Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-04-23

II
Hit Us and Eavey Great Britain-Does
| General Rule Will He to Wait and ..see
| What Washington Is Going to Do About
the Business"
Ottawa, Can, April 23.-Finance Min
| lister Fielding delivered his budget
| speech in the house of commons yester-
/ day. He dealt first with the finances of
| the country. pointing out that there was
deficit of s33o.ooo for the financial year
| ended in June. 1895; for the current
financial year he estimated that the de-
| ficiency would reach 100000, and for
the next financial year he estimated
that. notwithstanding the changes in
| the tariff, there would be a shortage OF
| at least s750.000. During the present
year the public debt had increased ST.
| 100000, and would increase during the
| following year by at least $2,75O,OO0
Taking UP the question of tariffs Field
ing attacked the national or high pro-
| tective policy which has been in force
| in Canada for many years. He said
that policy had proved most dismal
failure. and that while manufacturers
government did not propose to strike it
| down at once. because in doing SO the
laborers and others concerned would
have to be considered as well as the
manufacturers.
Refers TO Uncle Sans Policy.
When the Liberal party had laid down
| its policy on the tariff question in con-
vention in Ottawa in 1893 the United
States had just a little before that time
declared through the Democratic party
| In favor of tariff reform. The Canadian
Liberals followed suit, with the idea
that an opportunity would be given to
the United States to enter into reciproc-
ity with this country. Since that time
the United States had returned to high
protection, and now there was little
prospect OF securing a reciprocity with
that country. He did not believe that
the Dingley bill was framed against
Canada, but its effect was to prevent
freer trade relations with Canada.
Does Not Propose Retaliation.
He did not propose any retaliation
against the United States. There were
men in Canada who wanted an eye for
an eye and tooth for tooth. 1t would
not be wisdom to adopt such a policy.
He did not giveup all hope of reciproc-
ity with the United States. but in the
meantime Canada would deal with those
countries which were willing to deal
with her. While there was to be a gen
eral tariff, yet there was going to he a
preferential tariff for those countries
that were willing to deal with this
country. That preferential tariff would
be against the United States and In IA
vor of the products Of Great Britain.
STATES SOME OF THE RATES.
Several Schedules in Which We Arc In
terested-The Duty on Coal
Taking up the schedules in detail
Fielding said the government proposed to
put corn on the free list excepting that
used by distillers, which would continue
to pay duty Of 7A per cent. bushel.
On raw rice the duty was increased
from three-tenths of q cent to three
quarters Of a cent per pound. Fish and
fish products were to remain as in the
existing tariff. Paper hangings were all
to pay ad valorem duties of 35 per cent.
instead Of ad valorem and specific
duties as at present. Chemicals and
drugs were to remain unchanged. IL
Eliminating oils were to be reduced one
cent per gallon. Petroleum was to be
reduced from to 21s cents a gallon,
and the restrictions which prevented
the sale Of oil from tanks removed.
On bltuminOus coal there was to be no
reduction Of duty. If the United States
kept its duty at 40 cents a ton on btu
minous coal and did not adopt the
Dingley rate the Canadian government
would be prepared to reduce the duty
to 40 cents instead of IS cents a ton
I'VE PROPOSE" said Fielding, in con-
cluding his explanation of the coal
schedule, ito defer action to see what
they are going to do about it at WASH
ington." Ale, beer and porter remain
unchanged. On spirits, including
whisky, alcohol, etc, the excise duty
now is $2.25 per gallon. This has been
increased to $40 per gallon
Animals and agricultural products,
which arc now imported from the Unit
ed States. will remain largely as at
present. The duty on corn meal is re-
duced from 40 cents to 25 cents per bar
rel. Wheat is dutiable at II cents per
bushel instead OF Is cents. and -four
is reduced from IS cents to 60 a barrel.
Fielding announced that the tariff
duties announced were to be known as
the general tariff list" A special tariff
list making reductions in favor OF i'm
ports from Great Britain as against
United States imports would be given
out later.