The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-18
Canadian Reciprocity.

Jhe TWO members Of the Canadldn
pa rljament Messrs. Charlton and Far
rer, who have been depUted Ivy the
Larrier administration to sound Amer
lean sentiment with reference to a
possible reciprocity treaty between the
Dominion government and that of the
United States, have arrived at Wash
ington and are already pushing their
informal Inquiries among the leaders i'll
congress. Although they have been
on the ground for only few days they
are reported to have already perceived |
the likelihood that their mission will |
prove fruitless.
They find. it is said that the senti-
ment Of those representatives and sena- |
tors who are most likely to have intln- |
ence in the framing of the next tariff |
is almost unanimously in favor, not of |
lower but of higher American duties |
on Canadian imports. As the Wash |
ington correspondence of the Philadel- |
phia Ledger points out, there Is an |
urgent demand from the American
farmers along the entire northern bor-
der for 4 restoration of the Mckinley
breadstuffs and farm products gener-
ally, So far as these articles are con-
cerned no reciprocity is possible. The
same is true of lumber. Under the
present law the importations of lum-
Der from Canada have been enormously
increased, and so keenly have the
American lumbermen felt the competi-
tion OF their Canadian neighbors that
they Will not only demand the old rate
of duty, but very considerable in
crease above that. SO far as manu-
facturers are concerned it is not be-
lieved that the Canadians will accept
any arrangement which will give the
Americans a practical control of their
market as would be the case if recip-
rocity in manufactures of iron. steel
and other articles We're permitted
The Canadian ENJOYS make glitter
ing overtures. They offer to do any
thing within reason to promote neigh
borly feeling; but the great difficulty
Is that in return for these concessions
we getfre access to the markets of only
about 100000 persons while they get
access to the markets of over 10000, 000
The trade at best seems bound to be
inequitable. The subject merits care
full and kindly investigation, but for
every dollar given the United States
should see to it that it will stand a rea-
sonable chance to get at least one other
dollar in return.
AS a rule it is safe to assume that
when a man in politics is persistently
and intemperately assailed in the news
papers he is a great deal whittier than
he is painted. EXcoriation and vitu-
peration appear to be Indispensable
prices of political success This thought
is suggested at this time by the extra
| ordinary newspaper clamor which has
lately been directed against the United
States senatorial candidacy of Alder
man Martin b. Madden, of Illinois. ,'e
| personally know nothing whatever
about Madden, and the natural infer
ence is that he is not of senatorial size,
else he would be more widely known;
| but the way he has been attacked in
| the past few weeks by the almost
unanimous press of Chicago has Great
| ed an impression that he must be a
good deal of character. Otherwise,
why should he be abused so?
|
1t is not a complimentary fact that
Pennsylvania. while ranking second in
| population and wealth among the
states, should rank only twentieth in
the number Of books in her public IL
braries. Where Massachusetts has ,235,
| or more than a book apiece, We have
| but per thousand inhabitants. md as
yet very little effort is being made to
correct the poor showing In the New
England states the free library is re-
earded al u public necessity second
only to the free church and the free
school, and state aid puts second dol
lar on top of every dollar collected
| locally for library purposes. We in
| Pennsylvania have much yet to learn.
| -
1t Is said an expedition is ready 70 sail
from New York for Cuba equipped with
1000, 900 cartridges, 5000 rifles, four
rapid-tire guns, 1000 gun cartridges
| and large quantity of dynamite and
hospital stores; but government espion-
age keeps it in check. 1t is a shame
that Uncle Sam should have to play
the ferret against Cuba and for a coun-
try like Spain.
Congressman Sayers, of Texas, has
introduced bill which if passed would
establish a permanent census depart
ment at an annual cost for wages of
only about $65, 900. This would be a
| great economy over the present plan
and it is believed would also produce
much better and prompter results.
Senator LeXoW, of New York, wants
the legislature to vote an appropria-
tion to pay the expenses of a special
committee to investigate trusts. Fol
all the good it would do, the Empire
state might better save it's money.
Concerning the selection of Johr
Sherman as secretary of state it may
be said that precedent favored it; thai
Major McKinleys personal obligations
left no other choice open and that it vii
enrich the next cabinet with a wealth
of experience such as could be brought