Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-02
.g.lRD coal LEGISLtToO<.
Is. +. Chronicle

The sheer 1nhDiiltS III th0 iic" 'i"t'
,no OF the Democrat party to prapple
in a practical and common sense man
mar with ID 8 tariff problem IL aptly illus
tratsd by ihs proviso embodied II the
Norrison bill in connection with the
u,opos.d Removal Of the duty on coal.
ihis proyiso states that the withdrawal
Of the 10 cents per ton duty shall not
sppy to the coal imported from the DO
rln'on Of Canada until that Govern.
man, shall have exempted from the pay =
meut of duty all GOAL imported into that
eouptry from the United States IT,,
instead of being conditional, the provi-
20 had been made absolute. II would
have bit the nail exactly on the head:
And Colonel Morrison. instead of blum
derpp Oh the subject of Canadian re-
ciprocitv. would have his name linked
With much needed tariff reform which
sooner or later M st become a law. 1t
safe to say that until the United States
adopts the English gospel of free trade,
pure and simple. Dominion GOAL will
continue b. add to our revenue, and
that the spectacle of British Columbia
and Washington Territory competing
on equal terms in the San Francisco
market will not be witnessed until these
great aud iron rivals both rank as States
Of the Union. To place them on the
ame level now would be to build mp
Btitsh Columbia, with her cheap Mon
col labor, at the expense Of American
citlzens-a fair illustration of the bless
ings OF free trade reciprocity. There
should be nothing, however, to prevent
lhs free entrance OF English. Scotch.
Nelsh. Australian or thsr coal shipped
ifQm distant parts OF the world, since
u IA hot sent to this country for the
purpose Ut competition, and the guam
MY would not be materially increased
0, The emission OF the duty, which in
this instance is levied chiefly at the OK
pensS Of the American farmer. Ii NAV
10 assumed that coal Is all the higher
% this coast because of the ~ cents a
ton duty. But II does not fol uw from
tnls that British Columbia. through her
iessened power M u competitor. docs
noI lose the whole amount OF the duty.
ihis Is case where the loss may. and
10 doubt does. fall on both the producer
aud the consumer. But what the con
sun'sr loses California. aS y whole. gains
through her Increased trade with Wash
'lg'on Territory. the net gain To the
countfy being the Increased prosperity
VI the latter and the amount OF duty
collected from British Columbia. The
a'ns rule applies 10 Nova Scotia and
.ee New England consumer. Their loss
"s gam to the United States revenue
Anu 10 tle inuustry of the Eastern States
whole. But the opposite rule ap-
passt' tae Canadian duty on American
eoai. sace this falls exclusively on the
canadian consumer and does not affect
we Lasiern States pro- ucer III any wav.
america only sells To Canada where she
ass' oy means of her geograp phical posi-
nson' full monopoly of the trade.
ueaee ontario Has To pay the price
AAeo on Inc American aide. with the full
Ssoi auty and transportation added
90 ,eS'fos Nova Scotia, the duty merely
snao'es her to be little more exactlnr
u Tue Canadian territory which has al
.n Hs remained under her control. ANY
sSHsu oenefit To the United States
s removal of the Canadian duty
i meteiore To nothing more than an
puueht pretenslon. Take off your
sy ana l Will take off mine" may
s,st. an equitable proposition at first
a. ou'' Ike most free trade theories.
eAeeeilngly one sided and unjust
10 Practise.
a,,ue aue pfoviso that the abolition Of the
c,., y vi coal shall not apply to the
sS;A imported from Canada" is Just the
,h.stt ny out II should have stopped right
sa' '' !, laten led 10 be practical mea
nv. Ice tariff on coal almost sxclu
a." ~ Affects Pacific coast interests. and
-, o,i, as We have seen. Is not wanted
rssai. .ae dominion, since that would
IN nnfalr Competition. |, Is oulv
sh;n.N, I'oth Countries where cod l.
r,seu 70 this coast at mere nominal
sn.i 'tciHht III the absence of gen
maj iohahdise cargoes These nom
In s, es are accepted by ships either
tion Se'stion or on the express cnndi.
nm '""' faciilc coast farmers will max,
aaS,,. GIN srence IN outward freichts, IL
oosi 70 detraylng the duty on the
mI.. mica, taking one VOYAGE with an
v,lln FARMERS, VIII, ther wiling or un
he sn are mpelIed to do. Duty oi
car 'his coal has got To come. be
hsn.. "a .a'mefs must have the ships, aut
os, ,. .ae qn' stion OF protection 50 !oca
ish tla sei. Sis Is lot involved. 10 sbol
iarmae ua'y is simply 10 relieve oul
nav from burden which shoul,
cons,,aVs nave been imposed. and for III.
dlaa'ion OF which the Pacrtit coas
sponsible. '''s VIII "e he'a ie