Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-02
Declare Reciprocity Agree
ment Disastrous to Them.
COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON
Trade Pact With Canada Is Being
Thoroughly Considered.
KNOX NOT ASKED TO EXPLAIN
Decided It Would Be Unbefitting for
Secretary of State to Be Pub
licly Questioned.

Iit WHY ana liitdHS ttIilitlAAt' VI AlF
House today began formal consideration
of the Canadian reciprocal trade agree
ment. by starting public hearings on the
bill to put into effect the reduced Gus
toms contemplated by the agreement.
1t was originally intended that the Sec
rotary of State, who conducted the ne
GotiationS with the Canadian ENJOYS
would appear before the committee and
explain the agreement.
1t was decided however at the last
moment that out of strict regard for the
diplomatic conventionalties il would de
more fitting for the Secretary of State
not to place himself I'm the position OF
being questioned publicly upon subjects
of diplomatic negotiation Secretary Knox,
therefore did not attend.
As matter of fact, the situation re-
garding the trade agreement is rather
anomalous, from the viewpoint of diplo-
matte and congressional eNpedient. 1t Is
half between treaty and a trade
decker as one statesman expressed it.
Gloucester Fishermen Heard.
The committee today heard the protests
against the proposed trade agreement OF
the fishermen of Gloucester. Mass. who
were the first to rise in protest against
the proposition. The Gloucester fisher
men are greatly distressed over the pro-
posed reductions on fish. and claim they
will work ruin to this important Ameri-
can industry.
President Taft has said that the Glouces
ter men were seeing gghosts' and that
their fears of ruin were exaggerated.
The attitude of the Senate toward tile
reciprocity trade agreement is one o.
waiting for the present. No action Will
be taken on that side until the Mccall
bill goes over, but 1t is expected to reacn
week thereafter.
In the meantime senators are very busy
trying to ascertain the sentiment OF Their
constituents toward the proposed reduc-
tions in duties on farm products. 1t Is
assumed that the trade agreement wilt
be very popular in the cities and in the
small farming communities, whose prod
ucts, finding ready market near home. are
not affected by the reductions.
But the feeling OF the wheat growers.
the cattle raisers and the farmers In the
border states Is being sounded very care
fully by senator's, with a view to ascer-
tanning just what 1.-The folks at home"
desire.
Sentiment Split in Middle West
In the states OF the middle west,
away from the border. sentiment ap-
pears to be divided. The demand for
cheaper lumber is very strong. and there
is disposition to study the probable Of
feet Of the agreement closely to de-
termine whether the reductions on
farm products are offset by the ad-
yantages to be gained from cheaper
lumber.
President Taft in his message to Con-
gress pointed out that the worlds price
Of wheat is fixed by the laws Of supply
and demand, and that the agreement in
the end will not affect the price OF wheat
In fact, with duty of % cents a bushei
on wheat. there is very little difference
today between the price OF wheat IN
Montreal and st. Paul. The President
does not believe that the American
wheat grower will be hurt by the re-
ciprocal arrangements.
The Gloucester fishermen were intro
duced to the committee by Representa-
tive Gardner in whose district Glouces-
ter is located. Mr.. Gardner has been cir
culating a petition for signatures of
members of the House requesting the
committee on rules TO so report the pend
ing bill as to allow amendments TO be
offered.
Would Shut Of Amendments.
That proposition is being opposed by
the administration men In the House and
the advocates OF the trade agreement.
who point out that one amendment To
the bill destroys the harmony of the
agreement and throws the entire cues
ton back into negotiation with Canada.
When the question comes before the
House it will be thoroughly understood
that the way to kill the agreement is TO
leave it open to amendment. and the
friends of the proposition are insisting
that the bill. when reported, shall be
accompanied by an ironclad rule from
the committee on rules shutting Off
amendments.
ings hearing painted very doleful pic
ture of their future If both fresh and salt
ed fish are included i'm the terms of the
agreement. They commended that the
Gloucester industry would he ruined ana
that they would have TO dispose of their
property and move to Nova Scotia If
they would continue to ply their calling
with profit.
Representative Gardner, in answer to
euestion by the chairman OF the COM
nittec announced that he is opposed to
the whole trade agreement. He said II
is true that there Is division of sentiment
in the different branches of the fish In
dustry. The packers want protection on
their sailed output. but want fresh fish
their raw material to come in free.
Mr.. Gardner said he wanted both the
raw material and the finished product
protected by adequate customs duties.
Industry Means $54, 900 Yearly
Arthur Millet, the government fish ex-
pert stationed at Gloucester. gave the
committee details of the extent of the
fisheries industry in the United States