The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-19
FREE TRADE IN HIGH FAVOR.
PAN AMERICAN DELEGATES DIS
CUSS RECIPROCITY,


Must Appreciate so as to Bring
Cheaper Living and More COntent-
ment.
Philadelphia, July 1s-The commercial
representatives of Mexico and central and
South America. who last night returned
from their forty days tour of the in
dustrial centers of the country, assembled
to-day at the Philadelphia commercial
museum, and held a symposium on the
subject of reciprocity. The meeting was
of parliamentary nature, and a num-
ber of speeches were made Several OF
the delegates expressed decided Views on
the tariff question: and a general discus
sion of the subject followed.
DIR. Gustav Neiderlein, scientific director
Of the museum, presided. BY way of in
PRODUCTION he said: THE United States
congress is now passing tariff bill and in
the amendments a special power is given
to the President to lower the tariff quo
tation 20 per cent. for each article which
can be included in treaties of reciprocity.
The question of reciprocity is the most
difficult in the worlds economy, and our
institution has been established with the
aim to come nearer the solution Of this
great problem. Our congress is a part of
this work, necessary to see clearer in the
worlds production and consumption. We
limited ourselves this time to America as
the part OF the world which not only his
torically and geographically shall be con-
| considered as one, but which also com
mercially and economically have common
interests"
The most pronounced free trader of the
party, Arthur S. H. Hitching of Rio de
Janeiro, had this to say: Il beg, first, to
signify my sincere thanks for the exceed
ing kindness which I and the other dele
gates 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 ad-
vancements which every branch has
shown. Reciproeity-if it were as easy
between nations as between individuals
would undoubtedly be Just definition of
fair and friendly trade, but circumstances
| often, almost always, create difficulties
which prevent a practical realization of
such a disposition. That friendly coun-
tries should be inclined to make it a sys-
tenn is natural, but ] do not think It can
| exist without free trade and I would be
wrong in holding out prospects which
would indicate any treaty by which Bra
zl would bind itself 70 favor one country
more than others. / believe that the ex-
ceptional advantages Canada is giving to
| Great Britain are huge bunders and time
will prove ii. They are opposed to the
| broad and liberal laws which secured to
| England her extensive foreign trade. With
| this view, / cannot believe that their
reciprocity Cfor such 1t is) will last for
long, and IL would be still more difficult
to have exceptional laws favoring the
many nations on the American continent.
I'VE 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. / must say. however, that the
majority of your manufacturers, although
in most ways fitted for our markets are
too high-priced and there will be no in
creasng foreign trade until there is a re-
duction in the general scale of prices You
have 10 appreciate your dollars which
have hitherto been so easily earned; you
must make their purchasing power greater
so that cheaper living will follow and more
contentment. But with protective duties
and inflated currency such results cannot
be attained and 1t has been my pleasure
in the intercourse with your countrymen
to find that the majority agree In belief
that protection has concluded its good
work that its permanence will be effec-
lively pernicious and that your currency
requires without delay TO be placed beyond
politics or the manipulation of silver
trusts
you are favored with home raised
quantities or much of the raw material
used, do not enhance its cost II II has to
go abroad Your machinery is most ef-
fective. but do not expect too much OF It.
Your workmcn are very skilled, but do
not underrate the foreigner and 10 all
your advantages add what free trade can
alone secure-a permanent and engrossng
International commerce, which will en-
sure the future Of every workman in the
wonderful country. This is what / un-
derstand by reciprocity. and my most
earnest wish Is that IN such an example
we In our country will find a lesson and
an incentive 20 do likewise"
Mr.. HtchlngT views were for the most
part seconded by Carlos Lix Klett, an
extensive exporter of wool and hides
from the Argentine Republic but Mauro
Fernandez former minister Of finance OF
Costa Rlca Central America, made a
strong plea In favor Of protection. lie de-
clareh that the question came down TO
contest between the necessity Of the poll
tcian. which was protection, and the as
plraton Of the sclentist-freo trade "The
United States r. right 10 protect her in
dustries until she can walk alone" he
exclaimed FOR IN some political respects
she Is still a baby"
The meeting hereupon resolved Itself
into a debate between the free traders
and the protectionlsts Of the party. Louis
A. Dillon Of Ecuador told his hearers that
his country imported very much more
from the United states than they exported
10 them, but the business men OF his coun-
try had found that they could do better
with Europe. where they were enabled 20
secure very much smaller rates OF freight.
+. Ferrar Perez special representative
OF the Mexican government, said that as
his country increased It's Industries. II had
az the same time been reducing its tariff.
Capt. j. Cordeha da Graca. engineer and
naval officer OF Brazil made free trade
argument. characterizing the present tar
~ "a