The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-05
FIGHT ON RECIPROCITY.
TENSITY OF FEELING INCREASED
~ CONFUSED SESSION.
Opponents Fighting Vote-Contest
Attempt To Have Date Set for Final
Action ON Canadian Trade Agree
mcnt.


the reciprocity fight was empha sized
by incidents that occurred in the con-
fused proceedings today. The session
began with an unsuccessful ATTEMPT
BY Cha man Penrose of the finance
committSJ TO secure an agreement to
vote on the wool bill July &c and free
list bill July 20. Friends of reciprocity
will Insist upon coupling all these
measures In any agreement to vote.
After refusing To- permit such an
agreement. the opponents of the recl-
procity bill allowed that measure to
advance one important parliamentary
step before they realized what had
happened. For quarter of an hour
the senate was In executive session.
AT its conclusion. no one being ready
TO speak On the measure and follow
Ing the parliamentary custom OF that
body. Vice President Sherman an
nounced thaS the bill would be rc.
ported from the committee of the
whole to the senate.
The bill actually passed through all
the stages OF being reported to tho
senate before members realized wha.
was going on. While under consid-
Grafton in the committee of the whole
the measure could be amended but
could not be voted upon. In the sem
ate II could be brought to a final vote
at any time. Senators Nelson, Bris-
tow Clapp and Bailey joined in the
protest that arose when 1t was seen
what had happened to the bill.
At first Senator Penrose Objected
to having the measure reinstated in
me committee OF the whole. He said
the senate had shown no disposition
to hurry In its consideration of the
bill and had rejected his proposal
for definite time for a vote on the
measure. He therefore thought no
backward step should be taken. |
Friends OF the bill on the Democratic |
side. led by Senator's Stone and |
Bacon. said the senate had evidently
been of it's guard and had permitted |
the bill to be advanced unintention- |
ally. Senator Penrose finally con-
sented to have II restored to its for
mer status.
The feeling that developed over this |
incident was not SO marked. however /
as that which greeted Senator Pen (
roses attempt To Ak uwe for the /
vote on the bills.
Insurgents objected to any defln- !
lite date for the reciprocity vote and |
the finance committe was extricated
from the embarrassing position OF |
having the other votes determined by |
an objection from Senator Smoot. |
Several Democrats and insurgents
would have welcomed the fixing OF
the other two dates so that the tar
in bills could be forced up to Presl- |
dent Taft ahead OF the reciprocity
bin. and the latter held back as a
means OF forcing his signature to The
others.
The Penrose request will be renew
ed from time To time whenever con-
ditions seem favorable. Ultimately |
the friends OF reciprocity may con-
sent TO change the order. allowing
the vote on the tarifr bills To come
first. but they will not do so at pres
ent. nor In taking this position Will
they consent that one go through !
without the others.
In this attitude they have the in
dorsemcnt OF the president. who has
advised them that while ne does
shrink from consideration OF tariff
measures at the present time. he !
thinks that reciprocity should come !
first I'm the natural order. His 20.
sition. as expressed to senators who
have talked to him, IL that the pres
ent session should be confined az
strictly os possible To reciprocity. |
that being the subject which II was
called to consider.
Senator MARITIME Of New Jersey. who
has qualified as farmer i'm the
senate. had an interesting passage az
arms with Senator Borah. who spoke
I'm opposition To ;he reciprocity bin.
lie questioned the lattcr's statements
as TO the benefits OF protection to tie
farmer.
1--WE been looking up To the sem
ator from New Jersey since he an
nounced that no was farmer" re-
torted Mr.. Borah. "and | find that
is or 20 years ago he had farm Of
t20 acres In New Jersey: that 10
farmed ,t for awhile. played politics