The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-07


South America, which now amounts to about
S5OOOOO,O coo annually. In 1885 we had only
s per cent. OF this trade.
The following statistics show the increase IN
our trade with the countries with which we
have reciprocal trade agreements from the
date when such agreements went into effect up
TO sept; 20: 1892 the increase being in some al
most wholly, aud in others in an important de-
gree the result Of these agreements: The do
nestle exports TO Germany and Austria Hun
gary have increased in value from S47, 673 596 to
SS1, 993, O64, an increase Of SI0,3i9SO8 or u 60
per cent. With the American countries the
value OF our exports has increased from S44,-
100 SSS 70 SS4,6l35yS, an increase Of $40 453 3l3
or 2Se1 per cent The total increase
in the value Of exports to ali
the countries with which we have
reciprocity agreements has been $780, 62f.
This increase is chiefly in wheat, -four meat
and dairy products, and In manufactures of
iron and steel and lumber. There has been a
large increase in the value Of the imports from
all those countries since the commercial agree
ments went into effect. amounting to S74 594 -
525, but it has been entirely in imports from the
American countries, consisting mostly of sugar,
coffee, india rubber and crude drugs. The
alarmed attention OF our European competitors
for the South American market has been at
tracted TO the new American policy and to our
acquisition and their loss of South American
trade.
THE sEALERIEs ARBITRATION.
treaty proposing an arrangement for the
arbitration of the dispute between Great Brit
ain and the United States as to the killing of
seals in the Boring sea was concluded on Feb
! Ky last. This treaty was accompanied by an
agreement prohibiting pelagic sealing pending
the arbitration, and vigorous effort was
made during this season TO drive out all
| posching sealers from the Boring sea. Six
naval vessels, three revenue cutters aud one
vessel from the fish commission all under the
command of Commander Evans OF the navy,
ally patrolled.
Seizures we're made and it is believed that the
catch IN the Boring sea by poachers amounted
70 less that 500 seals IL is true, however that
| In the North Pacific, while the seal herds were
| on their way 10 the passes between the Aleutiap
I Islands, very large number. probably %, 600
were taken. The existing statutes of the United
/ States do not restrain our citizens from taking
| seals in the Pacific ocean and, perhaps. SHOULD
| not, unless the prohibition can be extended to
the citizens Of other natious. l recommend
that power be given to the President by procla-
nation to prohibit the taking OF seals in the
| North Pacific By American vessels In case either
as the result of the findings Of the tribunals of
arbitration, or otherwise. the restraints can be
applied to the vessels OF all countries The case
or the United States for the tribunal Of arbitra-
| ton has been prepared with great care and indus
| try by the Hon. John W. Foster, and the counsel
who represent this government express conf
| dence that result substantially establishing
| our claims and preserving this great industry
for the benefit Of all nations will be attained.
RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA.
During the past year, a suggestion was
received through the British minister that
confer as to the possibility of
enlarging, upon terms OF mutual advantage,
the commercial exchanges Of Canada and OF the
United states, ana conference was held at
Washington, with Mr.. Blaine, acting for this
| government and the British minister at this
| capital and three members of the dominion
| cabinet acting as commissioners on the part of
| Great Britain. The conferences developed the
/ fact that the Canadian government was only
prepared to offer the United States, In exchange
| for the concessions asked, the admission Of
1 Tha Eta ant frav, tyIxz
| made that favored rates could not be given to
the United States, as against the mother
country. This admission, which was foreseen,
| necessarily terminated the conference upon
| this question. The benefits of an exchange of
| natural products would be almost wholly with
| the people of Canada.
| Some other topics of interest were considered
in the conference and have resulted in the
| making of a convention for examining the
Alaskan boundary and the makers OF Passama-
quoddy bay, adjacent to PASSPORT. Ne, and
| in the initiation of arrangement for the
| protection OF fish life in the cotermiuus and
neghboring waters Of our northern border.
TOLLS ON THE CANALS.
The controversy as to the tolls upon the
| Weland canal. which was presented to congress
| at the last session by special message, having
| ercise the authority conferred by the act of
July 26, 1854, and to proclaim a suspension of
| the free use Of the st. Mary's Falls canal to
eargoes in transit to ports in Canada The
Secretary Of the Treasury established such
tolls were thought to be equivalent to the
exactions urnjustly levied upon our
If. as we must suppose. the political relations'of
| Canada and the disposition OF the Canadian
government are to remain unchanged, a some
what radical revision of our trade relations
| should, think, be made. Our relations must
| continue to be intimate, and they should be
| friendly. regret to say, however, that in many
| of the controversies, notably those as to the
fisheries on the Atlantic the sealing interests on
| the Pacific, and the canal tolls, our
negotiations with Great Britain have CON
tnuously been Jhwarted or retarded by
protests from Canada. In the matter of the
canal tolls our treaty rights were tiagrantly dis
regarded. It is hardly too much to say that the
| Canadian Pacific and other railway lines which
parallel our northern boundary are sustained by
commerce having either its origin or terminus,
or both, in the United States. Canadian rail
roads compete with those of the United States
for our traffic and without the restraints or our
interstate commerce act Their cars pass almost
| without detentionAnto and out of our territory
The Canadian Pacific railway brought into the
| United States from China and Japan, via British
Columbia, during the year ended June 20, 1892,
%, 239, $50 pounds OF freight and it carried from
the United States to be shipped to China and
Japan, via British Columbia, 2l,06S,S46 pounds
| of freight. There were also shipped from the
! United States over this road from eastern ports
| of the United States to our Pacific ports during
| the same year 13912,G13 pounds of freight,
| and there were received over this road
| at the United States eastern ports
| from ports on the Pacific coast 13. 293, Sl5
pounds of freight. Mr.. Joseph Nimmo, Jr.,
| former chief of the bureau of statistics, when
| before the Senate select committee on relations
| with Canada. April 20, 1890, said that the value
| of the goods thus transported between different
points in the United States across Canadian ter
riUory probably amounts to 100000, 900 year. -
| There s no disposition on the part of the people
or government of the Uuited States to interfere
in the smallest degree with the political rela
tions of Canada. That question is wholly with
her own people. 1t is time for us, however to
consider whether, if The present state of
things and trend of things is to continue
our interchanges upon lines OF land Transports
ton should not be put upon a different basis
and our entire independence Of Canadian
canals and of the St. Lawrence as an outlet to
American canal around the falls Of Niagara and
the opening of ship communication between
the great lakes and one of our own ssaports
We should not hesitate to avail ourselves of
our great natural trade advantages, We should
withdraw the support which is given TO the
railroads and steamships of Canada by traffic
that properly belongs to us. and no longer fur
nish the earnings which tighten the otherwise
crushing weight of the enormous public subsl
dies that have been given to them The sub
ject OF the power of the treasury to deal with
this matter without further legislation has b. er
under consideration. but circumstances have
postponed a conclusion. 1t is probable that q
consideration of the propriety of a modification
or abrogation of the article Of the treaty OF
Washington relating to the transit of goods in
bond is involved in any complete solution OF