New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-08
FOES Of RECIPROCITY
ABANDONING CONTEST
Agreement Will Probably Be Re.
ported to Senate Without
Amendment.
CERTAIN TO PASS THERE
Debate May Be Shorter Than
Was Expected-Lodge in FL
nance Committee Moves
Favorable Report.
lFrom The Tribune Bureau


Washington. June l. Evidence OF the
orumbing of the opposition to the Canadian
reciprocity agreement was apparent on all
sides in the Senate to-day. For the first
time since the measure was reported from
the House. the prediction was confidently
made by those supporting It that IL will be
reported to the Senate from the Committee
on Finance without amendment. and that,
once before the Senate. il is certain 10 pass.
No decisive action was taken by the COM
mttee to-day but il is probable that the
bill will be reported before the end of the
week
Even the opponents Of the measure. VINO
have been devoting themselves increasingly
to preventing its approval by the Senate,
have all but abandoned the fight. They
admit that only thirty Republican Senators
can Re counted on to vote. against the
agreement or TO support any Of the thir-
teen amendments which have already been
proposed. II is estimated that they will he
backed by no more than seven Democrats.
This would insure a majority of seventeen
votes for the bill a margin too large to be
overcome AT this. the eleventh. hour. IL Is
generally conceded that the bitterest part
OF the fight has been fought. and that the
chances Of changing this alignment with
respect TO reciprocity are slight. II is a
foregone conclusion that there will he
much discussion. but many Senators favor
ing the agreement, convinced as they are
that II will carry. are inclined TO the idea
that speechmaking will only postpone It's
passage. For this reason with one SIDE
certain of success and the other admitting
defeat. the debate will probably be shorter
than was expected and will be OF an ex-
planatory rather than a controversial char
acter.
Secretary knox's Explanation.
The Secretary of State appeared before
the Committee on Finance to-day, but. in
accordance with the explanation made in
his communication. did not discuss the
negotiations in detail.
Having repre- scented this government in
the negotiations with Canada he said in
his letter. II am most anxious not 10 he
put in the position Of discussing them. il
was specifically understood that only the
result OF the negotiations should be made
public and as the resulting agreement is
in writing before you / trust you will see
tire propriety in my not wishing TO be
placed in A position which would seem 10
raise the presumption of ambiguity in It's
terms"
The first step in the consideration OF tne
agreement was made by Senator Lodge.
who moved that the hill be reported at
once favorably and without amendment.
Senator Heyburn moved that ''unfavor-
ably" ne substituted for "favorably,' and
there the question hung while the commit
tee devoted itself 10 general discussion
rot bearing directly on the subject under
consideration The possibility of the appli-
cation OF the favored nation clause 70 the
payer and wood pulp section IN It's present
form was referred TO briefly.
II ia probable that the opponents OF the
measure will attempt to delay action by
Insisting on consideration Of the amend
nents by the committee. There are tnlr-
teen of them. including the Root amend
ment. and several are Of such an involved
character that much time could ne con-
sumed discussing them. Moreover. senator
Nelson, who presented one OF them, mas
asked an opportunity 10 explain the
changes he desires. II his example IS ioi-
lowed by other Senators the tlnance COM
rnittee would find II necessary TO pioiohs
its consideration of the agreement announcer
week at least The committee VIII take
up the bill again tomorrow.