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Show oo BIT il STRAIGHT RECIPROCITY BILL WASHINGTON. Juno 23 A declaration dec-laration for straight reciprocity at an Informal conference of twelve Democratic Demo-cratic senaiors willing to vote down all amendments to tho bill, an amendment amend-ment by Senator Bailey adding to the reciprocity measure all the house free list provisions except meats and grain products, a unanimous decision of tho sonate to vote Monday on the Root amendment to the wood pulp and paper pa-per schedule these were featuro In the reciprocity fight today. But there were no speeches In the senate and tho activity was confined to the offlco rooms and cloak rooms, where reciprocity was tho chief topic. Senator Bailey announced his Intention Inten-tion to press his amendmont vigorously vigorous-ly While looking forwnrd to tho addition ad-dition of some provisions to the Canadian Ca-nadian bill, he admitted that such action ac-tion would como only as tho result of a prolonged struggle. Another tariff amendmont, this one to the free list bill, was presented by Senator Clapp to add to tho free list alum, chloride of llmo, ultramarine, ultrama-rine, saline products, vormllllon reds, soda aBh, sulphur, china clay or kaolin, kao-lin, woolen felts or Jackets and brass or copper wire cloth The Informal conference was held in the offlco of Souator Smith of South Caroline. Mr. Slnlth was outspoken out-spoken In opposition to amendments, and he and John Sharp Williams united unit-ed with Senator Stone In declaring It unwise to risk reciprocity for something some-thing more which would render all uncertain. un-certain. In the capltol corridors there was discussion of a recess of congress until un-til next fall and at one time there was a well defined Teport that an agreement had been reached. Senators Sena-tors scoffed at I ho Idea. They would be glad to got nwa, but realized such a course would be impossible with reciprocity ponding Thoro was no delay in getting a general consent to voto on the Root provision before adjournment ad-journment Monday. The request for tho agrcoment was made by Senator Penrose at a time when few sonators woro In the chamber. Ho based It on the desire of Senator Root to be absent ab-sent irora the city for a few days. If Senator La Follette had been present ho probably would havo boon slow to assent to a vote at so early a dali for It is understood that he dosiros to address the senate regarding regard-ing tho nmendment beforo It Is submitted sub-mitted to tho final verdict or tho sonate son-ate In his absence no volco was raised against the proposition. Mr. Root Joined with most of the other senators In predicting the defeat of his provision. Senator Stone, who returned re-turned from Missouri today, promptly expressed his disapproval of all efforts ef-forts to amend the reciprocity bill even by the addition of free lists and reduced rates on wool. He talked with twelve or more of the reciprocity senators and said that ho had not found ono defection. "We shall stick." he said. "Do yo" suppose we are going to give up a sure thing on reciprocity for an uncertainly un-certainly on mixed reciprocity and tariff reduction? The ledge between Scylla and Charybdls Is loo narrow lor safe travel and we prefer tho broader and safer path. Besides, why should we bother our heads about tho tariff bills or the insurgents? The Democrats should shape their own tariff tar-iff measures " Mr. Simmons of North Carolina was Inclined to take the opposite view. He waB of the opinion that there would be an effort to put some of the tariff reduction measures on the reciprocity reci-procity bill as the ono sure means of getting them past the president. |