Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-29
N LINE WITH TAFTs MESSAGE
Mccall Of Massachusetts, Fathers the
Movement in House.
WILL LEAD IN PUSHING MEASURE
Proposed Law Goes to Committee on
Ways and Means.
CONSIDERATION EXPECTED SOON
First Move Of the Committee VIII BE
TO Determine ~ Any Hearings
VIII &c Heard, when and
who VIII ne Called.


WASHINGTON, Jan 2s-To carry into
effect the terms Of the reciprocity agree
ment. concluded by representatives OF Can
ada and the United States last Thursday
and which was placed before congress
that day by President Taft with spe-
cial message, urging legislation, the first
move was made today when Representative
Mccall Of Massachusetts,, member OF
the ways and means committee OF the
house presented the administration bill on
the subject The bill was referred TO
the committee on ways and means, which
viii take it up next week
President Taft indicated today that he
was not worrying about the fate of the
agreement In his opinion 1t is now up
to the people Of the United States to decide
whether they want It or not He declared
he had advocated other measures which
the people did not favor and he would bow
to their will
The president is anxiously watching the
press Of the country to ascertain the senti-
ment for or against the proposed reclpro-
city.
Mccall VIII Push Measure.
The introduction of the bill by the Mas
sachussetts member instead of by Mr..
Payne of New York, chairman of the
ways and means committee, occasioned'
comment 1t is interpreted to indicate that
Mr. Mccall win take a leading part in
engineering its progress on the floor OF
the house While members of the com
mitteo decline TO discuss their prospective
attitude on the measure, It has become
fairly we'll established that the bill to put
the new rates into effect will pass through
the committee and come out on the floor
fvra1.s sf,raFN
time
The first move of the committee will be
to determine II any hearings will be held
on the measure. 1t is the opinion of sew
eral members that II certain delegations,
representing securities affected by the
lowering of tariff rates wish to be heard,
an opportunity will be afforded them be-
fore final action.
There win. be no openiDs. OF tssr bars TO
all the tariff arguments that might be
introduced for and against the terms of
the new commercial arrangement.
Members OF the committee believe the
/ facts on the various items were fully
| ELECTED in the hearings held during the
preparation of the Payne-Aldrich bill and
that to renew extensive hearings upon the
reciprocity agreement would needlessly de
! lay its consideration.
Subject to Amendment.
! The form OF the Mccall bill is such that
It's future consideration is a matter Of un-
certainty at present. AS bill to raise
revenue. It will be subject to amendment
and change. unless a rule OF cloture is
/ first put through the house prohibiting
them and frocing a vote upon the reci-
procity agreement as q whole.
The negotiations with Canada resulted
/ in a definite and concrete arrangement
which cannot be changed in any particular
without upsetting the effectiveness Of the
whole agreement. For this reason it is
the opinion that the ways and means COM
mittee and the rules committee will have
to prepare rule to precede the bill into
the house. providing for its consideration
as whole and without amendment.
The impression has been strengthened
that President Taft's determination to
secure action at this session is such that
he will resort to an extra session IL It be-
comes necessary to bring the matter to
final consideration in congress
Tne extra session talk has caused no
little worry at the capitol The leaders of
the house frankly do not believe it will
be necessary even In the light OF the short
time remaining in this session, TO dispose
J Of the trade agreement. II defeat comes
for the measure. il is expected in the
senate,
The members of the house, after a fairly
careful poll by the minority. are apparently
disposed to accept the treaty and to sup
port It In debate and with their votes
According to a democratic member OF
the ways and means committee, the dem
ocrats are likely to accept the bill without
serious attempt TO amend IT, They look
upon It both as a tariff change in line
with the democratic ideas and as a serious
attempt on tn epart OF a republican presi-
dent to take the tariff out Of politics.
FRVOrs Reciprocity.
Representative Mccall has been the sub
iect OF some speculation because he comes
from state that has complained bitterly
CONTINUED on Second Pagel