The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-09

Hs,ussion and | believe, without the knowledge of
ty of the members OF that body Ii has been brought
ma the Senate without any report and papers
sny which give Us the statistics OF the trade between
NADIA and the United States, any of these details
,Ihout which cannot clearly understand the opera
lion and effect OF the measure think very impor-
ant departure from the general revenue policy
d the country involving 10 rs consequences, direct and
oe probable and serious injury one of the greatest
interests OF the country an interest as little, or less pro-
cled than any other and quite much entitled to the
benefit of direct or incidental protection any. The bill
proposes allow the importation into the u niied States
from Canada free OF duty OF wheat and breadstus gener
ay and other products OF that COLONY upon condition thai
similar articles the product OF The United States may be
mDorted into Canada free OF duty Now. sir, there is
eay no reciprocity in all tbis the bill is delusive II
rass not dollars worth OF any of these products will
he exported from the United States to Canada. These
uroducs are common 10 both countries and both have
surplus Of them for expectation Canada is not. and
cannot be market for such products of the United
States while the direct effect of The bill is TO give her
narcipaion home market So that there will be
no equivalent afforded to us; certainly the great
erangrowing interest, which is mostly concerned in the
legislation on tins subject
has been limited that il pass this bill the naviga-
ton of the ST. Lawrence will be opened 10 OF this
we have no guaranty and, If we had, however much
the avgatOn of the 81 Lawrence may formerly have
been desired by us, II is of importance now.
Oar artificial channels OF commune supply much
better than the ST. Lawrence do And is II of so lit
lie value 10 Canada that she desires 10 obtain the full
OF of transportation II is clear that II must be OF
little or no value 10 Formerly, when Great Britain had
system of dierenal duties allowing the importation OF
colonial wheat and -four at much lower duties than those
laid upon wheat and Hour from the United States we did
export grain that colony, which passed colonial pro-
duce, and shipped 10 England without payment OF
the dderental duty But now England has changed her
policy, and established the dieren,a duty, and all tins
trade is at end My objections 10 the bill of two
characters fear that If 1t be passed, the result will be
the introduction of all foreign breadstuis INTO the United
States free OF duty We have reciprocity treaties with
many nations-with Russia, Prussia, Austria, Portugal,
Sardinia, almost all the German States and also those
OF South America Some of these, as Russia and Prus-
yaaf IN nrOIn cnoy Natr he
cal provision all these treaties is, believe, In The
words with the exception OF that with Chill The
treaty with Prussia provides, IN the 9Th article that
"No higher other duties shall be imposed on the i'm
portaon into the United States OF any article the produce
manufacture OF Prussia, and no higher other duty
shall be imposed on the importation into the Kingdom of
Pussa OF article the produce and manufacture OF the
United States than shall be payable on the like
rce being the produce or manufacture OF any other for
egn country"
Now sir, as soon as we admit Canadian brea11ufs
free of duty Russia and Prussia which produce Wheat
lower prices than we do, may and probably VIII de
mand that their breadsufs shall come into the Uni-
ted States free OF duty-and so We shall have free
trade in breadssuis with all those powers with whom
we have reciprocity treaties know II is SAID IN let
Ter from the Treasury Department which is brief, mea-
gre, and think very unsatisfactory that this result will
not be feared because Canada colony of Great Brit
AIM and not independent power But this is OF
sequence Canada is foreign country as TO US Her pro-
duce is the produce of foreign country though that
country be only of the dependencies OF great EN-
pe But ii is said that this freedom of duty is allowed
upon equivalent and, therefore, other countries who
give such equivalents. cannot clam the same freedom
from duty. But ii is manifest that If the doctrine OF
equivalents be correct Russia, Prussia and the other
powers will have nothing 10 do but TO enact that Amer-
brealstuhs may be imported INTO these domInlons
free of duty. Then the objection OF want OF equlva
Tents would fall TO the ground and should have TO
compete in markets with the vast store houses
Of the Baltic and the Black Sea Oar government has
gwen construction 10 these reciprocal provisions wor-
thy of notice
The Senate will remember that in 1891. Mr., Rives OF
Virginia, then minister TO France, negotiated with
hicbtr InI Tho
portaon OF French wines al very low duties, established
by the treaty; and that this consideration OF the
abandonment by France Of certain reclanaons which
Gle OF the treaty of cesson of Louisiana. In 1910
tered into of these reciprocal treaties with Portugal
The language OF which is precisely the with that Of
Prussla And yet. notwithstanding the equivalent IN the
French Convention. our government thought necessary
oguard against the right clam of Portugal to the adj
mission her WINES payment the duties those
imposed by The convention on the wines OF France.
Hence, IN the provso W the third article of the Portugal
treaty., II was carefully stipulated that nothing in the
general reciprocal clause which have mentioned 'shoud
be understood to interfere with the stipulation entered
into by the United States of America for special equiu-
aient IN regard to French wnes,' &c
In the treaty with Chill it is provided that any pariic.
uiar favor IN respect OF commerce and navigation grant
ed 10 any other Raon shall Immediately become common
10 the other party upon the same terms
1t seeIs 10 be enough TO state these provisions of our
treaties to show their necessary and inevitable effect In
deed the general result which apprehend and object 10
TO have been intended and desired BIZ the Treasury
Department In the letter OF the acting Secretary OF the
treasury TO the Committee on Commerce in the House,
find this language:
Were It conceded that the adoption of this in
regard to Canada colony Of Great Bdain by reciproca
legislation would render necessary that should grant
the same privileges on the terms several other
IONS 10 their colonies during the periods embraced in
certain treaties with tem the advantages of such recpro
cal Introduction of articles fee of duly, similar
enactments, with such countries colonies would in all
sncn highly advantageous the United ates
aud, indeed the law similar hraseology, mgh be safe
~ and geously extended il the CON n,tee though
proper SO as TO embrace IN similar reciprocal enacnen
as 10 all these arriccs, the terms, all the
the world !"
From this il that the Treasury Department thinks
At would be adv antageous TO throw open ports and
markets 10 all the wheat countries of the world
his bill therefore. may be considered the first
nent towards The entire withdrawal of all Incl.
dental protection 10 the grain growers of the United
Saes, while other great interests retain the protection
which the tariff of 1916 gives them. do not think the
people interested the agriculture OF the country will be
satisfied with this. Ii they not TO have equality
OF Dement'S they will insist upon equality OF another
sort Benefits not generally must be generally with
drawn and other interests must abandon the protection
gwen to them.
Certainly there is equivalent offered By this meas
nre TO the agricultural interest Whatever benefit Is to
be derived from it will inure to the mers of northern
New York, to northern railroads and canals, and 10
northern shippers and manufacturers; and 10 them the
Eoh must be much smaller than the injury 10 the agri-
cultural class do not desire sir, TO force up the price
OF wheat by partial legislation But, surely, in a
twenty-v millions Of bushels of wheat beyond all the
wants OF our ordinary consumption, we have right TO
ask that we may enjoy home market without compe-
uuon from other countries terms such apply to
other great interest of the country.
Before the act OF 1916 the duty wheat specific
OF 20 per cent, which ordinarily makes duty of about
IA or 10 per bushe on Canadian wheat the ave.