New-York tribune., 1896-12-26
TARIFF TINKERS IN CANADA
THE LIBERAL PARTY's TASK ON AS
SUMING POWER.
AK INQUIRY NOW BEING HELD-vIEws THAT

AN INQUIRY NOW BEING HELD-V1EWS THAT
ARE BROUGHT OFT.
Montreal Que, Dee. 2o.-Speakng generally the
Liberal party in Canada has always been the oi'-
poncnt CT a high customs tariff During It's tenure
OF Office from 1874 to 1873 it resisted the demand
for protection. and during the long period OF Con-
servatve rule that followed the Liberals were
either fighting tariff protection or advocating iscai
schemes whose adoption would have replaced the
policy then In force After eighteen years wan
derings in the wilderness of opposition Mr. i.aurier
has proved himself the Joshua Of his party py
leading them into the promised land OF power
The elections OF June last were fought on va
riety of issues. There the unsavory record oil
the Conservative party as public administrators.
and the cry of "thc okl flag and the old policy
could not divert public attention from old scandals
and new scandals. great and small In"n' 100 'ic
Manitoba school case forced itself to the front ana
for a time pushed other issues into the DICK
ground Boomerang-likc It turned upon the men
who hurled 1t into the political arena IN the nope
Of securing a party advantage But beneath these
matters was the fundamental and permanent Is
sue the trade policy OF the country. The old Ad-
minisi ration has been turned out the school case
has been settled but the questions OF protection
and tariff reform remain.
The Views of the Liberal party upon this Issue
were clearly set forth In the platform adopted at
the general convention held in Ottawa in 1886 That
platform declared for tariff reform: high pro-
tecive duties condemned. and relief was
promised to the people whom the Liberals asserted
had been carrying too heavy a burden Of taxation.
The Liberals won. and now. being in power they
must put principles into practice. The Govern
ment will meet Parliament during the coming win
ter, probably in February. and then the measure
of tariff reform will be brought down. Already
work upon this line has begun. a commission. COM
posed Of four Minister'S has taken the field for the
purpose of obtaining the Views OF all interests re-
spectng the policy OF protection and possible tar
IN reduction. Nearly three weeks have been spent
In the Province OF Ontario. Montreal was then Wis.,
tied. and after the Christmas holidays the inquiry
will be opened In the maritime provinces.
BEFORE THE CONFEDERATION.
Prior to confederation Canada comprised what Is
now known Quebec and Ontario. and the united
provinces had customs tariff that averaged %
per cent Each OF the maritime provinces had sepa-
rate governments. and each had It's own tariff. These
provincial tariffs averaged l. per cent. In 1861 the
provinces of British North America united. form
ing the Dominion OF Canada. md by the ac; OF
union all matters relating to trade ana commerce
were placed under the exclusive jurisdiction of the
Federal Parliament The provinces had therefore
to abandon their tariffs. while the central authori-
ties set up one for all Canada against the world.
The maritime provinces had long lived under low
tariff. and when they joined Western Canada they
refused TO accept the higher tariff OF the laite-.
As consequence the Canadian Parliament adopt
ed fhe lower tariff OF 10 per cent. In lTf the
posure OF the Pacific scandal drove tho Conscrva-
tives from office. and the Liberals. under Alexan-
der Mackenzie came into power. Sir Richard
Cartwright WAS Minister OF Finance. and In 1916
they advanced the tariff from an average rate OF
Is per cent 10 i72 per cent. Tho change was made
for revenue purposes only. The life OF that Parlla
ment expired In 1873. and year before the gen
cral elections the Conservative party led by the
late Sir John Macdonald. began crusade OF pro-
lection. They carried the cry into every consttu-
ency OF Canada. and In fully two-i birds Of them
they won. Once moro in power. tho Conservatives
set about establishing the protective National
policy. In 1879 tho tariff raised at one bound
from III 10 35 per cent. 1t sustained at three
succeeding general elections ~ ls'2 lss, and lSo..
In the latter contest the Government won by 80
narrow a margin that their trade policy seemed 10
Longer invincible. Changes demanded. and
tho Government. seemed 70 Yield. They 30; about
tariff tnkcring In Difference TO clamors for rcdlr-
t.on: but II reform" In appearance only. for
the tariff was lowered only 2iz per cont. and thcro
II stands to-day With that tarn the Liberals have
10 deal.