The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-05
President Taft Says Measure
Has Had Widespread
Approval
DESlRABlLITY OF
CLOSER RELATIONS
BETWEEN COUNTRIES
Measure Has Already Passed
House Once, Having
Failed in the
Senate

WASHINGTON, April 6.--ossd
silence greeted the Prssidsnt's'
rnessase Recommending the enact
mont Of the Canadian reciprocity
.9rssr'snt in the House this at
tsrnoon. u was read by the clerk
on motion OF Mccall, (Rspubliosn,
Mass.), author OF the reciprocity
bill. which he rsintroduosd ysstsr.
day. The comparatively bslef doc
umsnt received the cioss attention
OF all members but there was no
demonstration or indication OF ssr-
timent on either side Of the Houss.
IN the Senate the reading was order
ed Immediately after the message was
received and all tn senators listned
attenuNeiy. After a session of half an
hour, the Senate adjourned until noon
to- morrow. The House. however. was
plunged into rules fight with for
merry all-powerful Republicans In q
protesting minority
The message follows:
To the Senate and House of Renra.
transmitted to the Sixtv-firs Com
sress on January IS last the text Of
the reciprocal trade agreement which
hau been negotiated under my diree-
ton by the Secretary of State with
the representatives of the Dominion
Oh canada This agreement was the
communication of earnest efforts ex-
tending over period of nearly n
year on the part of both government.
to eject trade arrangement which.
experimenting as II did the amieahle
settlement OF various questions OF =
diplomatic and political character
that had been reached, would mutual
y promote commerce and would
strengthen the friendly relations now
existing.
IT'S terms was purely economic and
commercial While the general sub
Ject was under discussion by the COM
nissioners, l feat assured that the sem
timent or the people OF the United
states was such that they would well
come measure which would result
In the increase OF trade on both sides
OF the boundary line. would open up
the reserve productive resources OF
Canada to the great mass OF our own
consumers on, advantageous condi-
tons, and at the same time offer a
broader outlet for the excess products
or her farms and many OF our indus
trias. ~a-.e= s-=eS. g.
Met With Popular Approval.
"Details regarding a negotiation OF
this kind necessarily could not ha
made public while the. conferences
| We're pending When. however. the
!
accompanying correspondence and
! data, explaining both its purpose and
Its scope, became known to the peo-
pie through the message transmitted
to Congress. II was immediately ap-
parent that the ripened fruits OF the
careful labors of the commissioners
met with Widespread approval. This
approval has been strengthened by
further consideration OF the terms of
the w., n hat I'll,
| The volume OF support which has
developed shows that its broadly ma
tional scope Is fully appreciated and
is responsive to the popular will
The House OF Representatives OF
the Sixty-first Congress. after the full
text OF the arrangement with all tho
details in regard to the different pro-
visions had been before 1t. as they
were before the American people.
passed bill confirming the agree.
ment as negotiated and az transmit
ted to Congress- This measure fan.
ed of action in the Senate.
Again Urges Attention.
IN my transmitting message of the
26th OF January l fully set forth the
character of the agreement, and EN-
phasixed It's appropriateness and me-
cessity as a response to the mutual
needs of the people of the two coun.
tries, as well as It's common advan-
tages. I now tay that message and
the reciprocal trade agreement an in
teeraily part of the present message.
before the Stxty-second Congress, ana
again invite earnest attention to the
considerations therein expressed.
am constrained. In Difference to
popular sentiment and with realizing
sense of my duty to the great masses
of our people whose welfare IL in
volved. to urge upon your CONSIDERS
ton early action on this agreement In
concluding the negotiations the repre-
santattves OF the two countries bound
/ themselves to use their utmost efforts
to bring about the tariff changes pros
vided for in the agreement by con-
current legislation at Washington ana
Ottawa, ! have felt II my duty there
fore, not to acquiesee in reiegation
of action until the opening Of the
! Congress in December. but to use nay
constitutional prerogative and con-
woke the Sixty-secena Congress 10 e..
ira session In order that there shall
be no break OF continuity In consid-
ering and acting upon this most im-s
portant subject.
fSigned} VIM. Fl. TAFT.
! The White House. April 4. 1911.