The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-18

tary Ling read a communication from w.
l. Merry, secretary Of the Chamoer or
Commerce. Of San Francisco, making in
quiry as 10 the recent action Of the meet
ing OF citizens az which a resolution was
adopted against the Nicaragua canal Mr..
Merry expressed himself as being sur
prised az the reversal in sentiment of The
Seattle chamber. and said that the report
had excited the wonder and comment on
the streets of San Francisco Of many bust
ness men. Mr.. Ling answered the inquiry
as follows:
Il have received your letter Of the 18th
inst. relative to the meeting that was
held In the rooms OF the Chamber OF
Commerce. in connection with the Mica
raguan canal.
citizens, not OF the Chamber OF Com
merce- The resolution was a resolution
OF the citizens not OF the Chamber OF
Commerce. The Chamber OF Commerce
has not reversed It's position in regard 10
the Nicaraguan canal
A circular from the immigration Re
striction League OF Boston. was received
and read and referred to the com aittee
on state and national affairs. The circu-
lar contained a review Of the existing i'm
migration laws and presidential reconmen-
datlons regarding the important subject
Besides the circular. there was enclosed a
copy Of a draft fer bill 10 amend the ex-
listing laws en- immigration OF the United
States.
A communication from George De Vec-
mon, OF the Seattle mining bureau. was
read. Ii contained a proposition 10 COM
bine the mining bureau with the depart
ment OF mines and mining of the chamber
suggesting the value OF cooperation. The
communication was referred to the COM
mittee on mines and mining TO investigate.
The personnel Of the mining bureaus
membership will be canvassed and the
members as individuals will be invited 10
Join the Chamber OF Commerce and to CO.
operate as members of that body.
Some correspondence relative TO the
Alaska boundary that passed between
Senator Turner and Gen. Metcalfe. was
read and the chamber then turned its at
tention 10 a draft Of an important me-
mortal addressed 10 congress that Mayor
w. y. Wood submitted. The first course
that the memorial took was in It's refer
ence to a committee with instructions 10
report week hence. Some OF the feat
ures OF the paper. however. prompted
discussion. particularly that in reference
10 the tariff on coal. upon which &. j.
Smith threw some additional light, reading
a circular that the coal mining companies
OF the state had addressed to the congress
sional committee on ways and means. Mr..
Smiths talk resulted In the withdrawal OF
the matter from the hands of the commit
tee. which was 10 report In a week, and
the memorial was Immediately adopted.
Following is the full text of the paper as
II will be sent TO Washington:
ITO the Honorable Senate and House of
personalities of the United States.
and TO the Honorable House Committee
OF Ways and Means;
'+The Chamber OF Commerce OF the city
OF Seattle understands that Ii is the wish
OF the people of this nation, expressed
a the polls in November last. and the
policy OF the present administration anu
OF q large majority of the recently elected
corgressmen, that the tariff laws be so
amended as to produce a much larger rev.
enue for the general government and
that ii is the intention to so amend them
al the present special session of our ma
tionai iawmaking body. With this wish
and policy this chamber is strongly in ac-
cord. We believe that the revenues
should be ample, not only for the ordi-
nary purposes OF the government, but for
the payment OF the public debt and for
any exigency likely 10 occur In our public
affairs.
I'm the reimbursement OF tariff rates now
under consideration, We beg 10 ask your
careful consideration OF matters In which
the state Of Washington has direct inter-
est. leaving 10 other bodies representing
other localities the interests OF their i'm
mediate constituencies.
Lumber.
THE state of Washington is possessed
OF magnificent forests, from which vast
quantities Of timber have In the past been
taken. In fact. the cutting and market
ing OF this timber was the first Industry
developed by our people, and has always
been the chief one. IL IL conservatiEely
estimated that the standing timber with
in our borders exceeds 500 ofo, COS, 90 feet,
and the annual cut of our sawmills is in the
nelghborhood Of 100 01,o0J feet. our Ca
madam neighboTs OF the province Of Brit
ish Columbia have similar forests, and
ara the chief competitors Of our people
IN the markets OF the world There, how
ever, lumDermen are permitted by a
stumpage act to take certain timber with
out purchase of the lands and 10 escape
taNs ton thereby. Wages have also been
lower there generally than here. Favored
in these ways they have been enabled 10
hold their own markets against competi-
ton from this side, and not only that,
but during the past two wears TO success
fully invade our own domestic markets.
Twenty million feet OF lumber have gone
into California ports during the past
twelve months from British Columbia
nais, lumber that otherwise would nave
gone from oregon ami Washington mills.
Further, these Canadian mltmeu come
20 the ports Of Puget sound with their
products. and flnd sale for them at proiit-
able rates. Not more than two weeks ago
"a schooner load o. 80 90 feet was brought
10 Seattle and placed on snip here load
ing for Japan and China such Things
were unknown prior 10 the passage OF the
Wilson tariff bill and were il not for that
measure would be unknown TO-DAY Lnfn-
Der imp0TtatloDs have increased IN the
United states frons 90 90. go feet 70 l,to".-
90 go feet per suBum during the past four
years. THIS chamber and our people fore
saw this misfortune and then vigorously
bat unavail.uEiy fled their protests IN ne
h8ls OF congress. II IS nov urged that
the former duties upon woods be restored,
ard IN this suggestion We strongly and
earnestly concur.
Coal.
Another Of the Industries of our peo-
PIE huTffGliy affected BY the " lison tariff
bill Ras that connected with the mining
cf coal. There again We come snto com
PETITION with British Columbia on disa9-
outrageous terms Their principal mines
ar3 located az the waters edge. and there
Is no charge for transports ton 20 the
snip. There. e so. Chinese are &4aoEed 70
a.. a. L.