The Washington herald., 1911-06-11

Although supporters of the Root
amendment to the Canadian reciprocity
bill, in the Senate and elsewhere, pro-
fess to be puzzled over President Taft's
opposition to it. the Chief Executive be-
lieves his position is abundantly justi-
fed by the statement given out yester-
day by Representative Oscar Under
wood. chairman Of the Ways and Means
Committee, and majority leader of tine
House.
Mr.. Underwood said in effect what Mr..
Taft has contended right along, that the
adoption of the Root amendment in the
Senate would mean the repudiation of
the measure in the House and its ulti-
mate defeat.
I'VE have disposed of the Root amend
ment on this side of the Capitol" said
Mr.. Underwood, "and we do not propose
TO reverse ourselves" Mr.. Underwood
went on to say that in two instances the
House had voted down amendments
which were virtually the same as the one
proposed by Senator Root, and concluded
''and they will cast their third vote
against it If the reciprocity agreement
comes back from the Senate with the
Root amendment in it."
Would Discount Threat.
Supporters ir the Senate to whom this
argument has been advanced say the
President is placing too much faith in
Mr.. Underwood's prediction or threat.
They profess to believe the President is
choosing too narrow a platform to stand
on when he refuses to approve an amend
ment to his bill. the while he has no
criticism to make of its subject matter.
They stand on the steps of the White
House and point out plausibly that the
President grants the fairness of the
amendment; that it would make the bill
conform to the agreement as originally
proposed by the commissioners; that the
Ottawa government is agreeable to It and
would indeed welcome it; and then they
regard doubtfuIly the future possibility Of
the Democratic House refusing to accept
SO fair and natural an amendment
Sstute politician though he is Senator
Smoot, one of the advocates Of the meas
ure WHO is on terms of warm personal
friendship witt the President, processes
TO be in the dark as to the reason for
the opposition. Senator Smoot talked with
the President yesterday and exuded op-
timism as to the ultimate fate of the bill
from every pore.
We will pass Canadian reciprocity by
July Il. There is not the least question
that reciprocity will go through the SEN
ate with plenty of votes" he stated as
to the entire bill. And then-'WilI it be
amended? 1 haven't canvassed the Sen
ate to see If there are enough votes to
vote down all amendments, but can't
see for my life why there should be any
objection to the Root amendment. It
does not change the pact in any way,
shape or form, but really perfects it. The
Ottawa government does not object to the
amendment and really welcomes it, the
Canadian bill having the Root features
embodied in il. Personally, I am opposed
TO all other amendments, and feel con-
Nlnced that the agreement will be adopted
by the Senate without any amendment
other than the Root proposition.
Senator SmOOt SkepticaI.
Il see it is stated that Representative
Underwood will not accept the agreement
with the Root amendment, but do not
believe this. I can see no good reason
why the House would not accept this,
which really perfects the American bill
and is acceptable 10 Canada. I imagine
that the House would not turn the pact
down because of this amendment"
But feeling that Mr Underwood is a
pretty good prophet of the temper of the
House majority on the subject and that
q fight over the conference report will
make the passage of his bill impossible.
for this session at least, Mr. Taft re-
fuses to retreat from his position as
stated in a recent speech. The bill, the
whole bill, and nothing but the bill"