The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-04-13
TAFTS MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
Reciprocity Only Question Taken Ud
by Observation-Disclosures
il His Dnty.

sent to Congress his message asking
the passage Of the Canadian Reci-
procity Agreement. The document
is short and concerns itself only with
the trade pact. Mr.. Taft explains he
thought his utmost efforts" included
calling the special session. He said:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives: Z
| transmitted to the Sixty-hrst Con-
gress, on January 26 last, the text OF
the reciprocal trade agreement which
had been negotiated under my direc-
ton by the Secretary OF State with
the representatives of the Dominion
of Canada. This agreement was the
consummation of earnest efforts eX-
tending over period Of nearly
year on the part of both governments
to effect a trade arrangement Which,
supplementing as it did, the amicaDle
settlement of various questions OF a
diplomatic and political character
that had been reached would mutual
ly promote commerce and would
strengthen the friendly relations now
existing.
The agreement, in its intent and
in its terms, was purely economic and
commercial. While the general sub
ject was under discussion by the COM
missioners felt assured that tho
sentiment of the people of the United
States was such that they would well
come a measure which would result
in the increase of trade on both sides
Of the boundary line, would open up
the reserve productive resources OF
Canada to the great mass OF our own
consumers on advantageous condi-
tions and at the same time offer a
broader outlet for the excess products
of our farms and many Of our In
dustries Details regarding a nego-
tiation of this kind necessarily could
not be made public while the confer
ences were pending. When, how
ever, the full text of the agreement,
with the accompanying correspond
ence and data explaining both It's pur-
pose and its scope, became known to
the people through the measure
transmitted to Congress 1t was i'm
mediately apparent that the ripened
fruits of the careful labors of the
commissioners met with widespread
approval. This approval has been
strengthened by further considera-
tion of the terms of the agreement
in all their particulars. The volume
of support which has developed
shows that its broadly national scope
Is fully appreciated and is responsive
to the popular will.
The House OF Representatives OF
the Sixty-frst Congress, after the full
| text of the arrangement with all the
4 details to the different provisions had
been before ii as they were before
the American people, passed bill
confirming the agreement as nego-
tiated and as transmitted to Con
gress. This measure failed of action
in the Senate.
26th of January | fully set forth the
character of the agreement and
emphasized its appropriateness and
necessity as a response 10 the mutual
needs of the people of the two coun.
tries, As well as its common advan'
tages. | now lay that message and
the reciprocal trade agreement as In
tegrally part of the present message
before the Sixty-second Congress, and
again invite earnest attention to the
considerations therein expressed.
| am constrained in Difference tC
popular sentiment and with realiz
ing sense of my duty to the great
masses OF our people whose welfare
is involved, to urge upon your con
sideration early action on this agree
ment In concluding the negotia
tions, the representatives OF the two
countries bound themselves to use
their utmost efforts to bring about
the tariff changes provided for in the
agreement by concurrent Legislation
at Washington and Ottawa. have
felt 1t my duty, therefore, not tC
acquiesce in relegation of action unit
the opening of the Congress in De
cember. but TO use my constitutions
prerogative and convoke the Sixty
second Congress in extra session II
order that there shall be no break o
continuity in considering and actinl
upon this most important subject.
The White House, April 5, 1911.
(Signedl WILLIAM II. TAFT