The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-09
OUR TRADE WITH CANADA |
Senator Fairbanks Addresses
Representative Lumbermen.
THAT PROPOSED TREATY
Senator Foster Says If the Alternative Is
Free Lumber or No Treaty" Let 1t
Be No Treaty-Possible Re-
duction of 20 Per Cent.

Tacoma, Wash, June S.-The Hon.
Charles w. Fairbanks, chairman of he
United States joint high commission,
and his party, arrived in Tacoma to-
day and will remain several days.
When Senator Fairbanks returns from
his trip to Alaska he is expected to
deliver a Fourth of July Grafton in
Tacoma. His trip north, it is antici-
pated, will require nearly three weeks.
This afternoon Senator Fairbanks ad-
dressed representatives of the great
fir lumber mills of the Pacific North
west. The coal mine owners were also
present and joined in the discussion
of the tariff, the proposed treaty with
Canada and the effect of these matters
upon the Alaska boundary. At this
meeting Senator Addison G. Foster
presided and favored a reduction of
20 per cent. in the tariff on lumber,
provided the tariff on that article was
made part of the treaty with Can
ada. E. G. Ames, who was present
at several of the meetings of the nigh
joint commission in Washington CITY.
made an official statement on behalf
of the lumbermen. Like a half dozen
other leading mill operators who spoke,
Mr.. Ames insisted on protection for
American lumber. but agreed with Sen
ator Foster that provided the tariff
on lumber was fixed permanently as
treaty obligation, reduction of 20 per
cen. would be acceptable and prefer
able to the uncertainty of political in
fiuence and tariff tinkering by those
unacquainted with the necessities and
conditions of the trade. Mr.. Ames in
conclusion said:
iy,1- 7 hr yar,fi nF ha
lumbermen Of Washington Oregon
and California by suggesting that the
reduction of 20 per cent. on rough lum-
Der be considered the ultimatum of the
American members of the joint high
commission to their Canadian associ-
ates; and that no concession be made
ON dressed lumber or on small lum-
Der, such as laths. slaves, clapboards
pickets, shingles, etc.
Il am informed that the United
States sells to Canada annually about
$S0,000000 worth of goods, wares and
merchandise, simply because condi-
tons favor our market: and that we
buy of them about s45, 100000 worth
annually for the same reason; leaving
a balance of trade in our favor of
$35, 100000. On account of this bal
ance of trade and desire to offset 1t
with lumber, instead of cash, the Cana
dian lumbermen ask the American peo-
pie to remove the protection from Can
ada's greatest industry, and open our
great market to Canadian competition
Is not this a great hardship on q sim
gle industry with IS per cent. Of the
cost of its product labor, particularly
when the Canadians have everything
to gain and we all to lose? / have
heard it strongly fntimated that the
Canadian position is free lumber OF
no treaty. If that is so, let it be nc
treaty." les 81
Tomorrow Senator Fairbanks viii
have a reunion with former Ohio Yves
leyan university classmates and Comp
troller Dawes will go fishing with Other
parties. Saturday among the feature:
will be a trip to the extensive logging
! camps and coal mines. in the foothill!
of the Cascades. The ladies of the
party will be entertained by thu
Daughters of the Revolution to-mor
| row. Tonight Senator Fairbanks de
! livered an address at the graduating
| exercises of the Puget Sound univer
! Sity