The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-06
Has Not Over Stepped
Bounds in Fight for
hecir rocity.
SENATOR BURTON
MAKES DEFEN Sc
Should President Not Go Before
People in Behalf Of Measures
He Would Not Be Leader
OF Party or Take High
Place in Public
Attention.

Washington, d. c.. July 5.-The right
Of President TAFT to negotiate the Ca
madam reciprocity agreement. TO send
1t Ia completed form 10 Congress for
enactment. ana TO defend and advocate
it in stump speeches" throughout the
country, was asserted in the Senate to-
day by Senator Burton. OF ohio. at the
conclusion of ar important speech in
support and explanation of the reel
proci,y bill.
of io-day's session to sit daily at ii
o'clock, and it Is expected that the ses-
hions Will continue until 6 O'Clock.
Chairman Penrose. of the Finance
Committee. advocated daily sessions
at 10 o'clock. bu, the Democrats who
favor the reciprocity bill feared this
would be taken as move to force
hasty action and would result in bitter
feeling.
Senator Burton's speech followed crit
!cism by Senator Cummins of Iowa.
Republican Insurgent, earlier in the
day of the speech made BY President
Taft yesterday ct indianapolis. SEN
ator Cummins said ne believed IT was
better for the President 10 try to mold
opinion by appealing to the people in
speeches than for him to use the power
of the Presidents office to pass the
bill through Congress. but he criticized
vigorously the indianapolis speech. in
which the President said the Canadian
agreement would probably not reduce
the cost of living.
Is His Clear Right.
Some degree OF censure has been
visited upon the administration for
sending in this agreement" said SEN
ator Burton ut is the clear right OF
the President. under the Constitution.
to make communications and recon-
mendatiors TO Congress. 1t is his right
also 10 express on the stump. in what
ever terms he may choose. his advocacy
OF certain line OF policy.
Not only President Taft but his
predecessor and other Presidents, have
made free 10 advocate with no uncer-
tain sound national policies recommend
ed by them in messages. Otherwise
the President would neither be the
leader OF his party nor occupy that
PltCe IN the phplc attention which
the public demands Of him.
20: course. IT is for the Senate or
the House TO accept. reject or amend
any proposition tina, he may send TO
Congress"
Senator Burton urged that the agree
meut. Notwithstanding the power of
Congress 10 change It, be passed with
out amendment. He said II undoubt-
edly did not please every body: that IL
proba bly, had satisfied neither Presi-
dent Taft nor the Canadian commits
s!onArs when IL was completed
But it is here" said Senator Bur
ton. land L strongly urge that IL be
adopted without change. Any modi-
fcation renders a situation now deli
cate more intricate and liable of fall
ure"
Mr.. Burton emphasized that those
who based their objections 10 the agree
ment on the ground that the farmer
would suffer injury were virtually
lighting for higher duties for the farm
err. He said no injury to the farmer
could follow the removal OF duties on
farm porducts except in certain local.
tiles along the border. To keen the
duties at the present figure. he said
would be to place the consumer at the
mercy of a short market and rising
prices when the time arrived tha;
American production does not equai
American consumption.