New-York tribune., 1911-02-21
From The Tribune Bureau.
WaShippfop Eehrtiar,


Washington, February 20.
Up TO THE SENATE Responsibility
for approving the Canadian reciprocity
agreement or for causing a special session
OF Congress now rests squarely on the Re-
publican members OF the Senate. That Is
the result of the action OF the House in
adopting a special rule suspendlng the or
binary rules. providing that the debate on
each measure may be limited to forty min
utes aud making II necessary that every
bill must receive two-thIrds ma jority to
pass. Senator Bailey. after a call on the
President, took occasion to reaffirm his
purpose not to flibuster against the reci-
procity resolution. which declaration was
first made in these dispatches TO The
Tribune on February g. Mr. Bailey also
affirmed his determination to prevent the
passage of the Tariff Board bill ''by every
means in his power" With the House
making every effort TO pass the appropria-
ton bills, including night sessions. and the
adoption of a general closure rule. the en-
tire responsibility for completing the work
of the session within the required time
rests on the Senate. and as the Democrats
will not hlibuster on the reciprocity agree
on the Republican Senators That they can
complete their work has oeen repeatedly
asserted In this column, and to-day Sen
ator Galllnger. an experienced legislator.
confirmed that assertion. There is no
reason why we cannot do all our work and
get through by March T." said the Senator
from New Hampshire. land by that I
mean all that tho President expects OF us.
including the enactment OF the Mccall
resolution putting into force the CANADIAN
reciprocity agreement OF course, 10 do 1t
we must abandon flibustering and get
down 10 hard work. Some measures which
would occasion protracted debate must be
abandoned, but the appropriation bills and
the reciprocity resolution, which are essen
tial, can all be passed II we work ener-
eetically. OF course, we always strike just
such q situation as this toward the close
Of r. short session, and there are always
predictions of special session, but the
II really wants to"
MCALL VERSUS DALZELL.-In urging
the adoption of the special rule in the
House, Representative Dalzell assured that
body that through its adoption all danger
OF q speclsl session could be averted, and
seemed broadly to intimate that II all the
appropriation bills got through the Presi
dent would abandon his purpose Of calling
a special session to approve the reciprocity
agreement This led TO the report that Mr..
Taft had receded from his position, and
there was rejoicing in "stand-pat' quar-
ters. Those who sought TO be certain be-
fore they threw up their hats, however.
consulted Representative Mccall, and were
assured by him that II Mr.. Dalzell had any
such idea he was wholly in error. Mr.. Nc
Call said there was no change In the Pres- |
dents attitude. and that If a special session
was 10 be avoided II would be necessary !
for the Senate t. pass the resolution Of
which he IS the author. From now on the
utmost pressure will be brought to bear on
members of the Senate by their colleagues
in the House 10 push through the reel
procity agreement. No one wants to stay
in Washington for q special session. ex-
cept, perhaps, a very few wild-eyed Demo
Gratis, and any Senator who delays the
game will certainly make himself most un-
popular.
FARCJCAL HEARJNGS.-That the hear
ings Of the Finance Committee on the reci-
procity agreement are pure farce was
amply demonstrated to-day by the attitude
of the committee and by the methods EN-
ployeH to elicit testimony unfavorable TO
o.. cement. Members Of the committee
notably Senators Hale and McCumber-
worked sssiduously to-day to bring out
every argument against the bill. encour-
aged the witnesses and manifested their |
pleasure whenever q point seemed 10 have
been scored. That they were wasting their
time was equally obvious. Every one
knows they are opposed to the agreement |
and that they need no testimony TO con-
firm their stand. When the agreement |
comes TO a vote on the floor of the Senate |
those Senator's who are opposed to II now
will vote against II II they dare, and those |
who do not dare win be no more coura- |
geous because of the eX parte testimony |
which the Finance Committee is now TAX |
ing Progressives like Messrs. Hale, Cum |
MINIS Hepburn and La Toilette probably !
will vote against the agreement. but their |
course will not be Influenced in the slight |
est by these hearings" which are merely |
committee meetings at which the op- |
ponents OF the measure hear what they
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