New-York tribune., 1912-06-01
SENATE THWARTS HOUSE
Tacks Reciprocity Repeal to
Democratic Steel Bill.
MAJORITY MAY LET IT DIE
Leaders of Lower Body Think
Upper Branch Is "Bluffing,'
but Are Not Sure.
From Tn. Tribune Bureau

Washington, May 3l-By inserting In the
steel bill an amendment repeating the
Canadian reciprocity agreement the SEN
ate has confounded the Democrats OF the
House. The majority members OF the
WAYS and Means Committee will meet in
formally" tomorrow to determine what Is
to be done to extricate the House from Its
dilemma.
The present temper OF the Democrats or
the Ways and Means Committee is 10
stand pat and TO attempt to make the
Senate yield on It's Canadian reciprocity
and wood pulp rider. Rather than see the
steel bill go to the President In the shape
IL left the Senate the Democrats incline to
the belief that steel revision, for the po-
litical purposes of the Democratic House.
should die In conference. Several members
of the committee expressed to-day the firm
conviction that the House should refuse To
accept the Senate amendment Repre-
sentative Underwood said, however. that
ne had not made up his mind.
The average opinion among the Demo
Gratis of the committee seems TO be that
it would be political blunder to accept
the reciprocity amendment. thus affording
President Taft another Legitimate reason
FOR the veto of the steel bill. A member
Of the committee said Tonight
Reciprocity is entirely foreign TO the
steel schedule. The Senate insurgents
have been insisting on sched edule-by-sched-
ue revision of the tariff. and II certainly
cannot be claimed that the Insertion OF
such an amendment IL that sort OF revision.
Is II reasonable to suppose that the Presi-
dent will sign a steel bill incidentally re-
pealing the Canadian reciprocity agreement
AfrIs for E..gtn
all through his administration? And the
Democrats helped TO pass the reciprocity
bill.
II the House accepts repeal of reci-
procity. il only places weapon In the
hands Of tho President. who can say that
he refuses to sign steel Dill because II
contains reputation OF one o, ms poiiI- pi
Cies as we'll as our own II would De rooI-
ish politically for the House TO agree 10
any such proposition
The present purpose Of the roub'e"
Democrats is to let the steel bill go by
default rather than send IT to the Presi-
dent with the reciprocity rider. There ~
considerable hope among the Democrats
however that the Senate may b' only
''blufiing" and that the reciprocity and Woon
pulp riders may be- stricken out in confer
ence The Democrats would then )oyousy
hail another opportunity 10 embarrass tn'
President by sending 20 the White hous'
"A steel bill which received serious consid-
Grafton In neither branch Of Congress ana
which was prepared without the aid OF tn
scientific data gathered by the Tariff board.
Representative Steenerson. Of Minnesota.
presented a petition In the House to-day
signed by 3l.O7s farmers who farm ASK
ing for the repeal Of the reciprocity DILL
lest Canada AT some time accept its terinS.
Representative Good. OF Iowa. suggested
II be passed over 20 the Democratic mem
bcrs 10 sign.
Better send i, to President Taft" sus-
gcsted Representative Lobcck. Of Ne
bra ska
Representative Gudger. OF North caro-
lima. wanted 10 know II the petition was
signed before or after Colonel Roosevelt
changed his mind"
Mr. Steenerson said he was very proud
Colonel Roosevelt had changed his mind.
and only wished the Democrats would do
likewise