Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-22
Active Steps for Reciprocity
Started in November.
MEETING HELD AT OTTAWA
Conferences Were Continued Here
From January 8 to 81.
FIGHT IN THE LAST CONGRESS
Struggle for Passage of Bill by Sem
ate Had Been Going on
Since April "a.

The Canadian reciprocity agreement
the ratification of which by Congress
was perfected this afternoon by the pass
age in the Senate of the bill embodying
its terms, had it's inception at a meeting
Of President Taft and w. S. Fielding Ca
madam minister of finance, at Albany
N. Y. in March. 1910. The primary pur-
pose of the conference was to adjust the
maximum and minimum feature Of the
Payne-Aldrich tariff bill as far as it af-
fected the northern neighbor. The Presi-
dent then indicated desire to go fur
Their and to take up at a convenient
time the discussion of the feasibility Of
an agreement for freer trade relations
between the two countries. The Presi-
dent expressed the belief that the policy
OF broader and closer commercial rela-
tons with Canada would receive the
hearty support of the American people,
Active steps toward the preparation of
8. reciprocity agreement were begun No
vember 5, 1910, when Henry NJ. Hoyt.
counselor for the State Department, and
Charles M. Pepper, trade expert Of the
department. were sent to Ottawa as COM
missioners to discuss, tentatively, with
the representatives Of the Canadian gov
eminent the bases of a reciprocal agree
ment. The conference lasted for ten days
and adjourned to meet in Washington a
few months later.
January following. Minister of
Finance Fielding and Minister Of Customs
William Patterson, representing the Ca
madam government, arrived in Washing
the agreement was drafted continued
from January until January p. Chan
dler P. Anderson took the place of the
late Henry M. Hoyt, who had died in the
meantime, in representing the United
States.
Terms Submitted January 26.
the agreement, with a message urging
the ratification, to both houses OF Con-
gress January 26 last; and on that day
began the fight for the passage Of a bill
to carry 1t into effect, q fight which
reached its successful termination only
today, almost six months later. And every
day the struggle has continued the Pres-
dents hand has played an important part.
Only about q month Of the last session
OF the Sfxty-first session remained, and
when the message was received It was
freel ypredfcted, and history showed the
prediction TO be true. that there was no
chance for its enactment that session.
The House was not the stumbling block.
however. Two days after the President s
message was received Representative Nc
Call Of Massachusetts introduced the nee
essary bill. and 1t was referred to the
House committee on ways and means.
With q favorable recommendation, 1t was
reported back to the House for the COM
mittee February II. Three days later the
House gave the pact it's approval by the
decisive vote Of 221 to SO. On that vote,
it was evident that the democrats were
giving the President the support neces-
sary to pass 1t. In favor of it were 78 re-
publicans and 143 democrats; against It
were 81 republicans and only democrats
Only eighteen days Of the session re-
manned. In which the Senate could act on
1t. There was a legislative jam In the up-
per house such as never before had been
known in its history. and even though
there was a majority in favor Of it. the
legislative jam practically precluded &C.
ton upon 1t.