Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-06
CONGRESS.
The Senate Will Be-
gin Daily Sessions
In Hopes Of Reaching Early
Vote on Reciprocity.
Senator CummlnS CTiiicizes The
Presidents Western Speeches
In Campaign 10 Mould or Lead.
The Public Opinion
The President Returns, Evidently
Pleased with His Trip.
The President Returns, Evidently
Pleased with His Trip.

Washington July 5.-The right or
President Taft TO negotiate the Cana
dian reciprocity agreement, to send IL
in completed form to Congress for en-
actment and to defend and advocate
II in stump speeches throughout the
country, was asserted in the Senate
today by Senator Burton of Ohio, at
the conclusion of a speech in support
and explanation of the reciprocity bill.
The Senate agreed at the conclusion OF
today's session. to sit daily at IL o'clock
and ii is expected that the sessions
Will last until 6 o'clock. Chairman Pen
rose of the finance committee advocat-
ed daily sessions at 10 O'Clock, but the
Democrats who favor the reciprocity
bill feared this would be taken as fore
ing hasty action and would result in
bitter feeling.
The opponents of the measure, which
include most of the Republican Insur-
gents and many Republican Regulars,
will endeavor to force the advocates
of the measure to take the floor in the
longer days of debate that are to fol-
low. Thus far the speeches of SEN
ator Root and Senator Burton have
been the main arguments made in ia
vor of the measure.
Burton's speech followed criticism by
Cummins of Iowa. Republican Insur-
gent, OF the speech made by President
Taft yesterday at Indianapolis.
when the President abandons the
duties OF his office and enters upon
campaign to mould or lead public opin-
ION on this reciprocity bill" said Cum
minis, then he is on the same level
every other man md caa1a, H.
empt from the criticism to be attach
ed 10 the arguments he uses"
Cummins attacked the Presidents
statement that removal of the duties
from farm products will not reduce the
cost of living. He said the President
was thus inconsistent In urging that
the Canadian agreement will benefit
consumers.
Disclaiming. however any intention
of critieizing the President personally.
Cummins said:
1T is vastly better for him to go
through the country trying to lead and
influence public opinion than it would
be for him to use the power of his
great office to carry this bill through
Congress"
He declared that if the Presidents
speech was to be taken as the expla-
nation of the purposes Of the Cana
dian bill, Congress had better adjourn.
Il believe this special session of 191
will be known in history as the SEES
sion that more firmly fastened upon
the people and the country the bur-
dens of special tariff privileges"
Some degree of censure has been WIS.,
tied upon the administration for send
ing in this agreement, said Burton
1T is the clear right of the Presi-
dent under the Constitution to make
recommendations to Congress- 1t is his
right also to express, on the stump in
whatever terms he may choose. his
advocacy of a certain line of policy.
Not only President Taft. but his
predecessor and other Presidents have
made free to advocate. with no uncer-
tain sound, national policies recon-
mended by them in messages. Other
wise the President would neither be
the leader of his party, nor occupy
that place in the public attention which
the public demand of him.
"Of course it Is for the Senate or
-; the House to accept, reject. or amend
any proposition that he may send to
Congress"
buitoi uiseu mat the aBfeeiileHt,
Notwithstanding the power of Con-
gress to change it, be passed without
amendment He emphasized the point
that those who based their objection
to the agreement on the ground that
the farmer would suffer injury were
virtually fighting for higher duties for
the farmer He said no injury to the
farmer could follow the removal of
duties on farm products, except in GER
tain localities along the border To
keep the duties at the present figures,
he said, would be to place the consum-
er at the mercy of short market and
rising prices when the time arrived
that American production does not
equal American consumption.