Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-23
Cun1mins Announces intention
to Amend Mccall Bill.
his RESOLUTION ADOPTED
Calls for All Data on Canadian
Trade Gathered by Tariff Board.
IS SUPPORTED BY Mr.. HALE
Indications That a Number Of Re-
publicans Will Join Movement
to Alter Reciprocity Agreement.

S>>S~A
That determined effort will be made
on the floor of the Senate to amend the
Mccall bill to carry out the provisions
of the Canadian reciprocity agreement,
and that the movement will receive the
support Of a considerable number OF re-
publicaps, both regulars and insurgents
became apparent soon after the Senate
convened today.
Senator Cummins Of Iowa, an 1nsurgent,
offered q resolution calling upon the
President to send to the Senate all tables
and statistics gathered by the tarin
board bearing upon articles Whlch enter
into the trade between Canada and the
United States, whether covered py the
pending agreement or not.
After brief discussion 1t was ADOPTED
Hale in Sympathy.
The resolution received the practical
approval Of several old-guard senators,
especially of Senator Hale, who said
that he was in sympathy with the idea
In that it might lead to entirely new ne
gotiations with Canada. This statement
was in response to a frank avowal by
Mr. Cummtns that he purpOsed to of1er
amendments to the Mccall bill TO the end
that articles which farmers have to buy
shall be reduced to the plane of products
of the soil which are put on the free
list by the Canadian agreement
The Cummins resolution specifically
called for the tariff boards data on pulp
wood and paper, wool, whether raw or
manufactured: wooden thread, cloth and
clothing; cottonthread, cloth and cloth
ing, carpets, boots and shoes, pig iron,
iron ore, manufactures OF iron or steel,
coal, wheat, flour and lumber. Later ag-
ricultural implements were included at
the suggestion of Senator Dixon.
The resolution did not set forth tnat
some OF the articles specifically men
toned did not come within the terms or
the reciprocity agreement. and Senator
Smoot called attention to that fact.
Free List for Farmers, Too.
1.-THE senator from Utah has accurately
guessed my purpose" responded Mr..
Cummins. Continuing, he said that he
was aware that he had included a num-
Der of articles which the farmer has to
buy on which nd reduction of duty is
proposed.
He said that he intended to offer amend
ments covering the things mentioned SO
mat IT there. is to be q free list with
Canada 1t shall include articles the far
mer buys as we'll as articles he raises.
1t was at this point that Senator Hale
gave his approval to the movement
Senator Hale wanted included In the
resolution q direction that the Presi-
dent be directed to send all communi-
cations between the American and Ca
madam tariff commissioners who ar
ranged the pending agreement. Mr..
Cummins objected, and after he had
stated his purpose, Mr.. Hale withdrew
the request.
In Endorsing the Cummins resolution
Mr.. Hale said that 1t was designed to OBJ
tain information, which might be- OF use
later II not now Tho inference drawn
from this remark was that the Canadian
agreement would not he adopted at the
present session If the DIRECTORS could pre-
vent action.
II think the resolution should be adopt
ed without delay" said Mr.. Hale. 1T
is my belief that the Canadian agreement,
or the bill to give it force, was never
submitted to the tariff board at all, that
the members of the board never were
consulted and that they had no knowl-
edge what was going on. This Is an
additional reason why the resolution
should pass, and the sooner the better"
. Data Collected by Tariff Board.
Mr. Cummlns replied that he believed
that the members Of the tariff board had
collected q great deal Of valuable in
formation that would be Of assistance to
tio ocIl4Le Auu WHICH WOulO nave uclp6tk
the American commissioners If 1t mad
been laid before them during the negotia-
tons with Canada.
The Iowa senator said that II this OPP
portunity were allowed to pass without
the farmer getting some benefits from
the Canadian agreement he would be
shut out absolutely, because the only
way relief subsequently could come to
MIN would be through general tariff leg
lslation. which would apply to all coun-
tries under the friendly nation clauses
OF existing treaties.
Senator Root asked If the amendments
which Senator Cummins proposed to
offer would involve the United States In
difficulties with foreign countries by rea-
son of these friendly nation clauses.
Mr.. Cummins replied that they would
not.
Senator Carter offered an amendment
to the resolution which put 1t in the
usual form Of a request that the Prest-
dent send the information II not IN
compatible with the public Interest. In
this form II was adopted.