New-York tribune., 1911-02-17
RECIPROCITY IN SENATE
Finance Committee viii Take UP
Mccall Bill Tomorrow.
PROMPT REPORT EXPECTED
Extra Session Talk Renewed
Heybur1 Resents "Execu-
tive Coercion"

Washington. Feb. 1s-The Canadian reel.
procItv measure will bo considered by the
Senate Committee on Finance at special
session 10 be held on Saturday. II Is not
probable that the bill win be disposed OF
IN the committee in one day. although all
it's members are agreed that action shaIl
not be DELAYED unnecessarily. Senator'S
Lodge and Smoot who are members OF the
committee. assured President TAFT to-day
that the bill would not be smothered IN
committee. regardless II how much opposi-
ton there might be 10 1t.
From present indications the bill will be
returned 10 the Senate about Wednesday.
and certainly not later tnan Thursday. II
Is possible that no report. either favorable
or adverse wiz bc made on IL. chiefly for
the reason that the objections which MEM
hers If the committee have 20 the measure
lead them n desire 10 amend II l. II Is 20
be approved In view of this attitude the
members Of the committee feel that IL would
be better TO submit the whole matter direct.
j. 10 the Senate without recommendation,
all members reserving the right to pursue
whatever course their opinions may suggest
when Il is considered on the floor. How
ever all this may be changed when the
committee meets
That failure OF the agreement to pass
the Senate will force President Taft to call
an extra session Of Congress. the admins
traticn being determined TO press the agree
ment. was asserted to-day by Senator
Smoot after his conference with the Presi-
dent, at which Senators Lodge and Root
were present Mr.. Smoot fears that the
bill will meet obstructive tactics on the floor
which will prevent a vote before March 4.
Shortly after the White House conference
ended Senator Burrows. ranking member
of the Finance Committee. called on the
President on leaving the White House he
announced that he would call meeting Of
the committee on Saturday
II is reported that there will be another
conference ct the White House tomorrow
TO discuss the agreement Secretary Knox
will he present, and certain objections 20
the agreement will be taken up.
Hepburn Feels Aqerieved.
That the Senate is sitting supine and dis
gracefully unrcsentful, while IT is being
accused OF crimes blacker than those
which occupy the attention of the criminal
courts" was asserted to-day by Senator
Hepburn. The Idaho Senator's resentment
was aroused by the publication to-day OF
ar article in a local newspaper, saying
that only by making IL plain that he would
call an extra session of Congress could
the President compel the Senate to pass
the reciprocity bill
Mr.. Hepburn accepted this as an indica-
ton that some newspaper men occupying
and walking on the floor OF The Senate"
were of the opinion that Senator'S could
be coerced into action contrary 20 their
consciences by the talk Of an extra session.
This he interpreted as the "imputation OF
motives entirely irreconcilable with the
honor and dignity OF the Senate lie de-
clared that unless the Senate had lost all
self-respect Il could not pass over sucn
a publication without taking notice OF it.
"A charge that any member Of this body
could be Influenced by the crack Of
whip by some one else is charge OF COW
ardice" said Mr. Hepburn, (which could
not be made without resentment by any
one who himself was not a coward. When
they charge that any coordinate branch or
the government can compel another co..
ordinate branch to act as otherwise II
would not they charge corruption against
the influencing body, and corruption and
cowardice against those being Influenced. |
Can we sit silent under such charges az
fecting the dignity and honor Of the SEN |,
ate?"
with further limitations of his lnten- |
ton 10 resent any effort at coercion the !
Idaho Senator took his seat.
The views Of the minority of the House |
Committee on Ways and Means opposing !
the enactment of the Mccall bill were pre- !
sented to the House late last night, twen-
ty-four hours after the bill had been I
passed. The report condemns the agree
ment as being unrepublican and inconsist I
ens with the policy Of protection. The I
agreement is characterized as violation /
Of the history, the traditions and the plat |
forms of the Republican party, and as .
class legislation OF the most obnoxious |
character. The report is signed by Repre-
sentatives DalzeIl, OF Pennsylvania, Cal |
derhead, Of Kansas; Fordney, OF Michi- |
gan; Gaines, OF West Virginia; Dwight |
or New York. and Ellis, Of Oregon, all Re
publicans, and the views OF Representative |
Broussard, OF Louisiana, q Democrat, are !
attached.