The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-09-10
Closing Session of the Reciprocity
Convention ut Grand
Forks.
The Governments of Canada and the
United States to BE Asked to
Improve Waterways.
Also to Remove All Restrictions i'm
the Way of Trade Between
the Two Countries.

GRAND FoRRs, n. d., Sept. THE
reciprocity convention was called to or
der at 10 a. M, Gov. Burke presiding.
+. Y. Smalley of st. Paul, chairman of
the committee on resolutions, presented
the following report:
The members of the first international
reciprocity convention congratulate the
people of the Canada northwest and the
people of the northwestern states of the
American union on the cordial good feel
ing that exists between them, and the
earnest desire for closer business rela-
tons OF which this large and representa-
tive gathering is a strong evidence.
Whatever temporary differences may
arise IN the governmental relations of
the two countries we believe that the
bond of sympathy and of mutual
interest between the two peoples here in
the northwest are too strong ever to be
broken, and are destined to draw us
closer together in commercial and social
relations. We are of common ancestry
and are alike attached to the principles
of free representative government. We
desire to trade extensively with Zach
other, to know each other better, and to
stand shoulder to shoulder in the &C
complishment Of the great work Of adj
vancing the civilization of the American
northwest. With these objects in view
we hereby adopt the following resolu-
tons:
Resolved, That in the opinion of this
convention the condition of the great
northwest on both sides of the Inter
national boundary make it desirable that
all restrictions in the way of trade be-
tween the two countries should be re-
moved as far as the same can be done
consistently with the revenue require
ments Of the two nations at large.
Whereas. The continued growth and
prosperity of the northwest depend pri-
marily upon the cheapest possible trans
portation to and from the markets Of the
world. therefore. resolved, that we favor
the extension and enlargement of exist
ing railways and the construction of ad-
uitional means of water communication
from the great lakes to the sea and that
commerce passing through said channels
whether natural oil artificial, should be
free of all tolls.
Resolved. That inasmuch as the Red
River of the North and the Columbia
river are international streams and i'm
portant natural water ways. improve
ment of their navigation should be pro-
ceeded with by both the Canadian and
the United States governments under
some equitable mutual agreement as TO
methods and expense.
Resolved, That the construction of
railways across the international bound
airy wherever demanded by the
cial needs of the people of the two coun-
tries should not be prohibited or him
dered by governmental restrictions or
exclusive privileges to particular corpo-
rations.
Resolved, That in view of the rapidly
increasing demands for further facilities
the northwest on both sides of the
boundary to the sea this convention is of
the opinion that advantage should be
taken as soon as possible of the natural
and convenient outlet via Hudson's bay.
ItCoolN Gu. Liza lie COIlNCIllIOU I-CIcDN
instructs its secretary to forward a copy
of the above resolutions to the depart
ments of the American and Canadian
governments to which they properly be.
long. and further that printed copies be
forwarded to business and other organ.
i~zatiOns represented at this convention,
with the request that they give them
their endorsement and forward them to
tha., ,,a.n,tx.,.. - %Ln xe
the United States or the Dominion par
Lament.
The discussion of these resolutions oc-
cupied the entire session. it was par
ticipated in by Hon. A. Stevenson of
Crookston, who offered an amendment
which was tabled, asking for a survey
from Lake Superior to the Lake Of the
Woods. Rev. f. j. COraty, pastor of the
Catholic church, Grand Forks, endOrs-
ing the resolution and suggesting a
slight verbal change. G. n. Bell. secre
tary Of the chamber OF commerce of Win
nipeg, gave the convention many practical
suggestions regarding the commerce of
the two countries. MAJOR Shaw. editor
Of the Fargo Argus. propounded queries
calculated to antagonize the purposes OF
the convention, which were answered by
+. G. Wade, an attorney of Winnipeg.
and by James Fisher, M. p. p. first vice
president. Mr.. Fisher showed Shaw's
ignorance in not knowing that England
pays the same duties on imports to Can
ada as other nations. The convention
went wild with enthusiasm which
drove Shaw from the platform.
DIR. j. G. Rutherford, M. p. p, Portage
la Prairie showed that as long ago as
1854 there had been reciprocity between
Canada and the United States in many
things. With the customs restrictions
now in force the United States get A
per cent of all Canada's trade. From
1854 to 1866 trade between Canada and
the United States increased from s23,
100000 to S~86,0OO,OOO.
Randall 4 Prior,