The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-01
How Am srican interests Are Injured.

joint high commission, in the lingo of
diplomacy-will begin it's sessions in
Quebec on the 22d inst Quebec IS
near enough the north pole to make it
neutral point, and far enough away
from the sources of information con-
corning live matters that are to be in
vestigated to insure difficulties in the
way of obtaining it. No list of differ
ences between the United States and
Canada would be complete if it did not
begin with that threadbare topic, the
Boring sea seals. The fisheries dispute
on the Atlantic and Pacific is some
what more modern, but its flavor Is an
cient compared with the following is
sues which are set down for investiga-
ton, to wit:
The transport of merchandise in tran
sit to or from either country. across
intermediate territory, whether by land
or water, including natural and arti-
fetal waterways and intermediate tram
sit by sea.
The transit of merchandise from one
country, to he delivered at points in
the other beyond the frontier.
The reimbursement of customs duties
applicable in each country to the prod
ucts of the soil or industry of the other
upon the basis of reciprocal equiva-
Tents.
Herein lie the interests especially of
this Western country for these propo-
sitions affect the welfare of the manu-
facturer. the producer, the American
laborer, the stockholders and the hold
ers of the securities of American trans
portation companies. The progress of
the commission upon these three points
will be watched with the keenest in
terest on this side of the Canadian line.
The measure of the five American
members of the commission will be de-
termined by their strength of grasp of
THESE three propositions, for these en-
body the belief of those familiar with
the subject, that privileges are extend
ed to the Canadians by the United
states government which are unrecip-
rocated by the government of the Do
minion; that prevailing tariff and traf-
tic requirements of the most arbitrary
character are operating injuriously
against American railroads and most
satisfactorily to their Canadian COM
pettors
The G o e has from time to time
pointed out some of these anomalies.
but brief summary of them NAV not
ne out of place here. They cannot be
ignored in an inquiry such as is con-
templated by this American Canadian
commission.
1. Manufacturers of the Middle
Western q
market in Manitoba by the rapacitv
OF Canadian corporation, to wit, the
Canadian Pacific railway. The details
of this particular occurrence are ia
miliar to the officials of the Northern
Pacific railway.
2. The. cars of American lines are
prohibited from enga ging in traffic be-
tween local points on the Canadian
Pacific rails, whereas no such restric-
lions are imposed upon the Canadian
Pacific in the transaction of similar
business on lines in American terri
tory. The result is loss of revenue to
American lines and gain to their Ca
madam competitor. There can be no
more reason why the Canadian Pacific
cars should be allowed to handle busi-
ness between two points in the United
States than English bottoms should be
permitted to traffic between two ports
on the American coast. The American
government permits the former and
prohibits the latter. The contention
that only American cars should be
used in local traffic on American terri
tory is worthy of consideration.
&c
repairs made in the United States to
rolling stock operating back and forth
across the frontier, for the protection
of Canadian labor. No similar tax is
collected here from the Canadian Pa
cific.
a. A discriminating duty is imposed
by the Canadian government upon tea
transported from Pacific ports
into Canada in American cars over
American lines. The American trans
continental lines are engaged in devel-
oping an Asiatic trade which means
millions for American products and
manufactures, and they would seem to
be entitled in return to fair share
of the Asiatic imports. The Canadian
tariff is nicely adjusted to confer bene-
fits upon the Canadian Pacific, and so
it proves an obstacle to competition
between the American and the Cana
dian carrier AS a matter of fact, the
former are unable to participate in the
tea business, owing to this discriminat-
ing duty. The state department at
Washington considered this subject,
but it could suggest no other relief
~
an equalization of this anomalous sit
uation.
S. The bonding privilege conferred
upon the Canadian Pacific by our gov
eminent has enabled that corporation
to cut rates mercilessly, and compelled
the American lines to sacrifice thou
sands of dollars in consequence. With
out this privilege the Canadian Pacific
could not live in American territory,
let alone prosper. 1t ought never to
be granted absolutely. The right of
suspension for proved violations of the
laws governing American lines, like
the long and the short haul clause,
could safely be lodged with our inter-
state commerce commission.
These are some infections imposed
upon American interests which will
properly come under the cognizance of
the American-Canadian commission.
They may also be noted by the inter-
state commerce commission, which be-
gins an investigation in Chicago today,
into the rate war precipitated by the
Canadian Pacific some months ago and
now in disastrous progress. This COM
rnicCion iS in a pOSitiOn TO accumulate
valuable material for the use of the