The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-13
FOR AMERICAN LABOR
Senator Squire's Speech Against
Free Lumber.
CAN'T COMPETE WITH CANADA.
Chinese and Japanese work for Low
Wages In British Columbia Mills.
snd stumpage 10 Cheaper.
From Watson C ssuirss speech in the Senate.
Nv a fSox

A.y >. issx
Mr.. PresideHt: When had occasion TO
address the senate 3 few days ago on the
tariff in its genera! relations TO home in
dustrtes, and particularly with reference
TO the interests OF my own state, SUB
United . statement of the great extent 70
which my people are engaged in the lun-
Der industry, and discussed this branch of
the subject so fully that I do not deem is
necessary 10 90 into any further statistical
statements ~ this time.
The senator from California aud the
senators from Oregon yesterday made
ample statement. as TO the condition of
this industry on the Pacific coast. which
are IN harmony with the statements here
totore made by me.
wish every senator who desires that .
revenue bill be framed IN accordance with
the interests Of all the people of the coun-
try, without involving any particular
class, could have done me the honor 70
listen to my explanation on that branch
OF the subject, but that " as practically i'm
possible at that time. Those who care TOR
accurate details concerning the lumber
interests OF the state of Washington can
obtain them from the Record.
i mention this because do not wish to
weary the senate By undue prolongation
OF the discussion of this paragraph. yet |
wish 10 perform my full duty TO the people
of my state as well as to the people of the
United States. so that the Importance
of this branch of the tariff may
not be moderated. Questions have
been asked blythe senator from Nebraska
Why we can not produce lumber in the
state of Washington as cheapiy as IL can
be produced In British Columbia Ii is
easy for me TO enumerate some of these
reasons. In the first pace. our labor Is
more expensive because We can not en-
ploy Chinese, Japanese and Indians
TO the extent that they are employed in
British Columbia.
Our laborlng men will not work in har-
mony with the Chinese, and there are
many kinds of work, perhaps may say
the lower orders of work that can be
efficiently performed by the Chinese, aud
that are performed by them in British
Columbia. or course the Chinese are not
SO expert as axmen or teamsters, or as
sawyers.
Then again, the cost of living is some
what higher in America than il Is in
British Columbia, owing to the duties i'm
posed on the articles which our citizens
wear and use. We subject ourselves to
the payment of duties that are demanded
by other sections of the Union To protect
their interests. and yet il is proposed to
leave our interests unprotected.
Third-The manufacturers pay more for
their machinery, tools. cordage, steel and
iron. and every imported article that is
used in connection with the business.
Fourth-In the United States we pay
higher rates for the timber in the tree.
namely, .'stumpage," than is done in
British Columbia. In fact, the tim
Der in British Columbia is not paid
Co. - attar. raf. Tn A rnrs~ h,.t
Is leased from the government at low
rate per acre, giving the timber owner an
opportunity to obtain his wood at less cost
in the tree. This is very essential point.
The difference IN the cost of the raw ma
teriai in the tree is exceedingly important.
The cost of stumpage is probably from
four to ten times as much IN Washington
as il would be in British Columbia at
presen. rates
Then, Mr. President. there are two other
points to which i desire briefly TO again
call the attention of the senate.
The first is as TO the effect of the
proposed legislation upon the value OF
our lands, reducing the value of The
same in comparison with their pres
ent value ana perhaps in some re-
spects below the value OF the lands
in British Columbia. Our citizens
have been induced to invest in the lands
obtained from the government of the
L niteu STATES, anu many nave oDthiueu
title TO valuable timber lands and are pay
ing taxes on the same today, and have
been paying such taxes for years. The
government has millions of acres more
OF these timber lands 70 sell. The
state of Washingto has half million or
more acres with which il has been en-
dowed by the United States in the terms
of the act under which this state came
into the Union. The values of all these
lands will be impaired II lumber shall
come in free of duty.
The second point TO which wish TO call
the attention of the senate is the effect
upon the merchant marine of the Pacific
coast. | do not know but that the same eff
feet will be true as 10 the Atlantic coast We
have a large coastwise trade in lumber and
our shipbuilding interests have been
largely promoted thereby. The American
mill owner 10 compelled by law to ship in
American vessels, while the Canadians
and British Columbians under the bill
uags OF all nations.
our coasIing trade would thus be thrown
open 10 foreign vessels TO our great detri-
ment aud injury. And our shipbuilding
interests. particularly on the Pacific coast,
would suffer prostratlon from an enact
ment admitting lumber free of duty.
/ would implore the committee on
finance 20 reconsider their determination
m reference TO this item of free lumber.
Let spirit OF fairness prevail
Let rs have a logical, symmetrical
bill. III we are TO have = cut in the rates of
duty let 10 be 30 general and so reasonable
a. 10 be fair to all sections. Let the blii oe
constructed upon business principles.
Otherwise We can not secure the respect Of
the American people
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