The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-07-19
South American Delegates Not Over.
Enthusiastic.
RIGHT in THEORY BUT NOT
PRACTICAL, SAYS ONE.
Delegates Return to Philadelphia After
Forty Days Tour of COuntry-Com-
mercial Relations Between Nations
Discassed-Idea Advanced That Our
Manufactures Are Too High Priced.

Manufactures Are Too High Priced.
Philadelphia. july 1S.-The commercial
representatives of Mexico, Central ana
Southern America, who last night re-
turned from their forty days tour OF the
| industrial centres of the country as
sembled today at the Philadelphia Com
mercial Museum and held symposium
on the subject of reciprocity. The meet
ing was of parliamentary nature and
number of speeches were made, several OF
the delegates expressing decided views on
the tariff question. A general discussion
of the subject followed. Dr. Gustaye
Neiderlein, scientific director of the
museum, presided.
The most pronounced free trader OF the
party, Arthur S. H. Hitchins of Rio de
Janeiro, had this to say:
leg first to signify my sincere thanks
for the exceeding kindness which and
the other delegates have met in all cities
which we have visited in this country
We have been received in your chambers
of commerce, your universities, your
clubs and your homes, and on every occa-
sion we have been struck with the Won
derful advancement which every branch
has shown us.
"Reciprocity-if it were as easy between
nations as between individuals would un-
doubtedly by just definition of fair and
friendly trade, but circumstances Often
almost always, create difficulties which
prevent practical realization of such a
disposition.
81 believe that the exceptional advan-
tages Canada is giving to Great Britain
are legislative blunders, and time will
prove it, They are opposed to the broad
and liberal laws which secured to Eng
land her extensive foreign trade. With
this view, cannot believe that their re-
ciprocity (for-such it isl will last for
long, and it would be still more difficult
to have exceptional laws favoring the
many nations on the American continent.
Europe must necessarily be sought after
both by North and South America, and it
would be inconsiderate to propose any
legislation that would exclude existing
equality whereby all nations are rated
alike.
81 have heard much of the Monroe
doctrine, but surely such ideas cannot
apply to trade. Let US, gentlemen, forego
all petty notions that are not based on
sound reasoning and let US circumscrfbe
our desire within possible scope We
have seen on our tour that the United
States produce machinery and many of
the articles which we import at present
from other countries and we have noticed
that these states also import many things
similar to what we buy in Europe. I
must say, however, that the majority of
your manufactures, although in most
ways fitted for our markets are too high
priced and there will be no increasing
foreign trade until there is reduction in
the general scale of prices.
'We have seen how your factories en-
ploy most advanced machinery, but these
machine are exported, copied and in some
cases improved on; others are thereby
enabled to compete with you by using
your own inventions, by reduced price of
labor and untaxed cost of raw material
You are favored with home raised quanti-
ties of much of the raw material used; do
not enhance its cost if it has to go abroad.
Your workmen are very skilled, but do
not underrate the foreigner, and to all
your advantages add what free trade can
alone secure, permanent and engrossing
international commerce which will ensure
the future of every workman in his won
derful country. This is what under
stand by reciprocity, and my most earnest
wish is that in such an example we, in
our country will find lesson and an in
centive to do likewise
Mr.. Hitchins' views were for the most
part seconded by Carlos Fix Klett, an ex-
tensive exporter of wool and hides from