Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-12-25
CONCERNING CANADA.
The Canadian Pacific's Great Snap to be
Cut UR-The Armed Vessels on the

The Canadian Pacific's Great Snap to be
Cut Uf-The Armed Vessels on the
Lakes.
WASHINGTON, December 24-The Presi-
dent has called upon the executive depart
ments for all information in their posses
sion relative TO the freight coming into the
United States over the Canada Pacific
railroad. Attention was directed TO this
subject by the President in his annual mes
sage to Congress and since then the
subject has been live and inter-
eSting one in the Treasury Depart
United States railroads, made by law, or
rather by its construction, in favor of the
Canadian Pacific railroad by means Of the
consular seal system, has long been source
of complaint at the Treasury Department.
This law was passed in 1884, and its sub
stance is Incorporated in section 3Ol2, L. ).
Under this law freights are shipped from
Canada to interior ports in the United
States under the consular seal system.
When the law was passed the trafic was
small, but gradually the business has
grown, and the law has been perverted,
and now more goods having their origin in
China and Japan are shipped over the
Canadian Pacific for the United States
than goods or products of Canada. II is
pointed out that as the traffic over the
Canadian Pacific has become so great that
il is impossible for United States oonsuls
to personally perform the duties required
of them under the provisions OF the con-
sular seal law, a due regard for the reve
nue. would warrant the suspension Of Sec
ton 30l2 until such time as Congress
makes provision for its perfect enforce
ment
Should this be done, it would, in the
opinion of the Treasury Department Off
cials, put a stop to the discrimination
against American railroads and also be
retaliatory measure against Canada Tor
her unfriendliness of conduct toward US.
1t is not probable that the Senate Will
take any action on the alleged intention Of
Great Britain to strengthen her armed force
on the great lakes with war vessels under
the pseudonym of revenue cutters. Sena-
tor Frye, of Maine, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Commerce and a leading
member of the Committee on For
eign Affairs, who is a recognized
authority in marine matters and who is
noted for his interest in affairs relating 10
Canada and this country, will have much
10 say as to the policy Of the United States
in the matter of protection on the lakes
and his influence will have weight in decl-
ding the matter one way or the other. IL
is of interest TO know that Senator Frye
ton that Great Britain is contemplating
the structure Of a strong armored force
in the great lakes in violation OF
the agreement between the United States
and Great Britain forbidding such action.
He believes the present agitation OF the
matter apropos of revenue cutters which
are being built in Canada is "all poppy
cock" "There is Ro necessity he said
to-day, "for the people Of this country TO
be alarmed over the construction OF these
Canadian revenue vessels. Even if they
are to be what il is claimed-war vessels
under the guise OF revenue cutters-there
need be no fear in the event of hostilities,
for | am positive that l can select twenty
five vessels on the great lakes that could
within a very short time be armed and
equipped so much bstter than the Canadian
cutters are that they could sail right around
the latter.
Officials at the State department have
no information regarding the application Of
the international Navigation Company to
the Canadian Parliament for charter au-
thoriziug the company 10 connect Lake
Erie with Montreal and New York by a
system Of canals. the Hudson river and the
St. Lawrence, and Richi!ieu rivers and
Lake Champlain.