The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-17


our financial history. The essential principle at
stake--the protection of our industry TO the
extent of the internal duties It IS compelled to
pay-being conceded in behalf OF the Provinces,
all that remains to be considered, at this stage
Of the question, is the element OF the revenue.
And the plan offered seems to meet this point
squarey; firstly, by imposing wholesome check
upon smueglingi secondly, by yielding an addi-
ton to our customs income, to an extent inn
portant even with the present trade, and certain
to be enhanced immensely, on the hypothesis
that the future growth OF reciprocal trade with
the Provinces will at least equal the ratio at
tanned during the past ten years
The expectations entertained in reference to
tho reception to be given TO this proposition by
the Committee were the more sanguine and
proper, because it had been understood that at
the several conferences held by the delegates
with the Committee, the latter body represented
their man object to be the enhancement of the
national revenue. AS q stenographic report OF
these conferences is extant, our remark, II erro-
neous, admits OF easy correction. 1t comes TO
us, however, from a source not likely to be mis-
informed; and, assuming it TO be accurate, it
renjers the subsequent action of tie Committee
wholly 1neXphcable.
The Committee did not accept the memoran-
dun submitted to them, either in form or sub
stance. Instead OF discussing its terms, and set
ting forth reasons for their acceptance, rejection,
or amendment, they drafted the following coun-
ter-memorandum, the details of which SAVIOR of
Japan rather than of Washington
In response to the memorandum of the Hon. Mr.
0hu ana MS associates, Hon. Mr. Smith, Hon. Mr..
Henry, and Hon. MT. Howland, the Committee of
Ways and Means, with the approval of the Secre.
tary ofthe Treasury, are prepared to recommend to
the House OF Representatives, for their adoption,
law providing for tho continuance of some OF the
measures embraced in the Reciprocity Treaty soon
to expire, viz :-For the and privileges enjoyed
now under said treaty in the waters of Lake Mich-
gan, provided the same rights and p rivileges are
conceded to the citizens of the United States by
Canada in the waters of the st. Lawrence and its
canals as are enjoyed by British subjects, without
discrimination as to tolls, and charging rates pro-
portOned 10 anadistance; Also for the free transit
OF goods, wares, and merchandise in bond, under
proper regulations by railroad across the territory of
the United States to ard from Portland and the
Canada line; provided equal privileges shall be
ceded TO the United States from Windsor Port
Sarna or other Western points of departure to Buff
talo or OgdensburR or anytother points Eastward,
and that the free ports established the Provinces
shall be abolished also that the bountles now given
to American fishermen shall be repealed and duties
not higher imposed upon fish than those mentioned
in Schedule A. providing that all the right of fishing
near the shores existing under the treaty heretofore
mentioned shall be granted and conceded by the
United States TO the Provinces and by the Provinces
to the United etates.
also further proposed that the following list of
articles shall be mutually free viz =: Burr mistOnes
unwIought; cotton and linen rags, frewood grind
stones, rough or unfinished; gypsum or plaster,
ground.
SCHEDULE A -Fish-Mackere one dollar and
fifty cents per barrel herring, plcRled saIted, one
dollar per barrel; salmon dollars and fifty cents
per bafrei shad, two dollars per barrel all other
fish, picked one dollar and fifty cents per barrel,
amy sS m % & a
upon similar fish in barrels. All oher fish one-half
.As to the duties which will be proposed upon the
other articles included in the treaty, the following
submitted, viz. .:-Animas, living, or all sorts,
twenty per cent. ad valorem; apples ard garden
fruit and vegetables ten per cent ad valorem; bar
ley, 10 cents per bushe; beans, except vanilla and
castor OIL 80 cents per bushel; beef cent per
pound; buckwheat, 10 cents per bushel; butter,
cents per pound; cheese, cents per pound; corn,
Indian, ana oats, 10 cents per bushe; corn meal,
DitumnOuS, bO cents ton: all other coal, "a
cents per ton; flour, 20 per cent al vaorem; hams,
2 cents per pOu9d: hay, 81 per ton; hides,
pound; lumber, pine, round or log, 81 30 per
one thousand feet; pine, sawed or hewn, 50 80
grooved or finished 25 per cent al vaIorem; spruce
and hemlock, sawed or hewn, 81 per one thousand
s sRnSs S
vaorem shnges, 20 per cent. ad valOrem; all other
lumber Of black NaInut, chestnut bass white wood,
yaorem; If planed, tongued, and grooved, or
finished, 20 per cent ad vaorem ores, ten per cent
ad valorem; peas 25 cents per bushel: pork, cent
per pound; potatoes, 10 cents per bushe; seed,
timothy and clover 20 per cent. ad valOrem; trees
plant and shrub, ornamental and fruit 10 per cent:
ad yalorem; tallow, cents per pound; wheat, 20
cents per bushel."
1t will be observed that the Committee, whose
chief aim has been declared to be the protection
and, as lar as possible, the Improvement OF the
national revenue, altogether ignore the propo sal
to adjust the Canadian excise duties on a stand.
ard to be agreed upon, and in other respects to
prevent illicit trade. Ordinary persons see in
these points substantial concessions and advan-
tages The Committee of Ways and Means, on
the other hand, do not deem them worthy
OF passing notice. The intellieible and easily
applied principle which 1t is proposed to accept
to meet the eXceptionable circumstances at
present existing III this country, is disregarded
IN the same manner; and in its place we have q
schedule OF duties which should secure its
author the honors and emoluments appertalning
TO Councillor OF State in the enlightened EN-
piro OF Japan.
The list Of articles which the Committee lbe-
rally placed upon the free list curiosity, con-
sidering the circumstance IN which it originates,
and the parties for whose acceptance 1t is de-
signed. Let there be no mistake about it. The
Committee are prepared TO agree that tye arti-
cles-positively five !--''shall be mutually tree.'
And these five articles ars-what think you
Burr millstones, unwrought; rags, hrewood,
rough grindstones, gypsum! or which but one
is imported from Canada, and that in small
qunntltjes-we mean frewood. His Bxcellency
the Asiatic Tycoon may profit by this lesson IN
exelusiveness. On this continent, we fear, II
will be laughed at irreyerently.
And the duties which the Committee desire
for application to other articles have been evi-
IDENTIFY framed according to the fancy OF pro-
hibitonists of the strictest sect They are i'll
assorted, arbitrary, crude, prohibitory. By way
OF illustration, we have but 10 refer to the
| items OF wheat. -four and lumber. While the
| tax on wheat is to be twenty cents per bushel,
that on flour is twenty-five per cent. dd Udlorern;
and the tax on lumber, though not oppressive
for the higher qualities, will exclude the common
| quality from the market.
On such basis it is clear that no negotiation
| could proceed. And the fair inference from the
whole case is that the Committee purPosely, and
with view to some ioregone conclusion, desired
| to break off negotiation and leave the question
\ OF reciprocity TO its fate
| AS the question now stands, therefore, in one
| month from the present date the trade between
| this country and the provinces, amounting in
| 1854 to siXty-eight millions of dollars, will be