The Washington times., 1911-03-29
TROUBLES AHEAD
FOR RECIPROCITY
House Expected to Pass
Measure With Little
Delay.
SENATE TO TRY TO
ADD AMENDMENTS
All Signs Point to Long Debate
Before Trade Pact Is
Settled.

extra session?
This is n question that is a good
deal easier to ask than to answer. 1t
Is generally expected In Washington
that the Canadian reciprocity agreement
will be adopted by Congress before
the extra session Is over. But there are
serious obstacles and various possibili-
ties in the situation.
That the House will pass the agree
ment early in the session is practically
settled by the House leaders. While
there is a strong disposition among
some OF the Democrats to hitch to 1t
bills for the revision of one or more
schedules. this will not be done II Chair
man Underwood of Ways and Means,
and some Of the Other strong leaders
have their way. They think It would be
a blunder to do this and would open
them to the charge Of trying to play
politics merely for the purpose OF en-
barrassing the Administr alton. whereas
the sentiment of the country. appar-
emily. is for prompt action in favor Of
the agreement.
Senate Outlook.
But nobody can accurately forecast
what the Senate will do about the meas
ure. 1t Is expected in the long run
20 pass II. But whether 1t will be
amended it is uncertain.
In the last session II became quite
clear that IL the measure were SUP
mitted TO a vote in the Senate 1t
would be adopted. For this reason the
leaders. being hostile to the agreement,
held It back and did not risk a vote
upon II.
At one stage of the situation. Sena-
tor Smoot put up to the President
plan to allow the measure to be voted
on and killed. II was argued this
| would prevent an extra session. as 1t
| would enable the President to say a
turned down. But the President was
much incensed at this proposal, and de-
| clared that II the agreement were
! beaten by any such "frame-up" as this
he would call Congress back, anyhow
| The result was that no vote was at
| tempted.
without much question. had the vote
| been forced then the agreement would
have passed by three or four ma jority.
| The Administration, however, thinks the
bill will be seven or eight votes stronger
| in this Senate than II was before March
| 4. II is believed every new member OF
| the Senate will vote for the agreement.
| II the Administration polls are correct,
| IleTe Will ne d UldJOIllg VI ally
| from 6 TO Is for the agreement.
Amendments Sought.
But there will be strong efforts made
| to amend the agreement in the Senate.
! The Senate insurgents will seek to
amend the measure by enlargfng the list
| Of things that may come in free from
| Canada. Senator Cummins will make a
| fight along this line, as he has already
| given notice. He contends that the
| agreement is in the hands of Congress
and that 1t can be changed as Congress
wills so far as the enlargement OF the
list of articles that can be admitted free
| to this country is concerned.
Moreover, he contends this can be
done without affecting our favored-na-
ton agreements with other countries for
I, the reason that the completed agree
ment will stand as a trade in which the
| United States gives up only what II con-
| siders is the equivalent of that which
| Canada gives up. II any foreign ma
| ton should complain, this country would
| represent that it would give the same
| terms to the complaining nation pro-
1 vided II would make concessions sim
| liar to those made by Canada. The
constitutional lawyers will argue them
| selves black in the face on the pros and
cons Of this question.
| How far some OF the insurgents are
| trying to beat the agreement by amend
ments is mooted question. A number
of the Senate Democrats will seek to
| amend by hitching to the agreement,
bills revising one or more schedules.
They will proba bly, find 1t difficult to
put through such a program, however.
The President will exert his influence
| against any amendment.
All the signs are for a long Senate
1 deha ta m the question