The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-11-12
SIR w11FRID LAURIER.


mining regions of British Columbia, the
fisheries trouble along the great lakes,
the bonded privilege granted Canadian
railroads, the controversy over rights
in the Frazier river, British Columbia.
and in Puget sound, and the question
Of a reciprocity arrangement between
the United States and Canada.
The essential features of Sir Wilfrids s
mission were communicated to the Off
cials here by persons fully advised of
the premiers plans, and it can be said
that the suggestion that the decks be
cleared of existing disputes between
Canada and the United States met with
the favor of the administration. While
the Bering sea settlement occasioned
the visit of the Canadian premier, the
Canadian authorities attach less i'm
portance to it than they do to the other
questions mentioned. They say that
the Canadian sealing interest is confined
almost entirely to the far western ter
Iritory. where the sealers fit out and
that even there a considerable percent
age Of the so called Canadian sealers-
hail from Seattle, San Francisco and
other American ports, who fit out in
Canadian ports under the British flag
ed is not disclosed, but little doubt, it
is said, is felt by the Canadians that an
amicable adjustment can be made.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier and his associates
will urge strongly that the border i'm
migration question be settled and on
this point will confer with the presi-
dent. Under the premier's direction the
Canadian parliament passed an alien
immigration law last spring, by which
American contractors and American la
Dor were barred from competing in the
work on the Crows Nest Pass railway.
a government undertaking in western
Canada. On the other hand, it is claim
ed by the Canadians that about 5000
Americans are in the Klondike terrific
ry belonging to Canada and that fully
10000 American contract laborers are
working in the mines of British Colum-
bia. The United States immigration
laws, it is asserted. are administered
with harshness along the Canadian bor-
der and are a daily source of irritation.
Sir Wilfrid, therefore, will suggest that
the causes of irritation be removed on
both sides, and it is understood that he
is prepared to offer a repeal of Cana
dian restrictions in the Klondike and
other regions if the administration of
the American law is made more lenient.
In this connection also the co-opera-
ton of the United States is desired in
the plans of the Canadian authorities
to make an easy route to the Klondike.
The proposed route is by boat from
Fort Wrangle to the Stickene river,
United States, and up the Stickene wa
Tasland lake to the Yukon river and
thence to the goldfields. AS the Stickene
river is on American SOIL 1t is desired
to overcome any possible controversy.
although the treaty of Washington is
said to make the navigation of the river
free to the Canadians and Americans
alike. The need of this short route un-
der the patronage of the Dominion is
felt by the Canadian premier to be i'm
perative, in view of information reach
ing them that $4,000 Australians will
come to the Klondike in the spring. A
total of $4,000 colonists is expected to
head that way
On the matter of reciprocity, the gen.
eral purpose of the negotiations will be
to give the United States the benefit OF
the minimum clause of the present Ca
madam law in exchange for the 20 per
cent reduction allowed under the Ding
ley law. The desire of Sir Wilfrid and
his associates will be to confine the ar
rangement to a few important articles.
allowing time to develop its useful
ness and extend it's scope. On the part
of Canada the articles likely to be pro-
posed for reciprocity are fish. coal, lum-
her and barley. On the part of the
United States the articles likely to fig
IRE in the negotiations are coal, coal
oil, com, railway and electrical sup
,.ies machinery of all kinds, agricul
tural implements, native woods, watch
es, clocks. cotton and certain forms of
iron and steel. The Canadian law pc
nits one-eighth reduction of duties
ms year and one-fourth reduction next
year to such countries as give adj
vantage to Canada. At present Brit
ish goods get this reduction, while
American goods do not.
Killed by Boiler Explosion.