Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-28
Decided MIDDLE Of Senate
Proceedings Tuesday.
Reciprocity Bill Passes Stages
OF Reporting but Is Restored.
Borah Again Attacks the Measure.
Storm Causes Adjournment.

Washington, June 27.-The tension
that exists in the Senate over the
reciprocity measure was emphasized
by incidents that occurred in the con-
fused proceedings of today. The ses-
sion began with an unsuccessful at
tempt by Chairman Penrose of the
finance committee to secure an agree
ment for vote on reciprocity July
"a, on the wool bill July 26 and free
list bill July rs.
Friends of reciprocity will insist up
on coupling all three measures in any
agreement to vote.
After refusing to permit such an
arrangement, the opponents of the
reciprocity bill allowed that measure
to advance one important parliament
tary step before they realized what
had happened. For a quarter of an
hour the Senate was inexecutive SEES
sion. At its conclusion no one being
ready to speak on the measure. and
following parliamentary custom of
that body. Vice President Sherman an
nounced that the bill would be report
ed from the committee OF the whole to
the Senate
The bill actually passed through all
the stages of being reported to the
Senate before members realized what
was going on While under consider
alton of the committee of the whole.
the measure could DE amended but
could not he voted upon In the SEN
ate. it could be brought to a final vote
at any time. Nelson, Bristow. Clapp
and Bailey joined in the protest that
arose when it was found what had
happened to the bill.
Eenrose said the Senate had shown
no disposition to hurry in its consid-
Grafton of the bill and had rejected
his proposal for definite time for a
vote on the measure He therefore
thought no backward step should be
taken.
Friends of the bill on the Demo-
cratic side, however, led by Stone and
Bacon said the Senate had evidently
been caught off its guard. and had
permitted the bill to be advanced 1tn-
intentionally. Senator Penrose finally
consented to having it restored to its
former status.
The feeling that developed over this
incident was not so marked. however. as
that which greeted Penrose's attempt to
nix time for the vote on the bills. In
surgents objected to any definite date
Tor the reciprocity vote; and the finance
committee was extricated from the en-
barrassing position of having the other
votes determined by an objection from
Smoot Several Democrats and Ins,Ir.
gents would have welcomed the fixing of
the other two dates so that the tariff
bills could be forced up to President Taft
ahead of the reciprocity bill. and the lat
ter held back a means of forcing his
signature to the others.
The Penrose request will be renewed
from time to time and whenever condi.
tions seem favorable. Ultimately the
friends of reciprocity may consent Ia
change the order. allowing the vote or
the tariff bills to come first, but they
Will not do so at present, nor in taking
this position will they consent for one To
so through without the others In this
attitude they have the endorsement oil
the President who has advised them in
individual conferences that while he does
not shrink from consideration of tariff
measures at this time. he thinks that rec
iprocity should come first in the natura
order. His position as expressed to sen
ators who have talked with him is that
the present session should be confined as
quickly as possible to reciprocity, that
being the subject which it was called t
consider.
Borah attacked the reciprocity bill IL
| speech this afternoon, declaring tina
the Canadian treaty of 1854 had not beer
of benefit to this country and that tn,
| Canadians are always seeking an agree
ment that would admit their natural pro
| ducts to the United States while it pro
| tected their manufacturing interests.
The Senate was compelled to adjourn
because of the storm that ragged abou
the Capitol late in the afternoon. which
made further proceedings impossible