New-York tribune., 1911-02-25
SENATORS ARRAYED
AGAINST RECIPROCITY
Canadian Agreement Stands
Small Chance Of Approval at
Present Session.
HALE AND BAILEY BITTER
Finance Committee Reports Nc
Call Bill Without Recommen-
dation-Many Amendments
May Be offered.
Fr,m The Tribune Bureau !

washington, Feb. 2i.-The prospect for
attaining the approval Of the Canadian
,eciprocity agreement at the present ses-
,,on Of Congress is growing steadily
darker. and little short Of miracle VIII
10 required TO bring II to a vote in the
senate before March 4. The Mccall
d resolution. embodying the agreement,
Oas reported to-day by Senator Bur
rows from the Committee on Finance
,itbout recommendation. Statements,
however, by Senators Hale and Bailey
q, which they declared their opposition
to the measure, made II clear that the
hitter hostility with which It was re-
oeived bv some members Will be eXerted'
70 the end that no action shall be taken
before the close Of the session.
Senator Hale declared that he would
have been better contented if the bill had
been reported with a recommendation
Indicating the real sentiment Of the COM
r,i,tee the majority of which is opposed
To Il. He also made significant anu
sions TO the efforts Of President Iaft III
behalf of the agreement by asserting
that the Senate had a clear right 10 take
8, I'M or not. as il pleased. and that the
a,ter,pt OF anybody or any authority
70 drive the Senate 70 do anything IN the
consideration of the measure was an un-
warranted and unfounded assumption Of
mower. This effort 70 throttle the meas
nre will meet opposition, Of course Sena-
tor stone declared that he favored the
o--eement. and that the majority Of the
committee opposed to it was not so large
,,a senator from Maine had init
mated.
.s. ssiley Fears for the Farmers.
Senator Bailey was recognized as soon
rs the report was presented by Mr.. Bur-
rovys Declaring his opposition. he ex-
,-essed the opinion that the best inter-
ests Of the agriculturists would be served
bv the defeat Of the bill He said that
while the agreement admitted wheat and
cattle free it retained the duty on -four
and beef.
civilized people eat -four and not
wheat. beef and not cattle he said. 1t
was true. he contended, that the agree
.r7ent provided for free wood pulp, but
this change in the tariff laws, he believed,
would mean the loss Of almost 100000
Of revenue 10 the Treasury annually. He
had been informed he said, that this
change would be worth $5.O0OO00 to the
newspaper and magazine publishers, but
for himself he could not consent to
measure which gave such preference TO
the rich as against the poor and needy.
Senator Hale concurred in all Mr.
Bailey had said. and added that while
the bill had been reported without rec
@ommendation the committee had done
so in face Of the fact that an unques
toned majority could otherwise have
been had for an adverse report
Hale Resents Alleged Coercion.
1T is my understanding" he contin-
ued. that the bill will take its course
in accordance with the feeling and de-
sire Of the Senate, whatever that may
be. II the Senate does not choose to
take IL up that course will be within
its clear right, and any effort on the part
Of any one. Of whatever authority. to
drive the Senate now or at any time
q would be an assumption of power which
would be unwarranted."
Senator Stone announced his intention
Of supporting the bill on the ground that
It would be in the line Of wise and prog
ressiCe craftsmanship.
Speaking briefly for a second time,
Senator Bailey said that. while opposed
70 the bill. he would not seek 20 delay
its passage. 4 am ready to vote on it
as soon as the Lorimer case is disposed
or" he said. IF the legislation should
reduce the cost Of living it would do so
j. a. the expense Of the farmers along the
northern boundary. and l should be
greatly concerned in observing their set
Element Of the question with those re-
fponsibe for its enactment"
The bill went 10 the calendar, where
Il is subject 10 consideration whenever
the Senate may decide TO take it up.
Reported Without Recommendation.
After two votes had been taken in the
Finance Committee on. the proposition
70 make reports on the Mccall bill. and
both had failed by margins Of one, there
was only one course left open 10 the
committee if the pledge TO President
Taft not to smother the bill was 10 be
kept That was 70 return the bill 10 the
Senate without recommendation, and
this notion was at once submitted by
Mr Burrows. the acting chairman. II
was adopted unanimously.
o. No amendments to the bill were
adopted, and it was presented to the
Senate. Therefore, in the exact form in
which IL was passed by the House. In
toubtedly there will 3e many attempts
on the floor 10 modify the measure, the
action Of the committee being accepted
generally rs an invitation to any one
who cores 10 do SO 10 present any
amfndments he may choose.
..,s u is not doubted that the response to
the implied invitation which the COM
-1plttee extends 10 opponents Of the agree
,ment will be prompt and generous. II
consideration is given u all Of the
amendments which are almost certain
10 be onered-and there is no way 10 pre-
vent such consideration under the rules
q the Senate. If their sponsors are IN
sistent-there can be no action at the
Present session.
The division I'm the committee was not
made public The understanding is that