The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-08

banquet OF the San Francisco Chamber of
Commerce was held az the Palace hotel
this evening, Ex-Governor George Perkins
presiding. Many prominent guests were
present The banquet was held at later
time of the year than is customary in order
to enable Hon. NJ NJ Estee, delegate TO the
recent international American congress. 10
be present and outline the work OF the
conference.
Mr. Es;ee was heartily cheered when he
AROSE to speak. He commenced his address
By referring to the novelty of the recent
conference. and the fact that there were
more nations represented than ever before
met together for any purpose The gravest
question which the conference had TO con-
slider was What would be of advantage to
ali the American republics There is sub
stantiai unanimity on the subject of inter-
national arbitration and also upon all
questions tending to build up trade be-
tween the American states.
Reciprocity could not be reached with
ont change in the revenue laws OF ali
American countries, and could rot be &C
cepted by any American nation till some
other means were adopted TO provide reve-
nues to maintain their government Free
trade was impossible, because every Amer
lean nation largely maintained its govern
ment by imposing duties on imports. The
speaker declared that il was faIlacy to
suppose that the United States tariff laws
had any considerable effect on our trade
with South America or that an adequate
remedy for the evils complained OF would
be found in reciprocity. The conference
therefore deemed it best to adopt, as far Is
possible. uniform commercial and trade re-
iations without attempting to change the
import duties.
Mr.. Estee said that hitherto the United
States had neglected South American
trade and the principal cause was that the
United States had not maintained the mer-
chant marine and that the prestige OF
mer can influence was lost by transport
ing our products in foreign ships. He
said "South Americans treated us as ped
oilers when we sent them American goods
in British ships, and the business world
forgets q country whose flag is never seen. !"
Statistics for the past year showed that
the United States bought 36 per cent. OF
the exports of other American republics,
while the latter bought OF the United
States but fraction over Is per cent. OF
their imports 1t was one of the aims OF
the conference to furnish q remedy for this
condition OF things and among the recon-
mendations which the representatives of
the eighteen American republics made to
their respective governments were the
following:
A uniform system of weights and meas
ures: the survey OF railroad from Mexico
to the Argentine Republic: the substituting
of steamer lines from San Francisco TO VAL
parsi.o and intermediate ports. from New
York and Atlantic ports to Buenos Ayres
and Rio .Janeiro. and between United
states, Mexican and Central American
ports; uniform system Of customs regu-
iasions with a general recommendation as
to customs union; providing for an inter
national bank. an American monetary
union and for arbitration in all matters per-
tanning to or affecting the peace or integ-
ritz of American states
Mr.. Estee expresses the belief that while
some of these recommendations will be
neglected, others win ripen into fruition.
He said:
mo part OF the American union viii re-
ceive greater advantages from this confer
ence than the Pacific states and territories.
because we are more remote from the east
ern portion OF our country than from the
large ports of Mexico and Central America
and our trade with the countries south OF
us is a necessity to Us. Their trade with US
is necessity TO them. The Central and
South American republics are willing to
pay their share to maintain steamship COM
rnunication with US, and this great country
will have to bear its portion or cease to
compete in the American markets.
Mr.. Essee said in part in closing: When
American lines OF steamers shall regularly
ply to all American ports, when We shall
have adopted a uniform standard OF Amer
lean coins. when all the American repnb-
lies shall have direct railroad communities
ton with each other. when arbitration
shall he the universal rule on the Western
continent, .hen We will reap some OF the
rewards Of this conference and the world
will look upon its iabors as the most splen-
did achievement of the age.