The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-08-31

lation as will, upon the principles al
ready stated, properly supplement the
power to inaugurate retaliation already
vested in the Executive.
Actuated by the generous and neigh
borly spirit which has characterized
our legislation, our tariff laws have
since 1856 been so far waived in favor
of Canada as to allow free of duty the
transit across the territory Of the Uni
ted States Of propelt ty arriving at our
ports and destined to Canada, or ex-
ported from Canada to other foreign
When the treaty of Wash
ington was negotiated in 1871 between
the United States and Great Britain,
having for its object very largely the
modification of the treaty of 1918, the
privileges above referred to were made
reciprocal and given in return by
Canada and the United States in the
following language, contained in the
twenty-ninth article of said treaty
at is agreed that, for the term OF
years mentioned in article thirty-three
of this treaty, goods, wares, or mer.
chandise arriving at the ports of New
York, Boston and Portland, and any
other ports in the United States which
have been or may from time to time
be specially designated by the Presi
dent of the United States and destln
ed for her Britannia Majesty's possess
ions in North America may be entered
at the proper Custom House and con-
veyed in transit, without the payment
of duties, through the territory of the
United States, under such rules, regu-
lations and conditions for the protec
tion of the revenue as the government,
of the United States may from time to
time prescribe, and under like rules,
regulations and conditions goods, wares
or merchandise may be conveyed in
transit without the payment of duties
from such possession through the ter.
ritory of the United States for export
from the said ports of the United
States.
'It is further agreed that, for the
like period, goods, wares or merchan.
disc arriving at any of the ports of her
Britannia Majesty's possession in
North America, and destined for the
United States, may be entered at the
proper custom house and conveyed in
transit, without the payment of duties,
through the said possessions under
such rules and regulations and condi
lions for the protection of the revenue
as the governments of the said possess.
ions may from time to time prescribe,
and, under like rules and regulations
and conditions, goods, wares or mer-
chandise may be conveyed in transit
without payment of dnties, from the
United States through the said possess
ions to other places in the United
States, or for export from ports in the
said possessions
STOPPING FISH SHIPMENTS.
In the year 1856 notice was received
by the representatives of our Govern
ment that our fishermen would no lon
ger be allowed TO ship their fish il
bond and free of duty through Cana
dian territory to this country, and evel
since that time such shipment has beer
denied.
The privilege of such shipment
which has been extended to our fisher
men was most impoi tant one, allow.
ing them to spend the time upon the
fishing grounds which would other
wise be devoted to voyage home
with their catch, and doubling theil
opportunities for proftably prosecuting
their vocation. In forbidding thu
transit OF the catch of our fishermen
over their territory in bond and free o
duty, the Canadian authorities de
prived us of the only facility depend
ent upon their concession, and foI
which we could supply no substitute.
The value to the Dominion Of Can
ada of the privilege Of transit for thei
exports and imports across our terri
tory, and to and from our ports,t though
great in every respect, will be bette
appreciated when it is remembered
that, for considerable portion of eacl
year, the st. Lawrence river, whic|
constitutes the direct avenue of foreig,
commerce leading to Canada, is close'
by Ice.
During the last six years the import
and exports of British Canadian pro
vinces carried across our territory ur
der the privileges granted by our laws
amounted in value to about two hun
dred and seventy millions of dollars
nearly all of which are goods dutiabl
under our tariff laws, by far the large
part of this traffic consisting of ez
changes of goods between Great Brit
ain and her American province
brought to and carried from our port
in their own vessels. The treaty stipu
latlon entered into by our governmen
was in harmony with laws which wer
then on our statute book aud are stl
in force.
IMMEDIATE LEGISLATION ASKED.
recommend immediate legislativ
action conferring upon the Executiv
the power to suspend by proolamatio
the operation of all laws and reguls
tions permitting the transit of good
wares and merchandise in bond acros
or over the territory of the Unite
States to or from Canada. There nee
be no hesitation in suspending thes
laws arising from the supposition tha
their continuation is secured by treat
obligations. for it seems quite plai
that article 20 of the treaty of 1871
which was the only article incorporat
ing such laws, terminated the first da
of July, 1885.
The article itself declares that il
provisions shall be in force "for tn
term of years mentioned in article 3
of this treaty"
Turning to article 33 we find n
mention of the goth article. but only
provision that article Is to 25 inclui
i've, and article 80 shall take effect q
soon as the laws required to carry theI
into operation shall be passed by tn
legislative bodies of the different couI
tries concerned, and "that they sha
remain in force for the period of te
years from the date at which they ma
come into operation, and further, uni
the expiration of two years after eth,
of the high contracting parties shs
have given notice to the other of /;
wiah IN tarminata tha saman -