Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-07-22
CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES

Our Commercial Relations with Our
Northern MISUNDERSTANDING of
military Men, Railroad Men and
Prominent Business Men OF Both
COuntries-Our Unprotected North.
ern Roundary.Generalm Miles on the
situatfon-How our Cities ON She
Pacific Coast Could be Destroyed.
An Important Contribution to Many
subjects Connected with she Tariff
Debate.
WASHINGTON, July 21.-Mr. Hoar, chairman
of the senate committee on relations of com.
meree and business with Canada, presented
to the senate to-day the testimony which has
been taken by that committee. This testi-
mony was not accompanied by report. It
is understood that the committee will make q
report of its conclusions at a later period,
after additional testimony shall have been
taken at Detroit, Buffalo and some other
points. The testimony already taken COM
prises some l 200 printed pages. It consists
of testimony of military men, railroad Off
cials, prominent business men of the
United States and Canada, men en-
gagged in the fishing industry along the
whole extent of our northern boundary
from California to Maine. This testi-
mony covers all the points of vital interest
as to the relations between the United States
and the dependencies of Great Britain in
North America. The first witness examined
was General Nelson A. Miles, ia command
on the Pacific coast. His testimony was q
valuable contribution to the military situa-
ton, and one passage of it at least will be
Americans. General Miles, commenting upon
the defenseless condition of the United States
upon our northwestern border, said:
"I will state what is well known in regard
to Canada. I believe that the railway sys-
tenn of British Columbia could be ooc upied
by American troops, not, however, through
Victoria. That is on the Island of Vancou-
yer, occupied. by British forces,a place where
the British government has expended mil
lions in building dry docks and navy yards
and had made some surveys for Notifications.
They have there at this time feet of war
ships under the command of British adj
miral. think it is fair to say, what every
intelligent man must know, that during that
ten days the British feet could destroy every
town and city on Puget sound, destroy our
railroad system there and occupy our
outlets for that northwestern country. They
could aleo send ships up the Columbia river
and destroy the city of Portland and that
railroad system. There is not a gun or an
earthwork on Puget sound, nor single artil-
lery soldier. There are few obsolete guns
at the mouth of the Columbia at Fort Candy,
but that 10 not now occupied by troops. That
Is the condition of affairs north of the har-
Dor of San Francisco. South of the harbor
of San Francisco there Is not a gun in posi-
ton, round of ammunition nor single
artillery soldier to defend the harbors snd
cities Of San Diego, Santa Barbara and San
Pedro. The terminus of one of the railroads
and from those points q small force could
destroy the railway system in southern Cali
fornia."
The testimony contains an account of the
British fertilization at Esquimault, where 1t
is reported that Great Britain is now con-
centrating war vessels with a view to prob
able contingencies in Behring sea. A great
number of witnesses discuss In all its rela-
tions the question of subsidies to steamers
from the Pacific coast to China, notably the
lines which have been subsidized by Great
Britain. In connection with the Canadian
Pacific railroad, and which constitutes con-
tinuous subsidized line from China to Liver
pool, over the Canadian Pacific the, gen.
eral policy and effect of the Cana
dian Pacific railroad upon the United
States railroads ia discussed by the
friends and opponents of that system,
One curious feature Of the testimony is q
consideration of the possible transfer of q
portion of the fisheries interest from the At
lanClc 10 the Nortn RACINE coast. Inc teetl-
mony gives the latest information as to the
salmon industry on the Pacific coast and the
coal production along the northern frontiers
and in the northwestern states. The testi-
mony is an important contribution to many
subjects connected with the tariff debate.
Nearly every question connected with the
tariff as affected by the relations between the
United States and Canada is treated on both
sides in this testimony. The managers of
the United States transcontinental railroad
systems set forth at length their complaint
at the competition of the Canadian roads,
which is made possible by the fact that those
roads are not subject to the operations of the
interstate commerce law. A great many
different remedies for the evils Of which the
United States roads complain are suggested.
Most Of the American railway managers
maintain that the Canadian Pacific fs inimical
to American railway interests. Many of
them suggest that the long and short haul
and the pooling sections of the interstate
commerce law should be repealed. The adj
vocates and the opponents of reciprocity
state their case ct length.