New-York tribune., 1911-01-29
CONGRESSMAN SEE NEW
LIGHT ON RECIPROCITY
Danger of Special Session Sends
Many Rushing to the
White House.
PRESIDENT STANDS FIRM
Expects Legislators to Do Their
Duty Mccall Introduces
Reciprocity Bill in
House.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau. !


washington. Jan. 2s.-That they are
courting the danger Of special session
If Congress 10 consider the Canadian
reciprocity agreement suddenly davned
on some of the members Of Congress
who are intensely opposed n that prop
osition to-day. and the idea caused con-
sternation among them. They had
thought that il they could succeed In
crcwding the closing hours of the short
session with business Of an imperative
character they could at least postpone
until next year the evil day when they
must vote on Canadian reciprocity. But
once the suggestion was made TO them
that i'm view of the Presidents extreme
anxiety to have this matter acted on. 1t
was possible he would decide to summon
Congress in special session, they became
anic-stricken. and flocked 10 the White
House to ascertain the Presidents atu-
tude
Their efforts in that direction proved
fruitless. Mr.. Taft told them he could
perceive no reason why Congress could
not act at this session If it desired to do
so: that he was. in fact. confident that
Congress would soon come to appreciate
the necessity Of so doing. and that, as he
expected Congress to do its duty, there
was no occasion a. this time to consider
the question Of a special session. He
intimated that this was = bridge which
could be crossed when he came 20 II. but
sweeflv impressed on his anxious inter
rogators his confidence that they would
save him the necessity Of crossing any
such bridge.
Hal. Controls in Senate.
Senator Hale. who Is determined
opponent Of the agreement. IS practically
I'm control Of the situs tion I'm tho Senate
He can either bring the regular appro-
celebrity which will permit Of their being
disposed of in time 10 allow the Senate
70 vote on the reciprocity agreement or
he can hold them back until the closing
hours and then declare that there is no
time 10 consider anything else. Yester-
dov. when the question of holding a ses-
sion to-day came up. Mr.. Hale pointed
out that as no appropriation bill was
ready for consideration no time would
he lost by adjournment until Monday.
and Senator Carter added that as many
members had committee meetings to at
tend to-day II would really save tine TO
adjourn over. So there was no session
to-day. And there was only one commit
tee meeting. Once he realizes that there
is actually grave danger Of a special ses-
sion Mr.. Hale may change his policy. and
then again he may not. Certain IL is that
he is not confding his plans. or. indeed,
ANYTHING but his extreme indignation and
disgust with the course Of the President
to his colleagues.
Some members Of Congress expressed
great indignation because the President
would not take them into his confidence
and saw whether or not he would call a
enecial session If no action was taken on
the reciprocity agreement at this time
Rut the fact is that the President does
not know himself II will depend largely
on circumstances. and AS he believes II
,s the duty OF both houses Of Congress
to act on the agreement at this session,
be sees no reason why he should be asked
IN decide at this time. II the House should
pass the necessary resolution. which was
introduced to-day by Representative Nc
call. and the Senate should seek TO
dodge by the methods indicated. the dis
posjtion Of the President to call Con-
eress back in special session would be