The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-02-21
No ANNEXATION
House Committee Defeats
Bennett Resolution.
ACTION TAKEN TO AID TAFT
Resolution Asking the President to
Open Negotiations to Admit
Canada to the Union Voted
Down 8 to l.
ACTION TAKEN TO AID TAFT

Washington, Feb. lS.--To onset the
/ Canadian annexation talk, which the
administration feared might affect the
pending reciprocity agreement, the
house committee, by vote OF TO /,
reported adversely on the resolution
introduced by Representative ben
nett, of New York.
one resolution requested the presi'
dent to open negotiations with Great
Britain looking to the annexation OF
Canada to the United States.
Tho other resolution inquired OF the
president whether any such negotia'
tions were already under way
Mr.. Bennett was the only member
of the committee who voted for MS
resolutions. The committees prompt
and decisive action followed confer
ences of Mr.. Foster. chairman of thS
committee, and Mr. Mccall acting
chairman of the ways and means com
mittee. with President Taft.
Mr.. Tawney. chairman of the appro-
priations committee. suggested to Mr..
Foster that the foreign AFFAIRS commit
tee be called together and hear Sec
rotary of State Knox. with a view 10
meeting the annexation talk. The
meeting was called. but ii was deem
ed unnecessary for Mr. Knox to ap-
pear.
Mr.. Bennett was one of the Repub-
leans who voted against the Mccall
bill to put into effect the reciprocity
agreement with Canada.
Where Farmer Participates.
The following statement, going to
show that agricultural producers were
not forgotten in the agreement. has
been made in answer TO the criticisms
Of Senator Cummins.
Lumber and its products head the
list OF Canada's manufactures. The
United States is to abolish entirely $
duty OF 81 p a thousand feet on rough
lumber. and 10 reduce its duties on
planed or finished lumber by Il per
cent. % per cent. % per cent or 4oi2
per cent, according 10 the amount OF
finishing Our duty on laths is cut In
hall. or from 20 cents TO 10 cents a
,holsand pieces. Our duty On shin
gies is reduced by 40 per cent, or from
80 cents to 80 cents a thousand. Can
ada during our last fiscal year sup
piled us with the foregoing 10 the
value of $23,602,57S
Agricultural implements are a
leading manufactured product OF Can
ada. The United States reduces her
rates from As per cent to 20 per cent
on vindmills. hsy leaders. potato dig
gers. fodder or feed cutters, grain
crlshers. tanning mills. hay tedders.
Farm rollers. manure spreaders and
parts Of the foregoing. On portable
traction engines our rate is lowered
by one-third. or from 80 per cent TO
% per cent
Cream separators are manuiac-
tured by Canada in large quantities.
but are excluded from our market by
a duty of 45 per cent. In face OF bitter
opposition by American manufacturers
this duty has been abolished.
IN the manufacture q wire fencing
Canada has made considerable pro
gress. and therefore galvanized wire
and barbed wire is made free by the
agreement. for the benefit OF our rural
population. At present our duty on
galvanized fencing wire is 80 per cen
or various higher rates, and on barbed
wire it is three-quarters Of a cent a
pound.
salt cake and soda ash are made
} free by this country under the agree
ment, with a view to reducing the cost
Of fertilizers. Salt cake is at present
taxed s1sa ton and soda ash One-quar-
ter cent a pound"