN
co..-Dsnlss That Il ls . trust,

Washington. June 1s.-The deter
mittee to push through the Canadian
reciprocity bill with all possible
speed and the confidence of the
Senate leaders that there Is clear
majority in favor of the bill without
amendment were made plain today
when Chairman Penrose of the COM
mittee forced the bill into its sec
ord reading before the Senate and
announced its probable early passage.
Consideration of the measure today
was brief. for no one was prepared
to speak at length upon it. Before
the Senate assembled, Senator PEN
rose had given out formal state-
ment, claiming 60 votes in favor of
the passage of the bill and more than
that number of votes against the
Root amendment, which affects the
importation of pulp wood and paper.
In reply to question by Gallinger.
Penrose said he believed no speeches
would be ready before next week. He
found, he said, that few friends OF
the bill cared tc speak on 1t, but
preferred to vote as soon as possi-'
BILE. The opponents of the measure.
he said, wanted more time to prepare
their arguments.
"Do 1 understand that no one wants
to speak in behalf of this bill?" asked
Smith of Michigan.
Not as many as want to speak
against it,. replied Penrose. The
friends of the measure are ready to
vote this afternoon. The bill has been
before the country for six months and
both sides have been discussed at
length
ut seems strange" said Smith. that
a measure to bring into competition
with our people an empire larger than
our own does not have any apologists
or champions after we have been dis
cussing 1t for weeks p?
Pcnrose said that for his own part
he, was ready. to vote today. Other
members suggested that the President
and many other leading Republicans
and Democrats had explained and en-
dorsed the bill
II am not surprised" returned
Smith, that a measure SO devoid OF
merit, similar to the treaty OF 1854.
which President Lincoln saw. no rea-
son for continuing in force, and SIM
liar to the projects rejected by Grant
and Blaine and others, should find no
one in this chamber willing to stand
up and risk his reputation as it's
champion.
II did not intend to make speech.
thought when the bill came here we
would be greeted by a great burst
of wisdom that would flood the coun-
try with light and that would cement
the people of the country together in
support of this agreement. Instead, all
lights are out. The country is in dark
ness so far as anything has been re-
vealed in favor of this measure.
Don't you consider the Presidents
speech at Chicago as enlightment on
this bill ?" asked Kern CT Indiana
THE President has been able to
make ineligible many public ques-
TONS replied Smith. "but 1t Is amaz-
ing that of all the things he has dis
cussed and of all the suggestions he
has made. this reciprocity agreement
Is the only one that has found favor
on the Democratic side Of the cham
Der and that finds no championship
on this side" - 8
Penrose volunteered no statement
as to the senator's who would speak
for the bill, if any. The Senate lis
tened to the second reading of the
MEASURE, which brought 1t officially
before that body for amendment.
Then Roots pulp wood amendment
which had been adopted by the fl
nance committee was offered. As
Root was not prepared to speak up
on it. no effort was made to vote.
The Senate adjourned until Mon
day at the conclusion of the second
reading, From that time forward.
speeches are expected every day up
on the bill until 1t is finally disposed
Of Townsend of Michigan announced
that he would offer an amendment
instructing the President to under
take further negotiations looking to
a wider reciprocity arrangement with
Canada.
- & Y