The Detroit times., 1911-01-30
RECIPROCITY P[An
WILL VANISH into
Thin AIR
Argument With Canada, Now Up ~
Congress, Will Go Same Way That
Seventeen Other Went, Says
ellison Gardner.
Would Bring Down Food Prices, Hut
Farmer Can't See Why He
Should Bear Brunt.
BY gibson GARDNER.

~ Ss.S0sN SNHSt~sses
WASHINGTON, D.. c.. Jan. 30.--Ths 7
most important fact In regard to ths |;
Canadian reciprocity treaty which has
just been submitted by President Taft
IL the certainty that II will not become
law. There Is no chance at all 1T 1
the present session. little likelihood OF
an extra session being called. and only
2 remote possibility In the congress
which begins its work next December
The reciprocity negotiations thereforS
must be regarded as OF theoretical and
political interest rather than as any
thing practical or affording hope fot
cheaper living.
The reciprocity method Of reducing :
tariffs has been tried before. After
the passage OF the Dingley bill. ~
reciprocity treaties were negotiated
with the leading nations of the world,
most OF them reducing rates on ar
ticles of general consumption. Tho
powers Of special privilege represents
ed In the United States senate saw
that these treaties never emerged
from the committee to which they
were referred. All reciprocity treaties
60 To the senate committee on foreign
affairs. There they die.
These ARE the names OF the sefia.
tors composing the foreign affairs
committee. who are asked to revise
the tariff downward:
cuIlom, Frye, Lodge, Clark Of Wy.
onins, kean. Beverage, Carter
Smith and Root, Republicans; and
Bacon, Money, Frazier, Stone and
shively, Democrats.
In this list there are two senator's
n favor Of revision in the interest c.
the consumer, Beverage, and possibly
Shively o. Indiana. All the rest may
be relied upon to stand as tstalwar
champions Of special privileges.
There has been talk OF having tho
reciprocity provisions of this treaty
enacted into law by means or q bill
originating In the ways and means
committee I'm the house Of reprcsenta-
tives, where all tarifr matters must
originate which are not the subject ct
treaty negotiations ratified by the sem
ate But this Is no more possible Sor
easy than to secure a general tariff re-
vision bill from the ways and means
committee and to pas sit In the 30
working days which remain Of this
congress-.
60 there will be some discussion
considerable outcry from the special
interests which would lose their par
ticticular measure of protection II tire
proposals should become law, and then
the whole affair will vanish into thin
air, along with the other IL reciprocity
treaties Of ancient days
AS an admission that the Payne
Aldrich bill ought to be revised, the
special message an dthe treaty sent to
congress by President Taft are OF In
terest. II IL we're possible to securo
on immediate ratification OF this reci-
procity treaty, the consumer would
profit in several ways. 1t would be q
very good thing from the consumers
point OF view to have the tariff wall
removed from the importation of Cana-
dian grain, eggs. poultry. cattle. sheep,
fish, lumber and print paper. Some
cattle would come In and some eggs
end a little grain and probably cou-
siderable lumber and print paper.
or course. the farmer would COM
piain. He sees no reason why high
protection should remain on the ar,
tic,es produced by the great cotton
manufacturers and the wColen people,
together with steel trust and other big
COinDiuCo. Tie otCS uO tCaoOh WIZ 10
alone, with his mess of eggs and poul-
trr and his few sheep and what grain
he can raise, should be exposed to free
trade in the interest Of the reduced
cost OF living while the big manufac-
turing trusts keep their protection"
So, of course, he will kick. II 10 only
human that he should.
On tho other hand, the harvestfr,
A.. lAH fo1 a
Irocity treaty could be ratified and
tine Canadian territory could be opea>s
G. up as a market for It's agricultural
l,mplements. The harvester trust has
20 objection to sacrificing the products
of the farmer to secure a broadened
market for its agricultural Implements.
The meat packers at Chicago are
quite willing TO sacrifice the American
chicken men and dairy men in order
10 lave free market for their pre-
pared meats, lard. etc. The steel trust
fixes the fdea OF the Canadian market
ticks merrily at the prospect OF TO
moving the Canadian duties from
American watches The motor indus
try likes the idea OF a Canadian mar
kct for automobiles. and no doubt all
these industries would flourish better
IL this treaty could secure such
measure of free trade with Canada a.
"a proposed by Mr.. Taft.
Put beth the joys and sorrows or
the trusts and the farmers are uncali-
cd for. The yare premature. The farm
or will not be obliged to suffer compe-
tllion on his wheat and eggs, nor Will
The harvester. monopoly secure the
r. far -
nor will the consumer procure cheap
or food for the table.
Because the tarif never yet and
probably never viii be revised mp OF
down by treaty.