The Portland daily press., 1897-01-16

Visit wasbineton-Are Prepared to
Offer Liberal Concessions, But Ihere 10
Nothing We Can Give In Return
Washinoton. January f5.-When the
Liberal party came into power a1 the
elections in Canada, it was part OF lSs
declared purpose TO secure more lnoi
trade relstiops with the United States.
To accomplish this result treaty with
Great Britain must first be negotiated
and to learn the sentiment OF the nat
ional lawmakers of this country respect
ing such an arrangement is the purpose
of Messrs. Charlton and Farrer, Liberal
members of the Canadian Parliament,
who reached Washington yesterday.
Both gentlemen announced that they
came in an unofficial capacity and sim
ply to talk with public men, to
learn how far thsir cooperation might pe
secured In the negotiation of a CONNER
oial treaty between Canada and the
United States, Yesterday Nr. Farrar
spoke with Mr.. Dingley of Maine, chair
man of the ways and means committee
with reference to this matter and during
the day he talked with several other
members of the. committee. Today he and
Mr.. Charlton continued their missionary
work but far as can be learned the re-
suits have not been satisfactory.
The objection raised by the Americans
is that the natural products of both coun-
tries are the5same, owing tossimaiar Gil
.natic and soil conditions.
The members of the ways and means
committee for example, will not agree
that. even the present rate of duty on
foreign farm products, to say not thing
of lower rate of duty, will be per-
mitted. There is an urgent demand from
A merican farmers along the entire north
ern border, for the restoration OF the NC
Kinley rate of duty, on lay, peeves
horses, breadstuffs and farm producus,
generally.
AS far as these articles are concerned
no reciprocity Is possible. The same Is
true OF luIn ber. Under the present law
lamentations of the lumber of Canada
has been enormously increased and SO
keenly have American lumbermen felt
the competition of their Canadian neigh
bors that they will demand very con-
siderable increase above the old duty.
AS far as manufacturers are concerned
it is not believed the Canadians will ac-
cent any arrangement which will give
Americans practical control of their mar
kets. as would.be the case if reciprocity
in manufactures of iron, steel and other
articles were permitted.
Canada. according to Mr.. Barrer, Is
ready to put the North Atlantic fishery
question on a more satisfactory footing
and to come to bet 'er understanding as
regards wrecking on the Great Lakes,
the alien labor law and other matters 10
dispute. The Canadian government is
prepared to enter into joint scheme Tor
deepening the st. Lawrence route from
Duluth and Chicago to tidewAter and for
making the lake traffic free tohCanadian
and American vessels alike, offerlng Id
return to give the United States joint
control over the canals.
Public men to whom these fiatterlnR
concessions have been outlined, fully ap-
preciate the advantages which would
result. but they cannot see how they can
offer Canada any advantages In return
that would not probably more than OIL
set the concessions granted.
Some of the Senators think that Cana
| da would insist as part or the arrange
| ment upon the continuance Of the bond
ing privilege now enjoyed by the Grand
Trunk and Canadian Pacific railroads,
and which many Americans feel works
Injustice to American railways, notwlth'
standing the people along the northeru
border in New England and the North
west derive great benefit from their uss
of the Canadian roads. Altogether the
situation, if representatives and senators
who were spoken with today may be be
lieved, is full of uncertainty, with she
chances strongly against any convenblor
such as the Liberal party propose.