The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-12

s1sArrlE. FRIDAY, SOW. II.
WHAT WILL CONGRESS Dor

The details OF the address Of Mr.. Sif-
ton, the Canadian dominion minister
q tho interior, reported in the Toronto
G1obe VI November s, contain some
laCts which will be Of interest to many
Americans. and which will raise the
question. what will our congress do?
Nr. 6ifton said he was not indisposed
~ adopt the suggestion that miners
hound for the Canadian Yukon should
nrnt procure licenses in British Colum-
ble. He added that he shared with his
colleagues Of the Canadian cabinet in
the Determination to open an all-Cana-
dian route to the Yukon, mot from
any prejudice to- the United States"
but from his duty as member Of the
Canadian government. He also shared
tihe desire as to the Quitting for that
trade being done in Canada. but he
ssAaksd forgiveness" for saying that he
had heard that this summer 1t had mot
always been possible to get In Victoria
III classes OF goods required for the
Trade and that the goods were not al
ways conveniently packed As to the
existing exemption Of 100 pounds, he
said: II think when the LIST OF Janu-
AIRY comes you may rely on 1t the pro-
vision will not continue He added
that the Cansdian government pro-
poses to Issue $4,000 pamphlets. making
clear that Canada would enforce Its
customs laws ito the letter"
From this most important statement
By the member of the dominion gov
erument WHO has sech matters under
his administration. 1t is evident that
Canada 10 considering the adoption of
4 policy towards American miners
which will call for speedy and anticipa-
tory action by the American congress.
The policy apparently Is TO he one of
petty and vexatious annoyanees. calcu-
lated solely and simply to force Ameri-
en- prospectors to QUITE in Canada.
With the exiEencies of dominion pol
itics. which compel minister of the
dominion to declare himself SO en-
phatically for narrow and illiheral
policy In favor Of limited section Of
the dominion. Americans have no con-
Germ: but as people We have interests
which should lead the Federal govern
paent to take positive and peremptory
stand to prevent imposition by Canada
and 10 foster American industries and
enterprise
Let as take look at the case. This
Klondike business does not affect the
Pacific coast alone. 1t Affects the whole
country. Not ONLY Is IL the fact. as
disclosed by the reports OF mayors of
American cities to the Seattle Chamber
OF Commerce Information bureau. and
recently summarized In the post-intel-
liRencer, that American citizens from
nearly every state In the Union are in
tending to go To the gold fields. but
great enterprises. Involving large
amounts OF American capital, have
been set on foot which will BIZ seriously
Injured IL Canada is allowed to adopt
the policy Of heading Americans of
their most direct route on To Nancou-
yer island to obtain miners licenses
for the Canadian Yukon. and II pros
pector is To be subjected TO a process
OF unpacking and repack;ng whenever
he crosses the Canadian liae.
Boston, New York. Philadelphia and
Chicago ere interested In this phase
az the affair: for great transportation
companies, involving millions OF
money. have been organized In these
and in other cities II the vessels OF
these companies are In be forced TO
touch al Vancouver island and nay port
charges and other similar fees before
their passengers are to be allowed To
mass the Canadian line. even IL the
messengers are seeking American terri
tory. a great outrage win be perpe-
trated upon American commerce
II Canada should undertake 30 adopt
such q policy as Minister Sifton. with.
uerhaps. unconscious sarcasm. de-
clares to be mot from any prejudice
towards the United States" IL will be-
come the immediate duty Of congress
20 retaliase. For instance. when Mr..
Sifson saws that every road ~ it,
xress into the country would be pro-
tected. while strong attachments Of
mounted police. fully equipped and
able to enforce the carrying oa, OF the