The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-04-12
RECIPROCITY IN FIRST PLACE
NOISE CiICUS VOTES TO DEAL
WITH IT RIGHT OFF,
WfI Then Bring In q Free List mn for
Neccssaries OF fc--AgricuituraI I'm.
/ picmcnts. Dressed Meats and Lumber
r 10 Be Chief Features OF the Measure.

T 10 Be Chtef Features OF the Measure.
WASHINGTON. April Ii.-Canadian reci-
procity will he the first thing considered
hy the House Of Representatives. Ac-
cep,ins President Taft's pledge that he
would not prorogue Congress. the House
caucus of Democrats which met tonight
decided to act on reciprocity first and then
to bring in bill putting many of the
necessaries Of life on the free list.
The free list bill. which will be brought
into the House Immediately after reci-
proci,y. will include these articles: Agri-
cultural implements, such as plouEhs.
harrows. reapers. binders and mowers;
boots and shoes. saddles and saddlery.
wire fencing, baiing wire. cotton bassinC
and tics. coarse sacks. burlaps. lumber.
-four dressed meats and meat products
and sewing machines.
Within two weeks the democrats will
hold another caucus 10 decide upon ,hei .
course with regard to the woollcn end
cotton schedules. They will take action
on these schedules afte. the Ways end
Means Committee has decided on the re-
auctions that its members think a-c
proper They desire to have the entire
Democratic membership of the House
get together and give Endorsement 10 n
hill embodyng the committee recommen-
ds,ions. The Ways and Means Demo-
cra's desire 10 get the reciprocity bill
through the House and over To the Sena @
and to act upon the general meGs,i ~
carving IN" foregoing items before
taking up any futha' details of the tariff
While no rows developed the proceed
inGs IN tho caucus were not entirely har-
monlous. Soon after the Democrats
were called TO order by Representative
Blreson of Texas the caucus chairman.
Representative Underwood of Alabama.
'h" Ways and Means chairman. presented
IN" TWO bills upon which he desired action
--'h" Canadian reciprocity agreement
and the blanket free list measure. He
urged that the caucus go on record in
favor of action upon the reciprocity
proposition first and by itself and recop-
mend that the free list measure be then
iaken up.
Mr. Underwood explained thst Presi-
dent Taft had pledged himself over his
own signature to Rerresen,a Nice Call
% Massachusetts not to prorogue Con-
Lfess in the event of the passage of the
reciprocity measure by Congress and a
Disagreement between the House and the
Senate as 10 the date of adjournment
Speaker Clark then took the floor and
read to the Democrats a copy Of the
rresident's letter TO Mr.. Mccall The
PRESIDENT also urged that the caucus favor
action on reciprocity itself and by itself
Many Democrats expressed opposition
to this programme. While not reflect
ing on the President attitude or ,,lies-
tonng the sincerity of his promise they
insisted that the Democratic party. in
control Of the House. should go ahead
10 legi>la'e IN it, own way They pro-
posed that the free list bill should be
attached 10 the reciprocity measure
as rider and sent over TO the Senate
IN hat shane =.
long and az times warm debate en-
saed but II was apparent that the faction
opposing the views of Messrs. Clark and
tntierwood was in the minority. Finally
several members requested that they be
excused from participation in the caucus
action, declaring they were previously
pledged TO their constituents against reci-
prociiy. Among these members were
representatives Webb of North Carolina,
Doushtin Of North Carolina. G,Idger OF
North Carolina Rucker of Colorado,
Hammond Of Minnesota. Ashbrook of
ONO, PuJo Of Louisiana and Wickliffe of
Louisiana. Mr.. Hammond il the only
Nays and Means member included among
those who protested against the pro-
gramme Of the leaders.
Other members demanded that ad-
d'lonal items be added to the bill. They
urged that the free list as presented 10
IN" caucus by Chairman Underwood of
taN Ways and Means Committee was
ho' sufficiently comprehensive. They con-
"hd-d that other manufactured articles
should be added TO the number mentioned
M order 10 compensate the farmer for
ne loss .n;ailed by the placing of so
many 81 his products within the reciprocal
'"n" here was disposition on the
var Of IN" majority of the caucus. how
eve 10 accept the Judgment of Mr.
pH"r"ood and his associates.
u was practically decided that reciproc-
N' the re" list hill and the woolen and
'"''oh schedules should he the only prop
'''lons "u which the Democrats will eau
'HS lhlo means that while the,e will
"' no party caucus on the election of
'"hators 10y direct vote of the people the
IuoH'l'y Of campaign contributions and
VI" other items Of the general Legislative
programme already indorscd by the
nous" D"mocrP's. these measures may
u" brought in at any time and acted on
~ general propositions Of party policy
N m" r"gula" way.
IN" proposition 10 make reciprocity
~" lr-t thing on the programme was
carried 10y l2s TO 20 An addi-
''n7' paragraph To the reciprocity bin
WIS recommended requiring the Presi-
'"'' L" continue and expand the negoiia-
''h' WIN Canada with respect TO reci-
i'''ll IN other wurdsto include other
"''''i"s IN the agreement Representa-
~" Fitzgerald of New York. chairman
~ M" Nppropriations Committee. moved
In" on this last paragraph but he
vas d"r,Sly"ly beaten.
~" pointed ont that his was ,inneces-
'''V TINT President Taft was already
"'Nn"d To- make the reciprocity blanket
''''F"r - many az possible and that no
-''"''l"r' along this line from the Con-
u