The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-07-28

?
most bitter fight for legislation waged
by an administration in many years
came to a close today, when the Can
addition reciprocity bill, an issue be-
fore two sessions of congress, will be
passed by the senate by a decisive
vote.
That at least sixty senators out of a
total membership of ninety-one will
vote in favor of the measure was pre-
dicted last night by senators of both
lparties. This will include all but four
or five of the democrats and also will
include a great proportion of the So
called "stalwart" republicans. Oppos-
ed to the bill will be majority of the
Republican insurgents" who come
from northwestern states, few of the
republican regulars" and a handful
of democrats.
For time Friday the senate lead
ers hoped they might get the bill to
the president before he departs for
Beverly today, but visit by Sen
ators Penrose and Crane to Speaker
Clark of the house soon dispelled this
expectation, as the speaker explained
it would be impossible to hold the
house in session long enough to re-
ceive the measure.
| fho bA,,cn ~
Wednesday the bill cannot be received
until the latter date.
The measure has not been and un-
doubtedly will not be changed in any
respect by the senate, and when it is
signed by the speaker and the vice
president it will be dispatched to the
president.
Senator La Toilette featured in the
speechmaking Friday with vigorous
arraignment of President Taft and the
1bill He attacked the democrats of
the senate on the ground that they
were deliberately trying to carry the
tariff issue over to the next campaign
for political purposes, and pointed out
that they had consistently voted down
amendments proposing general tariff
reductions. Their excuse, he said, had
been that the president would not sign
the reciprocity bill if it was encum-
bered with any general tariff amend
ments. 4 .r
Talk about his vetoing the reci-
proeity bill with a revision of the
woolen schedule added to it as an
amendment" said LaFollette, "is pre-
posterous. You might as well expect
a drowning man to relinquish his hold
hold upon life preserver.
you know that the president has
become enamored of this so-called
Canadian reciprocity. He Is led to
believe that he has struck at last, after
running the entire gamut, a popular
chord, and it is the one thing now
upon which ne relies to restore his
administration to favor
Several amendments to the reci
'proeity bin were defeated, including
those by Mr.. Bristow, to reduce duties
on lead bullion and lead paints and
similar lead products, and by Mr..
Townsend for an alliance with Canada
to enlarge the st. Lawrence water
ways. .sv - ..~~
Senator Smith Of Michigan, attack
ing the bin, declared Canada would
not be the only menace to American
industries He said British capital in
great abundance is waiting to be pour
ed into Canada when the reciprocity
agreement is ratified and that from
the advantageous ground across the
golden border" British industries will
flood this country with competitive
goods.
There are twenty-five amendments
to the measure to be acted upon be-
fore the final vote on the passage of
the bill. Many of these propose to
fix general tariff changes to the agree
ment. President Taft has insisted
that any changes of this character
threaten the defeat of the entire reci-
proeity arrangement with Canada.
The pending amendments include the
La Toilette amendments to the cotton
and woolen schedules; the Nelson
amendments restoring half the duty
on agricultural products; the Clapp
amendments enlarging the free list
and removing all restrictions on the
importation Of paper; amendments by
Senators Crawford and Gore reducing
the duty on fresh meats; and several
similar amendments by Senator Cum
Minis. Bristow and others.
Party lines have disappeared in the
consideration of the bill. Tariff afiilia-
tions to outward appearances have
been completely changed. President