The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-15
DINGLEY In THE WAY
OPPOSED TO ANY MODIFICATION
IN HIS REVENUE
LAW
CANADA WOULD CONCEDE
Laurier willing to Revoke the Log
ging Embargo and Open the Ports
of the Dominion to American
Fishermen In Return for Tariff
Concessions - Result of Joint
Commissions Work Uncertain.

CHICAGO, Sept. 14-A special to the
Record from Ottawa says:
II is impossible to forecast what the
joint high commission will do with the
fisheries dispute, which has been pend
Ing since the beginning of the century,
and its satisfactory settlement is vital
to the future harmony of the two coun-
tries. There is more explosive power
in mackerel or Goldfish row than in
any other complication that can arise
on the northern border and the seizure
of one of our fishing SchOOners by the
Canadian authorities, which is likely to
occur at any time, would knock in the
head all the friendly alliances and SEN
timental combinations that could be
contrived. The commissioners from
both countries realize that the ques-
tion should be settled forever as soon
as possible, and the Canadians are
willing to go more than half way.
The situation is briefly this: Under
the treaty of 1918 Americans may fish
within three miles of the Canadian
shore but they cannot enter any Ca
madam port for any purpose except for
refuge in distress. They cannot-obtain
food, or bait, or supplies of any kind,
or sell or ship their fish. On the other
hand Canadian fishermen are debarred
from the markets of the United States
by high protective tariff duty. Amer
lean fishermen are constantly inter
fered with by the Canadian marine po-
lice, either for actual violations of the
treaty or on suspicion.
If Sir Wilfrid Laurier could
have his way, the matter would
be settled instantly by making
both the fishing grounds and
the markets free to the citizens of
both countries. He would admit Amer
lean fishermen to the same conditions
and privileges that Canadian fisher
men enjoy, both on the lakes and sea,
provided our government would recip-
rocate with the same liberal spirit. But
the fishermen Of Massachusetts will not
permit the duty upon Canadian fish to
be removed under any consideration,
and the American commissioners can
| only demand reciprocity in fishing priv
ileges without regard to customs duties.
But, like the handle of a Jug. that
would be all on one side. Canadian
hshermen never come into our waters,
because all the fish are in theirs. Fur
! thermOre, in order to offset the duty
imposed by the United States and
enable them to compete with our fish
ermen, the Dominion government pays
a bounty amounting to about $1,000
| upon the tonnage of the vessels en-
| gagged, and to further encourage the
industry, so cents upon every quintaI
Ql2 pounds} of fish exported. These
bounties will have to be surrendered
If the Canadians are given any favors
IN our market, and for that reason they
| prefer to leave things as they are
EMBARGO ON LOGS.
The embargo upon the export of
| canadian logs is a matter of serious
importance to the lum mbermen Of Chica-
go and the Northwest, who will be in
terested to learn that the commission
ers from both countries are a unit in
favor Of it's removal. It is the only
| question upon which Lord Herschel has
expressed an opinion, and he regards
1t from the point Of view of natural
Justice. The embargo was not laid pv
the Dominion parliament, but by the
| legislature of Ontario, in retaliation for
the increase of the duty upon lumber
by the Dingley tariff bill: and in re-
Voklng it Sir Wilfrid Laurier and his
| associates will be compelled to repu-
| dIate the action of the Liberal party
| IN Ontario and run the risk of alien
ating some Of their warmest supporters
| and friends. There is a good deal of
politics mixed up in the question. whicn
causes Sir Wilfrid considerable em-
| barrassment
The case was laid before the commits
sion by Don NJ. Dickinson. of Detroit.
Congressman Tawney, of Minnesota.
ana other representatives of the lum-
Der interest. By the Dingley tariff bill
we tax sawed lumber 50 a thousand
feet, but admit logs free. This not onIv
dim1nishes the profits of the Canadian
lumbermen by that amount, but de-
prives them entirely of a market for
the low-grade lumber, for none but the
best quality can carry such a heavy
duty.
For several years Americans have
been purchasing logging rights from
the Canadian government Thev nav
lump sum for the timber upon a tract
or land. For example, Albert Pack.
or Detroit, whom Mr.. Dickinson renre-
sents particularly, paid 1919, 900 in cash
several years ago for a forest of so
many square miles. When he cuts the
timber he pays an additional tax of
$2.5O square mile, and $125 a thousand
feet for stumpage to the government.
Mr.. Peck has been cutting logs for sew
eral years and towing them in RATS
across the lake to his saw mills in
Michigan. After the Dingley bill i'm
posed 81 duty on lumber the Canadian
lumbermen, In retaliation, induced thA
ontario legislature to pass a law re-
| curing the logs to be sawed in Can
ada. And it was made retroactive SO
| as to include all existing contracts
There is no doubt Of the unconstitution
ai1ty or that feature, but 1t Is not con-
| sldered necessary to take the question
| to the courts.
COMMERCIAL RECIPROCITY.
This leaves only the question of COM
merclal reciprocity to be disposed of
and II Mr.. Laurier had his way every
custom house on the border would be
apollshed. He is Commercial annex
| atlon1st. He advocates absolute free
trade between Canada and the United
states, as free as between the several
states OF the Union. And If that could
| De accomplished he would be willing
TO have the Dingley tariff bill enacted
by the Dominion parliament.
| Sir Wilfrid makes very strong pre-
sentatlon of his case He shows that