The record-union., 1898-09-02
Interests of the United States Presented Be-
fore American Commission.
Representatives. of Lumber Indus
try, New England Fisheries and
the Pulp Paper Industry Given
Hearing-The Boston Chamber
of Commerce Asks for Reci-
procity With Canada

QUEBEC, Sept. This has been the
busiest and most important day SO far
in the history of the Quebec conference.
During the forenoon the representatives
of four leading interests of the United
States were heard by the American
Commissioners, and at , p. m. the joint
session began at the Parliament build
ing and lasted until late in the even
ing.
The three important industries which
We're heard this morning were the
lumber industry. the New England fish
cries and the pulp paper industry. The
men representing these industries all
talked for the same thing, viz: That all
present duties affecting their respective
industries be not changed. They asked
the American Commissioners not to en-
ter into an agreement with the Cana
dian Government whereby their own
lines of trade would be disturbed.
The Boston Chamber of Commerce
was also given hearing before the
American Commissioners but the ar
gument of the Boston men was along
entirely different lines. They asked for
modification of the trade relations with
Canada, and that relations as near to
cured. The Chamber of Commerce was
represented by Osborne Hawes, II. H.
Hall and @. Preston.
Mr.. HaWes, after the hearing, said:
What we desire is a chance to sell our
manufactured goods in the Canadian
markets. We believe in asking this
of the Quebec conference We are
speaking the sentiments of 100000
n n oil h.
of the United States In Massachusetts,
alone we manufacture 5000, 100000 of
goods each year. and we want a market
for these goods. We do not fear com
petition, for We have the greater wealth
and facilities on our side"
The Gloucester fishermen were repre-
sented by Sylvester Cunningham and
Sylvanus Smith. Speaking for the New
england fishermen, Mr.. Cunningham
said they desired the law governing
their industry to remain unchanged. He
said they could not afford to do away
with the present duty on Canadian fish
Tor the privilege of free entry into the
Newfoundland waters for bait
The United States lumber interests.
represented by S. S. Randall of Maine.
Charles W. Goodyear of Buffalo and S.
L. Mcknight of Minneapolis, asked for
the same action on the part of the con-
ference. The present duties imposed
upon Canadian lumber should remain.
To remove the duties would well nigh
destroy the industry in the United
States and to lower them would mean
serious injury to American interests.
Warner Miller, representing the pulp
paper interests, made a similar argu-
ment. He asked that the tariff on pulp
and paper remain as now fixed.
The American Commissioners listened
to the arguments as presented, but gave
no lntlmation as to what action would
be taken concerning any of the sub
jects by the joint commission.
1t is said that at the joint session to-
day the Alaskan boundary continued to
be the subject of discussion
Senator Fairbanks was asked tonight
if he could indicate what the outcome
of the conference promised. He replied
that SO far the work had been satisfac-
tory and all that had been expected bv
either side. The attitude of the dele
cations who have appeared in opposi-
ton to any steps in the way of reci-
procity cause some of the Canadians
to predict that the Commissioners will
be unable to accomplish all they have
undertaken to do. They say that Cam
ada wants reciprocity above all things
and that the United States does not
desire this, but merely wishes to ad-
just few troublesome questions. leay-
ing the general trade questions as they
are. None of the Commissioners will
talk upon this point.