The Dickinson press., 1892-07-02
ENGLISH KICKERS
Delegates From Chambers of
Commerce Hold a Congress
in London.
Most of the Time Devoted to
Denouncing the Mckinley
Tariff Bill.

LONDON, June 29.--The second congress
of the chamber of commerce OF the British
empire opened to-day Sir John Lubbock,
president ofthe London chamber of COM
merce presided, aud, assisted by the COM
mittee, welcomed tine delegates sent from
every portion OF the empire. The bodies
represented in the congress include the
London chamber OF commerce. the Birm-
ingham chamber of commerce, the cham
Der ofCanterbury, New Zealand Montreal,
Winnipeg, Capetown, Regina, Northwest
| Territory, Toronto, Trinidad, Sydney,
Madras, Georgetown, British Guinea, Bonn
bay, Lagos and nearly all the West of the
British empire.
| 1t is most remarkable gathering and is
regarded by the commercial world Us most
| important. Its deliberations lave dis
tinct influence upon imperial politics. The
remarkable lead taken in trade resolutions
by the colonies is generally commented
upon. 1t is certain that the colonies have
never before adopted so strong a tone in
| their suggestions to the mother country.
and their present stand in this respect is
thought to be chiefly influenced by the
tariff laws OF the United States and de-
termination to insist upon s'cps ior their
own protection and benefit. Conversations
with the delegates from abroad show that
they feel that the colonies have little to.
gain by their attachment to the British chi
pre unless some preference is given them in
their trade relations with England over
foreign countries. This feeling, though ex-
hibitcd most strongly by the Canadian del
egates is generally shared and expressions
oflt are plainly manifest i'll the resolutions
offered.
A Wall FROM WINNIPEG.
One ofthc most important resolutions is
that offered by the Winnipeg board of trade
OF Manitoba, US follows:
That In the opinion of this congress the time
fua come or Is close at hand when the people OF
| Great Britain can with confidence look to the
colonies and dependencies OF tlIr empire for that
| portion OF thei- breadstuffs which they liad it
| necessary to import from year to year. The
rapid development oil grain production i'll Can
| ada. India ana AUSTRALASIA i'll the past ten years
| clearly indicates that these countries will soon
have annually an export surplus OF grain i'll
| excess OF the annual import demand of the
British Isles, and it will lie nltog.t .ther unurces.
sary for the latter 20 look for supplies to foreign
countries, and especially to those whose tariff
laws are 80 framed as to strike and play at the
| trade interests OF Great Britain and the British
colonies. That this congress sees the best meth
cd Of securing this en.l by n system in tho
| mother country OF tariff discriminltIg against
| the grain and other food products oil foreign
| nations, and in lavor OF the import oil such
goods from the colonies and dependencies and i.
| similar discrimination By the colonies aud de
| perCenc;e . in connection with tariff on other
| goods required to be imported by them. That
| this congr ss iaVors such II movement be ievng
that its enforcement would serve as check
| upon the natural seltishness which ut the pres
ent time seems to ilspire many nations III the
| framing of their tariff laws; and that its Ell,
| tOrpemollt would III COmluertjHl counter
| rritant which would in comparatively few
years practically force the great nations OF the
| world into IL much ireer system Of trade inter-
| course than now exists between them.
| The congress will also consider the i'm
perial registration OF trade marks the adop-
ton throughout the empire OF the mer-
chandise marks act, re orin bills OF ladilly,
factory legislation throughout the empire.
| colon:Zllon. an imperial system ofueci-
NAL currency, weights and measures, an IN
| terna'ional monetary union. imperial
penny postage, direct tclcsraphic COM
munication throughout the empire, Indian
taxation, light railways. the abolition
OF the light duties and treaties
with native tribes Of Africa aud territorial
| Gelimitation.
| KICKING ON AMERICA.
Mr.. Medley moved n resolution declaring
that tiscal union between Great Britain and
her colonies by preferential duties, being
based upon protection, will be politically
disastrous and that the arrangement
that would best conduce TO
an intimate commercial union
would be for the selt.govcrnns colonies to
adopt as closely US circumstances will per-
nit, the non-protcctive policy of Great
Britain.
Sir Charles Tupper: Canadian high COM
missioner to England opposed the motion.
He said that the American Mckinley bill
showed no favor TO Great Britain. There
was risk of the octupus America throw
ing its tenaccs over the West Indies and
the Spanish antilles with the view to ,lriv-
ing out British trade and j. WIS going to
do SO. British consuis reported that Great
Britain had lost Brazil. and that America
was getting q hold under her reciprocity
system. Americans. he declared, did En-
glish commerce greater wrong than did the
Mckinley tariff in their efforts to drive
England out o. the Southern hemisphere.
| They attacked Canada also under the mis-
taken idea of imposing duty upon the
products for which they are Canada's
natural market, thinking they could bring
Canadian producers to their knees and
leave the Canadians no alternative but to
become part of the United States.
| Mr.. Burton, o; the Toronto board of
trade held that there was no prospect OF
commercial union between Great Britain
and Canada, SO, ar us Toronto was con-
cerncd, on the basis of i:ee trade. The
best policy lie held. WAS preferential trade.
Canada could not adopt free trade having
the United States tariff 30 close to them.
Other Canadian delegates supported pref
erential tariff as opposed to free trade.
Lord Brassev offered u resolution declar-
ing that 'in the opinion OF this congress it
is expedient that practical arrangements
should il possible, be devised to secure
closer commercial union between tho
mother country and her colonies and de-
pendencies." The resolution was adopted