The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-13
Our Washington Correspondence.

WASHINGTON Jan Z, 1898.
-4ctioa ofte Committee on Commerce, ,rih reference
to Reciprocity Coal and LAUNDERING Interests
Duty Leried on Timber Exported through Ne,c
Brunswick - Unequal Operation of the Practice on
The Citisens Of Maine
The Committee on Commerce are busily engaged
with the bill regulating the trade with the British
provinces and in relation to the sheries but there
are conflicting interests to be consulted and propt
ated-among these is that of the coal companies and
the lumberers of Maine, both OF which apprehen
sive of competition.
It strikes me that the removal of the duty on coal
would not prove so injurious to capitalists engaged in
raising that article is apprehended as there is at
present duty levied on all coal mined in Nova
Scotia which, believe is at the rate of dollar and
a half per chaldron, which, believe, is about ton
and third, and is in itself protection OF American
interests, particularly when is recoected that the
carving trade between the British provinces and the
United States is subjected to a long and dangerous
navigation, and Cape Breton COAL which is superior
to the Pictou cannot be sold even at Halifax, and
pay anything to the carrier at less than five dollars
per chaldron,
with reference to the supplying of Canada, con-
ceve that the removal of the duty here would also
produce injurious effect, as English coal is at pre-
sent brought out by ships ballast for the supply Of
the lower province, and is sold cheapy a. four dol
lars per chaldron in the summer time; and the ey-
pense Of getting it to the upper province where it IS
not generally used, except at Toronto and Hamilton,
and some minor ports on Lake Ontario, would give
the preference to coal shipped from Cleveland, and
which at present has to pay the provincial duty.
In relation to the numbering interests OF Maine,
the timber which is shipped down the St John, is
subject to what consider an unfair duty, particu-
larry with reference to such as is shipped to other
parts of the American territory, and which might he
removed by negotiation, the lumberman not only
paying the stumpage duty in Maine, but also the
export duty at the port Of St. John, which has been
substituted since the Ashburton treaty, for the
stumpage duty formerly paid in New Brunswick.
As the bill originally passed the Provincial Legis-
lature, timber coming down the st. John from the
State of Maine was exempted from this duty, when
destined for any other part of the United States; but
was returned with an ntmation, that if this exemp
ton were withdrawn, the bill would receive the royal
assent This was gladly acceded to, and the conse.
quence is, that large proportion Of the revenue of
the province has subsequently been derived from the
duty levied on American timber.
Remonstrance was made some time since, by the
American Minister in London, against this exacton,
and the reply was, that as the terms OF the treaty
provided that American produce coming down the
st. John should be treated British produce, and
NAV be shipped to England as SUCH it was liable to
the same transit duty, and the subject was dropped
The stumpage duty that is paid in Maine Is dollar
and half per ton and the export duty at st. John
! believe is the same both OF which are paid by the
Maine lumberers, and only one by those of New
Brunswick, who have decided advantage IN com
peting with the former in England, and which they
would also have in the United States were the duty
on importation removed unless there were recpro-
cal action in that province.
This must however he the subject Of negoti. ton
between the two governments Of Great Britain and
the United States. The only difficulty in the way is
the provincial act which, like that Of Nova Scotia
relative to the fisheries, cannot be abrogated without
the consent OF the local legislature. An act OF Par
lament however, consequent upon treaty, would
override this; but in the present temper OF the colo
MES, the British ministry might not feel disposed to
resort to such IT, therefore, the people Of
New Brunswick desire reciprocity, they could have
no objections to aboshng duty which, in fairness,
ought never 10 have been levied. II does not follow
that the people Of Maine would be satisfied with this
concession; indeed, from conversation have had
with members from that quarter do not think they
would; but il would remove one obstacle, at least IN
the way of liberal and enlightened legislation which
is opposed to the present protective system in favor
Of class interests that presses 50 heavily on the bulk
OF the community.
Reciproccal trade with Canada and the question
Of the fisheries will both understand, be embraced
in the same bill, which viii be reported from the
Committee ON Commerce. Ms.