The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-30
|nEslDENI TAFT
NON I FIGHT OR
|RECIPR0ClTY PLAN
Iays He Has Done His Duty and II
Agreement With Canada Is Re.
jected Responsibility Rests
With Congress.
Entire Finance Committee of Senate
Il Against It, and Outlook
II Dubious.

a y WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-lt was
f 1oained today that President Tafts
+ attitude on the Canadian reciprocity
B nRreement Is that he has done mis-
duty I'm putting IL up TO congress. He
does not intend 10 fight for its pas
sage. He holds the opinion that The
responsibility now lies with congress
and not with him.
Among congressman today, interest
renters not so much in the question
whether President Taft's reciprocity
Increment with Canada will be passed
this session as IL does in the problem
whether IL will be reported by the
committee to which 1t has been refer.
red In the senate IL has been con-
eigned to the committee on finance.
which has charge OF tariff bills. A
member OF that committee said today
that a canvass had been made and
that II had disclosed not one member
Of the committee In favor OF the
Increment.
you've seen the last OF It," said
- member OF the house referring 10
Its reference to the committee on
ways and means.
Both the committees in question
have a majority OF high protection
advocates and they would very re-
luctantly contribute to break In the
solid wall of the PayneAldrich tariff
law. Democrats are depended on by
the standpatters to vote against II on
the theory that the next congress,
with its Democratic house, should lead
the way In tariff reform Every tarii
question, in the estimation OF mem.
bers of congress, Is loaded and they
explain that they desire TO hear from
their constituents or that they have
not had time to study the agreement.
Among those who will favor ratiti-
ration with Canada may be mentioned
Senator Depew and Rep. Dwight, New
York Republicans, and Rep. Hill
Y lRapn. Conn.,
Senator Borah, (Repn. Idaho) ex'
pressed the opinion that the agree
ment would not be ratified at this
session. Rotten was the verdict Of
- northwestern insurgent, who after
wards asked that his name be not as
scciated with the sentiment.
Senator Curtis, (Repn. Kas.) said
ways opposed reciprocity with Can
ada on farm products, the main inter
ests of his state being agricultural.
He desired, however, 10 withhold
Judgment on the present Canadian
Increment until he had had time TO
study II and received expressions vi
opinion from his constituents.
Senator McCumber, lRepn. y. d.
.condemned the proposal to place
western farmers at the mercy OF Ca
madam competition while they re-
ceived no benefits from the reduction
Of the tariff ON manufactured articles.
The people of North Dakota would
benefit from free lumber, but he was
'of the opinion that the northwest
would protest against that concession
40 Canada.
SO far the future OF this harbinger
.of increased trade and friendly rela-
lions are also based on the previous
history OF the United States In the
matter Of reciprocity. Some years ago
. tarin bill was passed with high
duties but with the provision that
c0ncessions might be exchanged with
countrfes In trade with the United
states. A high commissioner was APP
pointed to negotiate reciprocity trea-
ties and he laboriously entered into
negotiations with all the leading COM
xnercial nations. Treaties were
agreed upon. approved by presidents
and submitted to the senate until II
accumulated in the pigeon holes ol
the senate committee on foreign rela-
tions.
Those treaties still repose In the
pigeon holes, accommodating dust and
elowly turning yellow with the
xavsges OF time.