The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-02
Trade with British America-A New Bill.

From the Times.
The bill to regulate trade with the British
North American Provinces, printed at length in
our columns on Wednesday, affords ground for
hoping that the Committee of Ways and Means
are not unmndtul of the embarrassment with
which the country is threatened as a conse-
quence of the sudden breaking Off of the Reel
procity negotiation.
The scope Of the measure as now submitted is
not more comprehensive than that OF the memo
randum with which the Committee repeled the
Provincial overtures. In its details, however q
decided improvement is observable. Prohibit
tory duties have been in many instances eX-
changed for duties which, though yet high, are
by comparison favorable; and the dd UQtOrenI
principle has been adopted extensively, instead
OF uniform series of specific duties. The free
list proposed remains absuIdly small embracing
but i've articles only one OF which is exported
by Canada. The duties to be levied upon lumber
are no longer extravagant, and are graduated
not uniustly. Whatever be their amount they
will be paid by the American consumer tor the
superiority OF the Canadian article renders its
admission into our market indispensable. In a
few cases, as our mercantile rea lers have no
doubt observed, prohIbitory rates are adhered
TO, and in yet Others reduction may be urged,
without forgetting what is due to our own
producers. f--
For manufactures the Committee make no
our markets to products of Provincial industry
not embraced within the present schedule in
consideration OF our manufactures being ad-
mitted into the Provinces ON equitable terms?
By such an arrangement one OF the Oldest OBJ
lections to the expiring treaty would be OBJ
viated.
In the enumeration of equivalents which form
the proViso appended 10 the bill, we discover
two omissions, both important, and both the
more notable because indicated by the original
memol andum OF the Provincial delegates. We
allude to the expressed readiness of Canada to
assimilate her patent laws to those of the United
States, and also to adapt her excise duties upon
beer, spirits, and tobacco 10 the United States
standard, with the view OF preventing Illicit
trade. Did the Comm ttee overlook these pro-
posed concessions! They seem to us sufficiently
liberal AID important not only to call for notice.
butto Justify correspondmgly liberal concessions
! IN return.
But we will not attempt to discuss with mi.
nutenCss the features OF the measure as it
stands, or to judge of the relative fitness of par
| ticular duties which it is proposed 20 levy on
Provincial products. The chief value of the bill
in lis present shape We take to be the evidence
1t affords OF greater willingness ON the part of
! the committee to entert ain the question OF re-
c'procal trade in spirit worthy OF its import.
ance. In looking at the terms OF the proposition
! made by the representatives of the Provinces
We do not suppose that the scale OF duties draft.
| ed by the committee will be accepted without
| material reduction on almost every item. But
the subject is at least reopened. There is pos
blOlillJ lndl n6ROIldLlons Hty De resumed while
there is yet Uime to avert the complications
incident to the threatening aspect OF the fishery
question.
II is 70 be hoped that the Wavs and Means
Committee will consider the measure ia the
| light OF basis for discussion and negotiation,
rather than OF a scheme to which they are ire.
vocably committed. In the latter sense, we APP
prehend that il will be practically imperative,
since In the main it differs SO widely from the
| Provincial plan. As the ground work of intelli-
gent and friendly deliberation, it may be accept.
able, and in this sense chiefly we consider ii
! valuable. .0l .H'