The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-01-19
HOUSE MAY TAKE
UP CANADA PACT.
Not Unlikely to Insist That 1t
Shall Take Form of Legis-
Iative Action.
HAS PRECEDENT FOR STAND
Friends Of Tariff Commission Bill
Fear It Will Be Weakened-Story
Of Philadelphia Woman's Costly
Venture in Smuggling.
By GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
these dispatches it has been said that
President Taft had high hope that be-
fore the present session ended he
would be able to let the country know
that the ultimate consumer" was to
benefit by the opportunity to purchase
some of the necessities OF life at
lower price than heretofore because of
the removal from them of the incubus
Of tariff" The president had in
mind reciprocity treaty with Canada
under the terms of which he believed
he was to get free natural products.
There was a good deal Of scepticism
IN Washington concerning the presi-
dents ability to secure ratification by
the senate of the treaty which would
lower the tariffs. The Canadian com.
missioners, authorized to negotiate for
the treaty have done their errand in
Washington. Now it is knwn that
President Taft for some time has
been hard at work lining up high tar
if senators on behalf of his treaty en-
deavOr and the word is that he has
succeeded in his task.
There seems to be some chance,
however, that the house of represen-
tatives will insist upon having a hand
in the negotiations with the country's
northern neighbor. Treaties, of course.
under the constitution, are for the
senate alone to ratify, but the house
of representatives always has main
tanned that anything affecting the
revenue must take Legislative and not
treaty form, and must originate in
the representative chamber. If this
view Of the case is held to be proper
it is possible that legislation rather
than treaty must be depended upon
to put Canadian reciprocity into effect,
if it Is to be authorized at all.
Parallel Case in 1904.
There is a virtually parallel case
which is being referred TO freely by
members of the house. In the spring
of 1904 the senate was called together
by President Roosevelt after the ad-
iournment of congress March 4. The
senators simply remained in Washing
ton and sat In an extra session OF
their own body. Mr.. Roosevelt sub
mitted reciprocity treaty with Cuba
to the senators. 1t affected the reve-
house leaders. and so the treaty form
was given over and Mr.. Roosevelt was
obliged to call an extra session OF
congress for November, 1904, when
the reciprocity matter was made the
subject of legislation originating in
the house of representatives
The bill which was passed at that
time was virtually identical with the
treaty which the senate had been
asked to ratify, but it was legislation
end not a treaty. and the form which
it took indicated the argument of the
representatives that revenue legisla
ton must have origin in the popular
chamber.
Outlook for Tariff Commission.
Members of congress are won
dering just what effect the meet
ing of the National Tariff Com
mission association. which has Just
been brought to a close in Washing
ton. will have on the form of the tariff
commission legislation as it is even
tually enacted at the present session
President Taft, Senators Cummins
tot i've
Iongworth, whose name is carried in
authorship on the commission bill
which the administration has approx
ed, made speeches to the delegates tC
the convention and expressed warm
approval of it's endeavors. There Is
however, among Republicans in con
gress an undercurrent of opposition tc
tariff commission legislation. 1t is moi
to be supposed that the Republican
leaders will carry their antagonism tc
the measure to the extent of securing
its defeat but the progressive Repub
licans and a good many OF the Demo
Gratis believe that the standpat ele
ment may cause such changes to be
made in the Longworth bill as tc
weaken its purpose and its effect. The
situation Is being watched most close
" by the real friends of the commits
sion plan and by those who secretly
are opposed to 1t but who will give /
their support, in part at least, as
| Republican measure, measure Whlcf
4 they hope will help the party In th'
| next election.
OrIgIn of Commission Plan.
The tariff commission Legislation
has had peculiar history. 1t was
gathering Of business men III III