The herald., 1898-09-02
CONFERENCE AT QUEBEC
LISTEN TO ARGUMENTS OF THE
W BUSINESS MEN
LUMBER, FISH AND PAPER
The Three Industries. Which, Do Not
Want Any Reduction of Present
Tariff Rates
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
QUEBEC. Sept This has been thu
busiest and most important day so far II
the history Of tho Quebec conference. Dur
Ing the forenoon representatives, OF foul
leading interests Of the United States were
| heard by the American commissioners anc
at 2 p. m. the joint session began at the
Parliament building and lasted until late
in the evening. The three important indus
| tries which were heard this morning were
the lumber Industry, the New England
fisheries and the pulp paper industry. Th'
men representing these Industries all talked
fer the same thing, viz, that the present
duties affecting their respective industries
be not changed. They asked the American
commissioners not to enter into any agree
ment with the Canadian government where
by their Tines of trade would be disturbed.
The lumber interests are represented BY
Smith Randall Of Augusta, Me-. Mcknight
Of Minnesota, and Charles W. Goodacre Of
Buffalo.
These gentlemen say they will present
some very strong arguments to the COM
mission tomorrow against any change IN
the present tariff on Canadian lumber. One
OF them says that the lumber industry in
the United States directly and indirectly
gives employment to more people than
there are in the entire Dominion Of Can
ada. Over 100000 people, he asserts, are,
In one way or another. engaged in The lum-
Der industry in the United States.
The argument is that the tariff affecting
50 important an industry as the lumber
trade should be governed by an act Of Con-
gress and not by a treaty. An act Of Con-
gress, the 1umbermen say, may be re-
pealed, while treaty might stand, no mat
ter how great an injury 1t might work
to the interests Of the United States.
They say that the lumber trade Is the
leading industry Of twelve STATES Of the
Union and that Canada has nothing Of
equal importance to give to the United
States.
The lumbermen believe that should Cam
ada offer to remove or lower the duty
on cotton goods In exchange for the re.
moval or lowering Of the 81 per thousand
feet on Canada lumber, this would be a
had bargain for the United States. as
1000, 900 people would be injured by the
free entry of Canadian, lumber into the
United States market, while a compafa-
lively few would be benefited by the free
entry Of American cotton goods into ths
markets OF Canada.
The Boston chamber Of commerce was
also given hearing before the American
commissioners. but the argument Of the
Boston men was along entirely different
lines. They asked for modification Of the
trade relations with Canada and that re-
4.
possible be secured. The chamber OF COM
merce was represented by Osborne Halves,
H. Nall and G. Preston. Mr.. Halves after
the hearing said:
"What we desire is a chance to sell our
manufactured goods In the Canadian mar
kets. We believe in asking this Of the Que
bee conference. We are speaking the SEN
timents Of 90,0O0 working men along the
Canadian border of the United States. In
Massachusetts, alone we manufacture
$500, 1000 OF goods each year and we
want a market for these goods. We do
not fear competition, for we have the
greater wealth and facilities on our side -
The Gloucester fishermen were repre-
sented by Sylvester Cunningham and Syl-
vanus Smith. Speaking for the New Eng
land 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 for the privilege OF free
entry into the Newfoundland waters for
bait.
The United States lumber Interests, rep
resented by 8. 8. Randall OF Maine. Charles
w. Goodyear Of Buffalo and 8. T. OKntght
Of Minneapolis, asked for the same action
In part Of the conference. The present du-
ties 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 seri-
Gus injury 10 American interests.
Warner Miller, representing the pulp
paper interests, made a similar argument.
He asked that the tariff on pulp and paper
remain as now fixed.
The American commissioners listened to
the argument 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 today
the Alaskan boundary has continues to be
the subject of discussion. Senator Fair
banks was asked tonight II he could indi-
cate what the outcome Of the conference
promised. He replied that so far the work
had been satisfactory and all that had been
expected by either side. The attitude of
the delegations who have appeared In OPP
position to any steps in the way Of recip-
rocity cause some Of the considerations to
predict that the commissioners will be
unable to accomplish all they have under
taken to do. They say that Canada wants
reciprocity above all things and that the
United States does not desire this, but
merely wishes to adjust few troublesome
questions, leaving the general trade ques-
tons as they are. Nome of the commits
sioners will talk upon this point.