New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-16
RECIPROCITY A TARGET
Senator Nelson Bitterly Attacks
Canadian Agreement.
DISCUSS ROOT AMENDMENT
Senator Pomerene Calls for Pros
ecution of Standard Oil and p
Tobacco Officials.
rr,om Tn. Tribune Bureau, J

lowed by the President In nesoua'i"e
the Canadian reciprocity agreement vac
made the TARGET for bitter criticism W
day by Senator Nelson In the course y,
speech against the bill. He asserted 'ha'
President Taft was without authorpy "
negotiate an agreement OF TINS kno anu
that the course adopted is utterly uc
structive of the independence OF '"c ieo
islative department OF the government
I'm the prolonged struggle TO prevent INV
ennrovsl Of the agreement Senator Nelson
"a the first 10 make this objection. WHICH,
IL may be said. is supported by rev o'"e'
members OF the body.
THE making Of such a bargain In ao-
vance. as in this case" he SAID irhpnes
not merely a naked recommendation on
the psrt OF the President, ACCORDING !"
the usual custom, but by the very tei n''
of the bargain the PRESIDENT III ia|'
agrees that he will use his utmost eiIoi's
10 bring about the proposed le6lsia'io"'
In other words. he agreed TO brlng aoo''
the desired result. not by treaty, p"t o'
importantly with and pressure upon Con-
eress TO the utmost A mere statement
Of the case shows how unconstitutional
how utterly unwarranted. such acton Is
on the part of the President.
Senator Nelson's speech was the thiro
20 be delivered IN opposition to reciprocity
since the bill was reported from the com
Ynitt.e on Finance. With the speech OF
Senator Pomerene in support OF his reso
luton proposing the criminal prosecutor
OF the directors Of the Standard OH ana
American Tobacco companies. 1t occupied
the attention OF the Senate for most OF
,o-day's session. 1t became still furthei
spparent that reciprocity speeches VIII De
delivered to empty seats. At times not
single Senator remained on the Democratic
side
spirited debate among. Republican
Senators arose over the effect or the hoot
amendment dealing with paper and WOOD
PUN. Senators Lodge. Clark (of Wyom-
insD and Smoot all were on the floor ana
talking at the same time. They agreed
that the provision only restored the
terms OF the treaty as submitted to Con-
gress.
How. then. did that feature of the agree
ment disappear" asked William Alden
Smith. OF Michigan.
Ask the whispering winds" replied Mr.
Clark
Apparently pleased with the poetic char
scter Of his response, the Wyoming Sen
ator at first seemed disposed TO leave II
there. but later added that the amendment
vas not only in harmony with the original
compact between the two countries. but in
consonance with the Canadian bill carry
ing the agreement into effect.
Mr.. Smith was not satisfied. and de-
nanded from Chairman Penrose an eX-
PLANTATION OF the disappearance Of that feat
ure from the bill. Mr.. Penrose had adopt
ed the policy Of allowing the opponents OF
tie measure 10 do the talking, and reluc-
family arose TO reply.
The change" he said, occurred in the
Ways and Means Committee of the House,
and the Senator from Michigan knows as
much about IT as l do
The effect, then, is to give the Canadian
free trade in paper and pulp. and not to
give il to us?' commented Mr.. Smith.
And yet" he continued. we are told by
the House that we must not change word
in the bill as 1t was passed there for fear
OF impairing it,"
Pomerene Wants Prosecutions.
Senator Pomerenes speech was the first
he has delivered since he took the oath OF
Office. lie made the rather novel sugges-
ton that not only the directors of illegal
them in their transgressions should be con-
sidered in the prosecutions he suggested.
After being interrupted by Senator Kenyon,
who praised the work accomplished by At
torney General Wickersham, he said:
l do not intend by this resolution or by
anything. ! shall say to detract for one
minute from the praise which is justly
que TO the Attorney General for the splen-
did ability with which ne mas conducted
the prosecution OF the civil cases against
the Standard OH Company and the Ameri-
can Tobacco Company. Ny purpose is 10
cid him Dy showing TO the country that
the Senate and House desire this law en-
forced. ana that they VIII stand back Of
him with all the power at their command
in his fight against these great unlawful
combinations. To he end that the majesty
of the Ian may he preserved. But Il seems
20 me that the fruits of these Victories will
he lost to the government and TO the peo-
pc unless they are quickly followed up IN
the most vigorous fashion.
The Ohio Senator declared at the outse:
that the Sherman antitrust law was spe-
cifc in It's authority TO press a suit against
conspirators who restrain trade. lie con-
tended that the lawyers doubts Of the mean
ing Of the statute were in proportion to
the size Of the fees they receive from their
clients and that che Interpretation of the
law by the Supreme Court OF the United
q States Yves clear.
Now. with these plain findings OF fact
and conclusions by the court that this
statute has been violated" he said. what
reason can be given by any sworn court
Official for not continuing his fight against
them in order 10 bring them 10 the bar Of
justice? What excuse can any lawmaker
or any executive official give - the people
NJ this country for Il failure &c enforce this
Law. when they are every day eXerting
IL .fnN 4,.fV 1f.ff Ion Of M
law against ot her transgressOrs with less
money and less influence at their COM
msnd? . decent sense OF self-reSpect re-
quixs the government either to enforce
rnpeal IL ~