The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-02-20
SEMl.OFFlCiAl ANNOUNCEMENT
OF TAFT'S DETERMINATION
is MADE.
M'CALL BEARS THREAT
Representative Issues Statement, Sup. =.
posedly Inspired by President, With
the Sense That Senate Must Act on
Bill Carrying Into Effect Canadian
Reciprocity or Work Overtime.

Washington, Feb. l9.--Thc first au-
dent Taft will call an extra session. II
the senate fails to act on the Mccall
reciprocity agreement, came today
from Mr.. Mccall himself, following a
visit ut the White House. According
70 Mr.. Mccall, the president feels that
| he is under an international obligation
to summon an extra session, If neces-
sarr. to secure action on the reciprocity
agreement. That session would be
called Immediately after the adjourn
ment Of congress. at noon March 4.
While 1t Is evidently the purpose of
| the president to avoid an extra session
by inducing senators to act upon the
| agreement, 1t Is the opinion Of many
| that the statement has come too late.
Few senators predict that action will
! be taken on the agreement In the SEN
ate at this session. while some insist
there will be n vote.
Tho Situation.
With appropriation bills In con-
gested condition, with the Lorlmcr case
pending. the permanent tariff board
bill pressing for consideration. the gem
eral service pension bill being urged
by many senator's and the resolution
| for the popular election of senator's
coming up daily as unfinished busi-
ness, 1t seems that the chances for ac-
tion on the reciprocity agreement are
slight.
There Is some prospect that the Lori
mer case may be disposed of Wednes-
day, following u speech which Senator
Lorimer will make III his own behalf.
but there Is no apparent likelihood of
early votes on any OF the other impor
tant measures.
Opponents Of the reciprocity agree
ment in the senate are viewing with
complacency. not to say satisfaction.
the congested conditions. The demands
of the public business are such that
vote on reciprocity can be avoided
easily without the appearance of fill
buster
The bill probably will not be reported
out of the finance committee before
Thursday, at the earliest. At that time
| there Will remain only seven and a half
Legislative days of the present session,
Mr.. Mccall also made the announce
ment that the president would veto
any tariff legislation passed by the
democratic house and approved by II
nearly democratic senate, If that should
he necessary to maintain the repub-
lican party's protective principles.
Tho Statement.
Mr.. Mcrall's statement. which Is gen
orally understood to have been APP
proved by the president. is
! Il believe that republican senators
are gradually coming to recognize that,
with the certain prospect Of an extra
session unless they bring - rooi
| precity bin to vote. there will be yer$
serious inconvenience and embarrass-
ment. If not danger, to the business and
| Industrial enterprises that are really
| entitled to protection.
"Thc president feels that he Is under
an international obligation to summon
an extra session. He will do this re-
luctantly. because 1t Is bringing into
| power n democratic house and n sem
ate much moro nearly democratic than
| the present senate.
"But II the senate should fail to act
the president feels that. under his
agreement with tho Canadian govern
| ment to use his utmost endeavor Ia
have the reciprocity agreement con-
frmed, he will be compelled to call the
| session Immediately. / imagine that
| the democrats are not anxious for an
extra session. They will naturally feel
| that thny cannot aYtpmnOriZe n roVi
sion of the tariff schedules. The light
remark that you can prepare tariff
bill over night or In two weeks or q
month everyone knows to be utterly
unfounded.
"But what an extra session is likely
to mean Is a constant agitation and
| continuous investigation into the IN
dnstrics that are made possible by pro
lection and interference with theil
business that bodies no good for bust.
ness at large.
"The consequence Is that, II anyone
should prevent action on the reci-
procity bill. he would be in the position
Of helping to bring about condition
most injurious to those industries
which really need protection. Wha
follows In an extra session will not be
the presidents fault.
THE president Is q protectonist and
expects to use the veto power, so fal
as he properly may to maintain thu
party's protective principles. But /
would be misfortune to have this in
eyitable conflict come nine months
ahead Of the time when it is natur
ally due.