The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-06
BURTON MAKESA STRONG DEFENSE
 OF RECIPROCITY Says It Is the Ultimate Des- tiny" of Canada and
 America NOT DEFENDING THE
 ADMINISTRATION Ohio Senator Says No Defense Is Necessary Speaks Strongly Against Amending the
 Present Bill

Washington, July 5.-The right of President Taft to negotiate the Can adian reciprocity agreement to send 1t | In completed form to Congress for en- aetment, and to defend and advocate it In stump speeches" throughout the country, was arrested in the Senate to- day by Senator Burton of Ohio at the conclusion of a speech in support and explanation of the reciprocity bill. The Senate agreed at the conclusion that the sessions will continue until 6 o'clock. Chairman Penrose of the fi- nance committee advocated daily ses- sions at 10 o'clock, but the democrats who favor the reciprocity bill feared this would be taken as move to force nasty action and would result in bitter l feeling.
 l The opponents of the measure who include most of the republican insur- gents and many republican regulars. will endeavor to force the advocates of the measure to take the floor in the longer days of debate that are to fol- low. Thus far the speeches of Sena- tor Root and Senator Burton have been the main arguments in favor of the measure
 1 Senator Burton's speech followed criticism by Senator Cummins of Iowa, l republican insurgent, earlier In the day, of the speech made by President Taft yesterday in Indianapolis. Senator Cummins said he believed it was better l for the President to try to mould pub lie opinion by appealing to the people | in speeches than for him to use the power of the Presidents office to pass l the bill through Congress, but he crit icised vigorously the Indianapolis speech in which the President said the Canadian agreement probably would not reduce the cost of living. 1 Some degree of censure has been visited on the admission for sending in this agreement" said Senator Bur ton. Ut is the clear right of the Pres ident under the constitution to make communications and reconuendat tiens F to Congress. It is his right also to ex- , press on the stump, in whatever terms
 he may choose, his advocacy of & cer- tain line of policy.
 . Not only President Taft, but his , predecessor and other Presidents have r been free to advocate national policies , recommended by them in messages. , Otherwise the President would neither be the leader of his party nor occupy that place in the public attention which the public demands of him.
 Should Stand as It Is Tt is for the Senate or the House to accept reject or amend any propo- sition that he may send to Congress. I think, however, that we overlook instances in which bills or completed laws have been sent to Congress by | the President or members of his cab- met and passed practically without change Secretary Chase, in special session called July 4, 1861, sent in complete tariff law which was accepted almost verbatim by Congress and be- came a law without delay.
 | Senator Burton urged that the agree ment. notwithstanding the power of l Congress to change it, be passed with | out amendment.
 | T strongly urge that 1t be adopt | ed without change" said Senator Bur | ton Ut Is diffirent from other legfsla- l tion. Consultations must be held at long range. Any modification renders | situation now delicate more intricate | and liable of failure.
 MT. Burton emphasized that those l who based their objections to the l agreement on the ground that the farmer would suffer injury were vir- | tually fighting for higher duties for | the farmer. He said no injury to the farmer could follow the removal of duties on farm products except in cer- tain localities along the border To keep the duties at the present figure, he said, would be to place the consumer at the mercy of short market and rising prices when the time arrived that American production does not equal American consumption
 Future Injury to Farmers
 Tn the early discussion there was an outcry in some quarters that the adoption of the agreement would re- duce the profits obtained by the farm CTS. said Senator Burton. While this
 claim Is still made on behalf Of spe- cifc localities and certain products. the gneeral ground of opposition has shift ed. and 1t is now maintained not that the agreement will confer present Tn
 jury upon farmers, but that in the fu-
 ture 1t will lower the prices which
 they will receive.
 "What ts this but demand for in- creased production on food produotss
 How can an advocate or lower outles support such proposition? This na- ton cannot maintain its present posi- ton without an abundant supply of tho primary necessities of life. especially of the essential articles of food.
 'The intention of this proposal for reciprocity is not to reduce the price | of articles sold by the farmer. lne s slight loss by producers of particular articles and in specific localities is over balanced by the benefits which will be conferred upon the whole people.
 "I enter my protest" said Senator Burr ton, against any policy which looks to the maintenance of duties on the most essential foods-the bread and meat which the people eat-when the present supply shall prove insufficient
 Similarity of Conditions
 'The essential fact to be remembered in a discussion relating to this agree- ment," said Senator Burton. 'is the sim ilarity of conditions between the United
 States and Canada. The cost of labor
 Is nearly the same in both countries.
 q am far from saying that tarifs
 should not be imposed where there are
 essential differences in the scale of wages
 and cost of living, but these differences
 afford no barrier to this agreement. Thus
 far have conceded, for the sake of ar
 gument that there may be some differ II ence in the price Of agricultural products.
 But 1t would be unwise to hold out the 1 ~~----~~>->---~-----@-~-~~--