New-York tribune., 1896-12-26
HOW TARIFFS ARE FRAMED

In the work OF framing tariffs tho Minister OF
Finance must necessarily be the leader for the
cusom-house IL the chief source Of revenue and 10
see that proper revenue is provided Is the work OF
such Minister. The present occupant OF that
office Is W. s. Fielding. who for fourteen years
was at the head OF the provincial government OF
Nova Scotia. BY profession Journalist he woa
his way to the first place in his native province.
and to-day his position IL second only to that OF
the Canadian Premier. When Mr.. Iaurer secured
Mr.. Fielding az Il colleague he secured an able
lieutenant. clever and experienced parliamenta-
rian. good speaker. careful fnancer and man
of wonderful industry. Mr.. Fielding together with
Sir Richard Cartwright. Sir Oliver Mowat and
William Paterson. IS conducting the tariff inquiry.
In the Ontario tour most OF the evidence was
offered in behalf Of the manufacturers. but "A spe-
cial session will yet be held TO give representatives,
OF the farming class opportunity Of being
heard. Speaking generally. all the manufacturers
were in favor Of protection. Without IT, their In
dustries would go the wall. the factories and
shops would close. and the Canadian market would
be given up 10 American producers. Such. in gen
eral. their claim, and coupled with II was usu-
ally request for free raw material. And here was
one mans raw material is the finished product OF
another; how were they 10 be protected 10 the
mutual advantage OF both? Take or two in
stances that have before the Commission.
A blast furnace has been established NJ Hamilton.
Ont. situated at the head OF Lake Ontario. forty
four miles from Niagara Falls. Lake Superior ore
is used and the coal from Pennsylvania.
This attempt to establish the iron industry seems
TO be well encouraged, for upon pig iron tferc II
duty OF 81 ton. besides bounty paid BY the, the on
tario local government for iron produced from ore
obtained Ia that province
Manufacturers using iron are protected by duties
OF the duty on their raw atcriai. far they state
that the Canadian price Of pig iron Is the American
so tar to say that with free coal ana free iron.
The duty on coal is another Of the difficultes An
thracite coal Is free. but bituminous pays a spc-
duced only in Nova Scotia but the Of trans
portation over loo miles makes IT mpGssbTr rho FOR
therefore import coal and pay the tax.
Another instance: In Western Ontario twelve
%ss rsson from OF ns nf g @ Ss
pumped. producing on an average about one barrel
grade Of petroleum than that ohaincd from the
Pennsyvania wells. and between the Canadian and
the American refined oil there is no comparison.
The latter Is superior In every respect just os II Is
much cheaper To compel Canadians to by on,
per gallon. about equal to 100 per cent al vaiorcm
ASKING FOR HIGH DUTIES.
Men representing every line Of industry came he
fore the Commission and asked that the present
high range of duties be ma;ntained some asked
that II be increased. In several instances these
manufacturers stated that they were exporting
goods Great Britain. This the case with
the furniture trade When asked why they could
compete In the foreign market with the Americans
and yet needed so much protection at home. they
gave the same answer that about all gave when the
question was pressed home. They needed protec-
ton against American manufacturers because
Americans made OF Canada slaughter market"
According TO these men. American manufacturers
overproduced. and then they unloaded upon the
Canadian market. selling here much cheaper than
they did at home. no doubt to the benefit OF the
Canadian consumer but 10 the great annoyance and
loss OF the Canadian manufacturer The American
manufacturer. too had certain natural and very
valuable conditions which gave him great advan-
tagc the Canadian. For instance. sewer pipe
manufacturers have protection Of 35 per cent and
they wish no less for. II II. they claim to have
difficulty In holding the market. The American
sewer-ppc maker had his clay and coal close to-
gether. practically in the same pit. while the Cana
dian had to transport one the other and pay duty
on his coal
One man In Hamilton said he about to begin
the manufacture OF flint or sand paper II hign
duty were placed upon such goods. he would be
able to supply the Canadian market. The furniture
makers al Woodstock asked that sandpapcr be free
because It was practically material to their
industry.
Cigar manufacturers wished blow struck at the
Spanish authorities In Cuba The Ministers were
told OF the heavy export duty placed Cuban leaf
tobacco as to compel foreigners to buy Cuban
cigars. These Canadian manufacturers asked that
such high import duty be placed cigars thai 81
ada in competition with domestic cigars. That re-