The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-19

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, July 18.-The
commercial representatives of Mexico.
Central and South America, who. last
night, returned from their forty-days
tour of the Industrial centers of the
country, assembled today at the Phila-
delphia Commercial museum and held
symposium on the subject of reciproc-
1ty. The meeting was Of a parliament
airy 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.. Gustave Neider-
lein, scientific director Of the museum.
presided BY way of introduction, he
said:
The United States congress is now passing
the tariff bill. and in the amendments a
special power is given to the president to
lower the tariff quotation 20 per cent for
eacn article which can be included in treaties
oil reciprocity. The question of reciprocity
Is the most difficult in the worlds economy
ana our institution has been established with
the aim to come nearer the solution of this
great problem Our congress is part of this
WORK, necessary to see clearer in the world s
production eI, j, and consumption. We limited
ourselves this time to America as the part of
the world which not only historically and
geographically shall be considered as one, but
also commercially and economically have COM
mon interests.
The most pronounced free trader of
the party Arthur S. H Hitchings, of
Rio de JanefrO had this to saw:
beg, first, to signify my sincere thanks
for the exceeding kindness which 1 and the
other delegates have met with in all the
cities we have visited in this country We
have been received in your chambers of COM
merce, your universities, your clubs and your
homes and on every occasion we have been
struck with the wonderful advancement which
every branch has shown us,
Reclproc1ty-lf 1t were as easy between ma
lions as between individuals would undoubt-
ed.y be just definition of fair and friendly
trade but circumstances often, almost always,
create difficulties which prevent practical
realization of such a disposition. That
friendly countries should be inclined to make
1t a system is natural, but 1 do not think
1t can exist without free trade, and 1 would
be wrong in holding out prospects which
would indicate any treaty by which Brazil
would bind itself to favor one country more
than others.
| 1 believe that the exceptional advantages
Canada is giving Great Britain are legisla-
tive blunders, and time will prove 1t. They
are Nopposed to the broad and liberal laws
| which secured to England her extensive for
eign trade. With this view, I cannot believe
that their reciprocity (for such it isl will last
for long, and 1t would be still more difficult
to have exceptional laws favoring the many
nations on the American continent The in
terests of these nations are not alike, nor
can their produce and manufactures find an
outlet and consumption within their respective
or united boundaries. Europe must necessa-
| rily be sought after both by North and South
America, and 1T would be inconsiderate to
propose any legislation that would exclude ex-
| listing equality whereby all nations are treated
| alike Such legislation would interfere with
production, for it would lead to surplus stock
| and exact quantities for barter would be re-
| quired instead of progressive increase which
only greater and greater intercourse with the
! whole world can foster and regulate.
l 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 circumscribe our desires within a pos
| stble 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 manu-
features, although in most ways fitted for
our markets, are too high-priced, and there
will be no increase in foreign trade until