The Washington times., 1912-06-10
HOUSE IN UPROAR
OVER STEEL BILL
AND RECIPROCITY
Underwood Stirs Up Spirit.
ed Debate by Calling
Up Measure.

The House witnessed a rough and
tumble debate today when Congress
man Underwood called up the steel
bill. as amfnded in the Senate by the
insertion of rider, repeating the
Canadian reciprocity agreement
Republican and Democratic wheel
horses pranced up and down the aisle
and thrashed over again the Canadian
reciprocity fight, bringing in the
! names of President Taft and COL
onel Roosevelt every few moments
Democratic orators charged that the
standpat Senators had tackled Canadian
| reciprocity on the steel bill, knowing
full we'll that the President would veto
II rather than repeal the Canadian
agreement Congressman Kitchin of
South Carolina waved Washington
morning newspaper in his hand, say
| ing:
Here is an Administration organ. an
organ Of the standpatters, and Il ex-
posed this plot to load down these tariff
biils PHI; with a reciprocity rider SO Taft
insurgents all are afraid to send the
steel bill to the President without this
rider, because he might sign It. and It
would put you in the Roosevelt-Taf
| row about the Steel trust"
Uncle Joe" Cannon parleyed with
| Mr.. Underwood to. ascertain II the
latter knew the President would sign
| the bill without the rider repeating
didn't know
You are a Republican, do you
| joe"
Mr.. Cannon waved his arms. stood
on tiptoe, and cavorted up and down
the aisle. a she answered:
with the help OF God, will per-
| form my duty at this end of the Capt.
n lnt Nl,A
at the White House" Uncle Joe"
charged the Democrats with revising
the tariff by hop-sklp-and- jump meth
DDS. and of playing the demagogue at
| all times.
Debate on Reciprocity.
| The debate on the Canadian reci-
procity rider to the steel bill deveI-
| oped into free-for-all partisan dis
cussion and revived the arguments
made year ago for and against the
measure.
| Congressman Underwood, the ma
jority leader, dramatically challenged
Congressman Lenroot to prove his
statement that the President was
taking the back track on Canadian
| reciprocity"
| Men have come to me as chairman
or the Ways and Means Committee
which started this legislation and
have started to talk of the Presidents
reversing his position. / have told
| them that II the President Is willing
! to wipe reciprocity off the statute
| books, let him send message to
Congress. l have seen no message
| has reversed himself.
Il challenge the gentlemans statement
that the President is taking the back
track and Is ready to repeal this Ca
| madam reciprocity agreement. Ir We
should agree to this Senate amendment,
which Is not germane to this steel bill.
we invite veto by the President of
| the steel bill. II would be certain. 1t
would make the enactment OF this bill
| into law absolutely impossible.
Would Result In Veto.
Those members on the Republican
| side OF the House who vote for the Len
| root amendment to concur in a repeal
Of the reciprocity agreement know, as
well as ! know. that their votes are
| against a revision of the steel schedule,
for with this rider on the steel bill the
President would assuredly veto it. You
cannot expect the President to sign
u bill repeating reciprocity.
You say reciprocity is dead. If dead,
why put 1t on this hill?"
The Democratic side of the House
Cneered repeatedly as Mr., Underwood
proceeded, and occasionally an enthu-
sastic Democrat in the galleries joined
| in.
Mr.. Underwood charged the opponents
| of reciprocity with willingness to vote
! for tariff bills reducing the duties on
| the industries of other members, but
not of their own industries.
No man can say shouted the ma
! jority leader, amid great applause,
| that | have failed to vote for tariff
| legislation removing the high duties
| from the industries of my constituent
| CeS.
He Wants Consistency.
IF you are willing to vote for free
agricultural implements for the farmer
of the Northwest. why should YOU deny
| the man in the city cheaper bread?" de-
marded Mr.. Underwood.
Congressman Payne, ranking member
of the Ways and Means Committee, said
| that reciprocity was dead why not
| get this dead legislation off the sta tute
| books" he asked. and thereby pave
the way for reciprocal agreement of
some other kind in the future?"
"lf we concur in this Senate amend
ment," retorted Mr.. Underwood, we
eliminate all chance for further recip-
reciprocity bill carries the only authority
for the President to continue negotia-
tions TO bring ABOUT additional rect
| procity."
He put this Canadian reciprocity
| agreement throughout without any
| law" answered Mr.. Payne
|