Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-06-29
Canadian Reciprocity Bill Comes
Out Uscathed from First
Ordeal in Senate.
ROLL CALL NOT DEMANDED
Measure Open for Fight That Is
to Follow Oh the Taritf--No-
tice Given by Several
Senators.

Washington, June 26.--The Canadian
reciprocity bill tonight emerged UNI
scnthed from It's first ordeal in the
Senate. Tho Root amendment, propos-
ing modification Of the wood pulp
and print paper section of the agree
ment, was defeated after seven hours
Of debate by an overwhelming vote
Tho friends of tho amendment were so
satisfied OF its defeat that roll call
on the vote was not demanded.
This leaves the reciprocity measure
open to tho general fight that is to fol-
low for amendment of important pro-
visions Of the Payne tariff law. Sen
ator La Toilette announced in
speech opposing the Root amendment
that ne would give to the Senate a
chance to pass on general tariff amend
ments for free paper. free lumber and
| lumber products. and for reductions in
many other schedules. Senator Clapp
also announced his intention OF Of
fcrlng a free paper amendment later,
and other senator's gave evidence of
their purpose to force from now on,
widest plane.
Attack on the Root amendment was
interpreted With attack on the whole
reciprocity measure In the debate that
ran throughout the afternoon.
Il am opposed to this so-called reci-
procitj' legislation as a whole because I
believe it IS wrong, harmful and unlustl-
| fable" said Senator La Toilette "If it
! !. l..
I l. perfect as possible | shall vote against
the Root amendment because believe
! it will defeat the very purpose of the
wocd pulp and print paper paragraph
! of the agreement"
CRlTlCIHES THE NEWSPAPERS.
He criticized the newspapers for having
urged the reciprocity measure as n means
| of getting relief from the oppressive
charges of the print paper manufacture
ers. For my own part" he said, II shall
| stand for a proposition which will give
to the users Of print paper a free pro-
| duct But | contend they are not fairly
| entitled to that at the sacrifice of any
other industry or great class of people I
| am sorry they should have Joined to
sacrifice the agricultural interests in this
bill"
senator La Toilette declared that in
the testimony taken by the finance
committee it would be shown that tn.
newspapers had suppressed the news
| OF the reciprocity proceedings. but or
| this point senator Stone who also Il
| member of the finance committee de.
clared the Wisconsin senator was mis-.
| taken.
That is the blacklist page in the
newspaper history of the United
states" said Senator La Toilette. =
regret that the fact must become par
Of the history of this legislation. Blu
il is stubborn fact There is no on,
who followed the hearings before tn,
finance committee but knows tina
those who favored the Canadian agree
ment We're given great space. but wher
the agricultural interest came hefor,
the committee making a great show
ing of the injury they would suffer
showing which | consider the mos
important made before the COMMITTEE
the news filled but meagre space /,
the great newspapers of the country
ATTACK NOT JUSTIFIED
Il want to interrupt the senator,
: said Senator stone. mot to defend tn,
newspapers but because l think hi.
statement is not quite justified by the
facts. II was charged that the Assoc
ciated Press for example had giver
great space TO the pto-reCiprocity lit
erature and to the pro-reciprocity con
tertions. which the newspapers haC
grocdily accepted and widely exploit
ed.
THE facts as developed, show as
understand them, that far more spac,
was given the anti-reciprocTty argu
t ments by the Associated Press and b.
] the newspapers Of the country, thar
was given by either the one or tn
! other in favor OF reciprocity. wisl
simply to put that statement as rep
T. resenting my Judgment of the facts
against the statements of the opin
ions OF the senator from Wisconsin a
to the facts, so that his statement ma
U not go unchallonged."
Senator La Toilette expressed the De
lief that other members Of the fnanc
committee would side with him IN the cor
t troversy.
Senator Clapp Of Minnesota opposed IL
4 reciprocity bill as n deception, q deli
sion and snare" and said the Roc
amendment would but make Il wors
SENATOR Simmons, democrat. declared L
bill was not democratic measure
+" Senator Townsend OF Michigan said q
PAPER and pulp clause OF the rcciprocit
q i'll would undoubtedly be open 10 dlffe
70 ont .nterprs atoms I: the Root arendmel
I were not adopted. ana that tho cour
l. | would rrallV have to pass on the matte