The Washington herald., 1911-05-18

Evidence continues to pile up show
ing an organized movement in the Sem
ate to delay the Canadian reciprocity
bill and finally to kill 1t by the in
direct method Of amending 1t in a way
that must prove fatal by adding a free
list bill.
Unusual forces have rallied to the
support Of the plan. Standpat Republi-
can Senators, who usually insist that
tariff duties cannot be laid too high to
suit them. tarin-for-revenue Demo-
Gratis, who have been reading their
free raw material" brethren out Of the
party on the ground that such doctrine
is rank heresy. and insurgent Republi-
cans, who insist that they were the
original advocates OF Canadian reci-
procity with a condition, namely. that
1t should be accompanied by q general
revision downward on many articles
and a free list-all these are working
together to amend the bill.
VIII Add Free List.
Predictions are freely made about the
Senate that the Canadian reciprocity bill
will be amended by adding q free list
or an amendment providing a general
lowering Of duties. and that 1t will fail.
President Taft is believed to be fully
acquainted with the gopher burrowing
that is going on in the Senate to under
mine the Canadian bill He summoned
Senator John W. Kern, Of Indiana, to
the White House yesterday and had a
frank talk with him. Mr.. Kern is in
favor Of the House free list bill and for
90
he is also in favor Of Canadian reci-
procity. But he objects to permitting one
measure to be used by the enemies of
both to kill of the other.
The special session. called to consider
Canadian reciprocity and for no other
purpose, has now been in session six
weeks. The Canadian reciprocity bill
passed the House five weeks ago. At
first the delay in acting :poH It in the
Senate was explained on the ground that
the Senate committees had not been re-
organized. But the committees have
been reorganized for more than two
weeks. II was stated that not to exceed
two weeks would be given to hearings.
The hearings are still digging along. and
the stock arguments against the Cana
dian trade agreement are being repeated
daily and the end is not in sight.
Protests Long and Loud.
When II was proposed yesterday. in the
committee. that steps be taken to close
the hearings the protests were loud and
long Senator Bailey's cattle raisers had
to be heard and Senator Heyburn's wool
growers and Senator Smoots lumber
friends. and so no Senator unfriendIy to
the treaty was prepared to fix time
for a vote in committee.
Meanwhile the Lorimer case, with its
potentialities for extended debate. is be-
ing held back by Senator La Toilette,
author Of the resolution for the investi-
cation, and the resolution for the direct
election OF Senators. which Is the "un-
finished business OF the Senate, and for
which Senator Borah is sponsor, remains
unfinished.
The debate on this measure promises
to be long and earnest. But the question
Is not to be debated. 1t might be occu-
pying the time Of the Senate day after
day, and thus so much progress be made,
but II is not pressed. Both Senators
La Toilette and Borah are opposed to
Canadian reciprocity. There is an in
sistency among some Senators that both
the Lorimer matter and the direct cleo
tions resolution must be disposed of in
the Senate before Canadian reciprocity
Is voted upon.