The age-herald., 1898-08-26
AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS
Will Insist on AbOliShment Of the Prefer
 ential Tariff.
HELD A CONFERENCE YESTERDAY
Declined to Give Out Anything Con- cerning The Work, But Intimated That Many Subjects Were Dis-
 cussed-Adjourned.

Quebec, August 25.-The arbitration com missioners assembled for their first joint business meeting at the parliament build ings to-day. The meeting was absolutely private. Although little is said by the commissioners themselves, there is consid- erable discussion in the Canadian newspa- pers and among those indirectly connected with the conference concerning two points upon which the commission may fail to agree.
 Statements and interviews have been printed in the Canadian papers to the ef- feet that the American commissioners will insist that the present preferential tariff of the dominion in favor of England must be on the part of the United States will be made. Under the present considerations Canada admits products from England at 25 per cent less than the duty imposed upon products from the United States and other countries. Congressman Dingley has been quoted in the Montreal papers as making such statement, but he denies having made such an assertion or any other state ment of like nature. It is said also that Sir Wilfred Laurier's position may become an obstacle in the way of the commissions success.
 The assertion is made that Sir Wilfred steadfastly declines to consider the arbi- tration or adjustment of any one matter
 
 agree to final settlement of all the ques- tions. It is said that he will insist upon complete cleaning of all the differences or nothing at all. But this is the talk of newspapers and outsiders. Neither Sir Wilfred Laurier nor the commissioners will discuss any of these points beyond the denial of the Dingley interview
 Adjournment Taken
 The arbitration conference adjourned this afternoon until Il o'clock next Monday. After that they will meet probably each day until September 2, when an adpourn- ment will be taken until September 20.
 The commissioners decline to give out anything concerning the details of today's work, but intimates that number of sub jects were discussed. The full scope of the work was not canvassed nor was it deter mined just how much the commission will be able to accomplish in the way of gen. eral adjustment of the questions under consideration. It is understood, however, that before the conference adjourns next week the commissioners will be able to judge very accurately what the final out come of their deliberations will be. Noth- ing is said as to whether the commission will meet here after the recess at Wash ington at some other place. An effort is being made to have the meetings con- tinue at Ottawa, but this matter will prob ably not be decided until the meeting on September 2. In the meantime between this date and Monday each commission will work separately upon various questions The joint meetings are held behind closed doors in the parliament building and no one but the commissioners and the secreta- ries are permitted to be present. No dele gations have appeared during the past two days for hearings. In fact the commis- sion does not expect to be called upon to work out the details of each question and then in joint session exchange views and determine what settlement if any can be arrived at between the two countries.