Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-01-19
HOUSE MAY TAKE
Up CANADA PACT
Not Unlikely to Insist That 1t
Shall Take Form of Legis-
Iative Action.
HAS PRECEDENT FOR STAND
Friends Of Tariff Commission Bill
fear It VIII Be Weakened-story
Il Philadelphia Woman's Costly
Venture in Smuggling.
BY GEORGE CLINTON,

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-Prior to this time In
these dispatches It has been said that
President Taft had high hope that be-
fore the present session ended he
would be able to let the country know
that the ultimate consumer" was to
benefit by the opportunity to purchase
some Of the necessities of life at a
lower price than heretofore because of
the removal from them of the incubus
of q tariff ;" The president had in
mind reciprocity treaty with Canada
under the terms of which he believed
ne was to get free natural products.
There was a good deal of scepticism
in Washington concerning the presi-
dents ability TO secure ratification by
the senate of the treaty which would
lower the tariffs The Canadian com
missioners, authorized to negotiate for
the treaty, have done their errand in
Washington. Now 1t is knwn that
President Taft for some time has
been hard at work lining up high tar
If senators on behalf of his treaty en-
deavor and the word is that he has
succeeded in his task
There seems to be some chance,
however, that the house of represen-
tatiyes will insist upon having hand
In the negotiations with the country's
northern neighbor Treaties, of course,
under the constitution, are for the
sonata a +n H,,%
Of representatives always has main
tanned that anything affecting the
revenue must take legislative and not
treaty form, and must originate in
the representative chamber. If this
view of the case is held to be proper
it is possible that legislation rather
than treaty must be depended upon
to put Canadian reciprocity into effect,
II 1t is to be authorized at ALL
Parallel Case in 1904.
There is a virtually parallel case
which is being referred to freely by
members of the house. In the spring
OF 1904 the senate was called together
by President Roosevelt after the ad-
journment Of congress March 4. The
senators simply remained in Washing
ton and sat in an extra session of
their own body. Mr. Roosevelt sub
mitted a reciprocity treaty with Cuba
to the senators. 1t affected the reve-
nues, according to the views of the
house leaders, and so the treaty form
was given over and Mr.. Roosevelt was
IN al -
congress for November, 1904, when
the reciprocity matter was made the
subject of legislation originating in
the house of representatives.
The bill which was passed at that
time was virtually Identical with the
treaty which the senate had been
asked to ratify, but 1t was legislation
and not treaty, and the form which
it took indicated the argument of the
representatives that revenue Iegisla-
ton must have origin in the popular
chamber.
Outlook for Tariff Commission.
! Members of congress are won
dering just what effect the meet
Ing of the National Tariff Com
mission association, which has Just
been brought to a close in Washing
ton, will have on the form of the tariff
commission legislation as it is even
tually enacted at the present session.
President Taft, Senators Cummins
and Beverage and Representative
Longworth, whose name is carried in
authorship on the commission bill
which the administration has APPROX
ed, made speeches to the delegates to
the convention and expressed warm
approval of its endeavors. There Is,
however, among Republicans in con-
gress an undercurrent of opposition to
tariff commission legislation. 1t is not
to be supposed that the Republican
leaders will carry their antagonism to
the measure to the extent of securing
Its defeat, but the progressive Repub-
licans and good many of the Demo
Gratis believe that the standpat ele-
ment may cause such changes to be
made in the Longworth bill as to
weaken its purpose and its effect. The
situation Is being watched most close
ly by the real friends of the commits
sion plan and by those who secretly
are opposed to 1t but who will give 1t
their support, in part at least, as a
Republican measure, a measure which
they hope will help the party in the
next election.
Origin of Commission Plan.
The tariff commission legislation
has had peculiar history. 1t was at
q gathering of business men in In
dianapolis some years ago that the
tariff commission plan was suggested.
Members of both great political par
ties smiled at the idea that congress
ever could be brought to consider Gus
toms regulations which were recon-
mended by any official body except
the majority in congress itself.
At about the time that the Indian
apolis meeting was held there was a
convention in Chicago of representa-
tives of those business interests which
held that reciprocity was good thing,
and that in some instances the tariff
could be cut to the advantage Of trade.
AT this convention the tariff commits
sion idea also was in evidence, but