The herald., 1897-12-30
Anxious Over Reciprocity
X tHt af
Treaties
THE BURDEN IS TOO HEAVY
ycR THE LU1rBER1rEN TO BEAR
ALL ALONE
Ambasbador pauncefote Anxious to
Link White Pine Duties With
Sealing Regulations
ssoclated Press Special wirs

associated Press Special Wirs
WASHINGTON. Dec 2s.-The lumber
and other interests which might be af-
fected by reciprocity treaties are watch
Ing closely. through their representa-
tives here all that concerns their spe-
clal interests. The man most active in
the interest Of lumber IL Theophilis
Tunis, chairman of the executive COM
mittee Of the National Lumbermen's as
ISOLATION. He has had several inter-
views with Mr.. Kasson, who is in charge
Of reciprocity negotiations for the state
department. and has received a letter
from him announcing the success of ef
forts to prevent Argentine striking a
blow at pine.
Z Mr.. Tunis has also been informed that
. cable from our minister in Rio an
nounces that the Brazilian government
will remove the discriminating exac-
tions against our ship owners, which
should result In the resumption of our
Hour trade with that port. He is of the
opinion that the discriminating clauses
Of the Dingley bill caused these decisions
Of Brazil and Argentine. The lumber
men are now chiefly apprehensive that
their product may have to bear the brunt
OF Canadian reciprocity negotiations.
and Mr.. Tunis today authorized the fol-
lowing interview on this phase of the re-
ciprocity problem:
1T IL evident the administration is
bent on commercial treaty with Can
ada under section four Of the Dingley
bill. The lumbermen are now unwilling
to be understood as opposing any policy
Of the government looking to the extern
sion Of our export trade, and will cheer
fully 60 as far in the contamination OF
that policy as win any other interest, but
ire unalterably opposed to sharing with
coal and fish the burden Of a policy which
the great masses Of our people are ut
terly Indifferent to, but which Is urged on
the administration by q few Americans
Interested in the seal fisheries and few
other American citizens who are owners
es Canadian forests.
Az matter of principle, policy and
business. the average American student
of every day affairs can see no more rea-
son. Justice or demand for reciprocity
with Canada than with her imperial
mother. our best customer for wheat,
corn, hay, cotton. lumber, etc.. all of
which she buys. not on any sentimental
grounds, but simply because she wants
them. The danger to our interests lies
tsslth' Reeips0city with nations located In
the same temperate gone with ours and
of whose products we are entirely in
dependent. The case may be different
in the countries in the tropics producing
things which we need and which cannot
be produced at home."
Representatives and senators from the
south, regardless of politics. realize.that
reduction in the duty on white pine
would be as harmful to them and their
constituents as 1t is to the white pine,
hemlock and spruce interests of Michi-
gan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsyl-
vania, New England and the Pacific
coast, and in view Of the hearty approval
given by their constituents to their votes
In favor Of raising the duty on white pine
to ~ will oppose this article being sin
gled out for lower duties in Canadian re-
ciprocity negotiations.
CANADIAN SCHEMES
NEW YORK, Dec. 29.-A special to the
Herald from Washington says: Coinci-
aent with the rejection by Lord Sails
bury of the latest seal proposition SUBJ
mitted to him by Ambassador Hay, Sir
Julian Pauncefote, the British Ambas-
Bador in Washington, has resumed reci-
procity negotiations with Special Com
missioner Kasson. Although Special
Ambassador Foster is still determined to
attempt to force Great Britain to set
Element Of the sealing question without
concessions from this government. some
officials Of the administration believe
that on the linking OF the reciprocity and
sealing questions depends the final de-
eision of Great Britain on both.
Through Ambassador Hay the State
Department has been informed by cable
that Great Britain has rejected the pro-
position Of this government that 1t con-
sent to the agreement entered into be-
tween the United States. Russia and ia
pan for the suspension Of pelagic sealing,
notwithstanding that the arguments of
the United States were reinforced by the
Information that legislation Is pend
Ing under which Americans will be pro-
hibited from engaging In pelagic sealing.
The President has not yet approved the
bct passed by Congress imposing this
yxOulUAtAOAp UNS ~ - llOt tuUu&nI Inat
Great Britain's rejection Of the latest
proposals Of this government will have
my effect on his action.
THE ACT APPROVED
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2s.-Ex- -Secre-
tary Foster had q brief interview with
the President after the President ap-
proved the bill Prohibiting the killing
Of seals In the Northern Pacific by Amer
lean citizens" passed by Congress be-
fore It adjourned for the holidays.
The bill prohibits the importation of
sealsl<ins into the United States raw.
dressed, dyed or manufactured" The
penalty for the violation Of the law is a
iine Of not less than 5000 or more than
$4,000, or imprisonment for not more than
nix months, or both, for each offense. in
cluding the forfeiture to the United
States Of the vessel, its tackle and cargo.
HNaL1sH VISITORS
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