Evening times-Republican., 1911-06-14
DEBATE BEGINS IN SENATE ON
PET MEASURE OF PRESIDENT
TAFT.
LONG AND HARD CONTEST
PROBABLY WILL ENSUE
House Committee Investigating Steel
Trust Wants to Know Why Prices
Sugar Officials Insist on Being
Served With Subpoenas.

Washington, June 14.-Senator Nc
Cumber. Of North Dakota, opposed the
reciprocity agreement in the senate to-
day on the ground that it would injure
the American farmers.
I believe this treaty." said Senator
McCumber, eff enacted into law, would
not only postpone for many years the
consunlmation of q hope indulged in
by the farmers of the country, q hope
held out to them by every speaker and
writer who sought to secure and hold
their vote for the protective policy Of
the country. but that It's logical result
would be to destroy itself. I must.
therefore. either repudiate all I have
advocated for years. or oppose the con-
summation Of this agreement"
Reciprocity Battle to BE Bitter.
Washington, June 14.-Canadian rec
iprocity is squarely before the senate
at last. The bill which the finance
committee last evening reported, with
the Root amendment. but with no rec
ommendation, Immediately precipitated
an experience meeting.
The battle was on from the moment
$oSi'alok SLA AoSS, Sieii1 AieilA VI lAC ~
nance committee, submitted the prac-
tically perfunctory statement of the
committees action after six weeks Of
hearings.
1t was apparent at once that the fight
is to be one Of the bitterest of which
the senate has been the theater in
years.
Chairman Penrose was the target for
members of both sides Of the chamber
Immediately after he submitted the
committees report. He was pestered
with queries as to why the committee
had not recommended that the reci-
procity bill either be passed or killed.
From the democratic side in partic-
ular came demands for information as
to what the committee would do with
other tariff measures-notably the far
mers' free list bill, which is now before
1t. From the republican side the
recorded noise came from the vigorous
opponents Of the measure, who evinced
a desire to put the committee in as bad
a light as possible.
The supporters of the measure were
the calm ones. possibly because of the
fact that they believe they are in the
majority.
While the committee as whole made
no recommendation, various mem
bers submitted views upon which the
fight starting in earnest today will be
based. Senator williams Of Mis-
sissippi presented a written state
ment in favor of the Can
hdian agreement on behalf Of HIM
self and the two other democrats who
voted for favorable report-Stone and
Kern. Senator McCumbur presented
written views in opposition, which he
elaborated by speech. Senator La
Toilette submitted q third statement,
which embraced the Views Of the in
surgent opposition to the presidents
position. Senator Nelson presented a
protest against the measure from
farmers declaring that "the $1,000 sign
ers had not been influenced by the
lumber or paper trust"
The loss to the United States thru
the ratification of the Canadian reci-
procity, would, in the opinion Of SEN
ator Curtis, be proportionate to Can
Rda's gain The Kansas senator to-
day addressed the senate in opposition
to reciprocity. Mr.. Curtis declared
that the people generally were not in
formed regarding the pending legisla-
ton, and that they should be given op-
portunity to study the subject until the
regular session Of congress.