The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1911-04-07
MESSAGE IS BRIEF
TAFT COMMUNICATES HIS IDEAS
ON RECIPROCITY TO THE
SPECIAL SESSION.
"A COMMERCIAL PROPOSITION"
Believes That General Sentiment OF
Both American and Canadian
People Desire Mutual In
crease in Trade.

Washington, April 5. - President
Taft's message to the special session
of Congress was read in both Houses.
The message follows: ITO the Sem
ate and House of Representatives Il
transmitted to the SiXty-first Congress
on January last, the text OF the reel
procity trade agreement which had
been negotiated under my direction by
the Secretary of State with the repre-
sentatives of the Dominion of Canada.
This agreement was the contamination
of earnest efforts extending over a
period of nearly year, on the part OF
both Governments to effect trade ar
,rangement which supplementlng as
it did, the amicable settlement of
various questions of a diplomatic and
political character that had been
reached would mutually promote COM
merce and would strengthen the friend
ly relations now existing"
The agreement in it's intent and in
it's terms was purely economic and
commercial. While the general sub
ject was under discussion by the COM
missioners, l felt assured that the
sentiment of the people of the United
States was such that they would well
come a measure which would result in
the increase of trade on both sides OF
the boundary line, would open up the
reserve productive resources of Can
sumers on advantageous conditions
and at the same time offer broader
outlet for the excess products of our
farms and many of our industries.
Details regarding a negotiation of
this kind necessarily could not be made
public while the conferences were
pending. However, the full text of the
agreement with the accompanying cor
respondence and data explaining both
its purpose and it's scope became
known to the people. Throughout the
message transmitted to congress it was
Immediately apparent that the ripened
fruits of the careful labors of the COM
missioners met with widespread ap-
prevail.
This approval has been strength
ened by further consideration of the
terms of the agreement in all their
particulars. The volume of support
which has developed shows that its
broadly national scope is fully appre-
ciated and is responsive to the popu-
lar will The House of Representa-.
tives of the Sixty-First Congress, after
the failure of the arrangement with
all the details in regard to the diff
ferent provisions had been before it
as they were before the American
people, passed a bill affirming the
agreement as negotiated and as
transmitted to congress. This meas
ure failed of action in the Senate.
In my transmitting message of the
26th of January, fully set forth the
phasized it's appropriateness and nee.
essity as response to the mutual
needs of the people of the two coun
tries as we'll as it's common advan.
tages.
1 now lay that message and the
rally part of the present message,
before the Sixty-Second Congress and
again invite earnest attention to the
considerations therein expressed.
am constrained in Difference to pop.
ular sentiment and with a realizing
sense of my duty to the great masses
of our people whose welfare is in
volved to urge upon your considera.
ton early action on this agreement
In concluding the negotiations the
representatives of the two countries
bound themselves to use their utmost
efforts to bring about the tariff chan
ges provided for in the agreement by
concurrent legislation at Washington
and Ottawa. 1 have felt it my duty,
therefore, not to acquiesce in relega-
ton of action until the opening of the
Congress in December, but to use my
constitutional prerogative and con-
woke the Sixty-Second Congress in eX-
ira session in order that there shall
be no break of continuity in consid-
ering and acting upon this most i'm
portant subject.
(Signed) WILLIAM H. TAFT.