The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-07-27
PACT IS PASSED
LONGEST CONGRESSIONAL FIGHT
FOR YEARS is
ENDED.
FINAL VOTE TWO TO ONE
La Toilette, in Plea Against Bill, Says
Taft Seeks Favor and Scores
Democrats Atti-
tude.

Washington, d. C. - The Canadian
trade agreement bill passed the SEN
ate by a vote of fully two to one.
The most bitter fight for legislation
waged by an administration in many
years came to a close when the Can
adam reciprocity bill, an issue before
two sessions Of congress, was passed
by the senate by a decisive vote.
The final vote on the bill was 50 to
81.
This vote included all but four or
five of the Democrats and also a good
many so-called "stalwart" Republi-
cans. Opposed to the bill were most
of the Republican insurgents who
come from northwestern states, a few
of the Republican regulars and a
handful of Democrats.
h measure has not been changed
in any respect by the senate and when
it is signed by the speaker and the
vice president it will be dispatched to
the president.
Senator La Toilette featured in the
final speechmaking with a vigorous
arraignment of President Taft and
the bill. He attacked the Democrats
of the senate on the ground that they
were deliberately trying for political
purposes and pointed out that the
Democrats had consistently voted
down amendments proposing general
tariff reductions. Their excuse, he
said, had been that the president
would not sign the reciprocity bill if
1t was encountered with any general
tariff amendments.
Several amendments to the recipro-
city bill were defeated, including
those by Mr.. BristOw to reduce duties
on lead bullion and lead paints and
similar lead products and by Mr..
Townsend for an alliance with Can
ada to enlarge the st. Lawrence wa
terWay.
Senator Smith, of Michigan, attack
ing the bill, declared Canada would
not be the only menace to American
industries. He said British capital in
great abundance in waiting to be
poured into Canada when the ~reciproc-
ity agreement is ratified and that
from the advantageous ground across
the golden border" British industries
will flood this country with competi-
tive goods"
There were twenty-five amendments
to the measure acted upon the last
day. Many of these proposed to af-
general tariff changes to the agree
President Taft insisted that
any changes of this character threat
en- the defeat of the entire reciprocity
agreement with Canada.
The pending amendments included
La Toilette amendments to the
cotton and wooden schedules, the Nell
son amendments restoring half the
duty on agricultural products, the
Clapp amendments enlarging the free
and removing all restrictions on
the importation of paper, amendments
by Senators Crawford and Gore re-
the duty on fresh meats and
similar amendments by Sem
atOrs Cummins, Bristow and others.
were killed.
Party lines disappeared during the
consideration Of the bill. Tariff af-
fliations, to outward appearance,
have been completely changed. Presi-
lent Taft has had the general SUP
port of the Democrats and of the Re-
publican regulars and in this union of
he has had enough upp so
that he bill was not in danger of de-
or of serious amendment since
session began.
Financial Measures Next Winter.
A battle royal over a financial bill in
next session of congress was fore.
Swallowed when, in accordance with
a general agreement among those con-
cerned, Secretary of State Knox ten
tered to the senate his resignation as
4 member OF the national monetary
and Senator P~enrose,
of the committee on finance.
was designated by Vice President
Sherman to succeed Mr.. Knox.
The change was made to enable Mr..
penrose to give especial attention to
he bill which the commission will pre-
sent at the regular session next De-
Senator Penrose reported from the
nance committee the Cummins bill
providing for the abolition of the COM
at the beginning of the regu-
ar session. The report was the re-
'ult Of a poll of the committee taken
a consultation between Senator
oenrose and Chairman Aldrich.
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