The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-09-02
THE ARBlTRATORS
American Business interests Before
-
sa,s Our Commissioners.
BosToN1ANs URGE RECIPROCITY.

The Lumber Industry, tho Pulp Paper
Interests and The New England
Fishermen, However, Urge No
Change in the Existing Tariffs. y
Quebec. Sept. 2.-Yesterday was the
busiest and most important day so far
In the history of the Quebec conference.
During the forenoon the representa-
tives Of four leading interests of the
United States We're heard by the Ameri-
can commissioners and at p. M, the
joint session began at the parliament
building and lasted until late in the
evening.
The three important industries which
were heard In the morning were the
lumber industry, the New England
fisheries and the pulp paper industry.
The men representing these industries
all talked for the same thing. viz: That
the present duties affecting their re-
spective industries be not changed.
They asked the American commissions
ers not to enter into any agreement
with the Canadian government where
by their own lines of trade would be
disturbed.
The Boston chamber of commerce
was also given hearing before the
American commissioners. but the argu-
ments 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 absolute reciprocity as possible
beisecured. The chamber of commerce
was represented by Osborne HaWes. H.
Hall and Z. G. Preston. Mr.. Hawes.
during talk after the hearing, said:
What we desire is a chance to sell
our manufactured goods in the Cana
dian markets. We believe In asking, this
of the Quebec conference. We are
speaking the sentiments of 200. 900
workingmen along the Canadian border
of the United States In Massachusetts
alone we manufacture $900.000,0O0 Of
goods each year. and we want market
for these goods. We do not fear COM
petition, for we have the greatest
wealth and facilities on our side"
The Gloucester fishermen were rep
resented by Sylvester Cunningham and
Sylvanus Smith. Speaking for the New
England fishermen Mr.. Cunningham
said they desired the laws governing
their industry to remain unchanged.
He said they could not afford to do
away with the present duty on Can.
adian fish for the privilege of free entry
into the New Foundland waters for.
bait. 40 establish free trade in the
Atlantic fisheries now" he said, "would
mean the certain transferring of the
American fishing industry to the Can
adian borders"
The United States lumber industry,
represented by Smith $. Randall Of
Maine, Charles W. Goodyear of Buffa-
10 and S. T. Mcknight of Minneapolis
asked for the same action on the part
of the conference The present duties
imposed upon Canadian lumber should
remain. To remove the duties would
we'll nigh destroy the industry in the
United States- and to lower them would
mean serious injury to the American
interests.
Warner Miller, representing the pulp
paper interests. made 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 intimation as to what action would
be taken concerning any Of the subjects
by the joint commission.
1t is said that in the joint session the
Alaskan boundary question continued
to be the subject of discussion.
Senator Fairbanks was asked last
night if he could indicate what The out
come of the conference promised. He
replied that so far the work had been
satisfactory, and all that had been eX-
pected by either side. The attitude of
the delegations who have appeared
here in opposition to any steps in the
way Of reciprocity cause Canadians to
predict that the commissioners will be
unable to accomplish all they have un-
dertaken to do. They say that Canada |
wants reciprocity above all things,