Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-20
Announcement of a Revision
Next Year.
COMMISSION SELECTED
HEARINGS TO BE HELD IN THE
PROVINCIAL CAPITALS.
Proposed Schedule May Be Used as a
Club Against the Trusts and
Other Com bines.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.


spvcial Correspondence The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.
OTTAWA, Canada, October IL, 1905.
The Canadian system of government Is
more elastic than that of the United
States. The people seem to have greater
confidence in the wisdom of their execu-
tives than is shown on our side of the
border. They assume, regardless of their
personal preferences and prejudices and
their private interests, that the premier
and his ministers are disposed to give "a
square deal to every man." which Is the
policy of the Roosevelt administration
also. though the application is not so
easy in Washington as 1t is in Ottawa.
Instead of discussing with members of
parliament whether 1t is expedient to ad-
wise the consideration of changes in the
schedules of the tariff law. Mr.. Laurier
boldly announces that the tariff of Can
ada will be revised in 1906; that it will be
arranged in three schedules, to give pref
erence to friendly countries and retaliatc
against unfriendly ones; and he appoints
the minister of finance, the minister Of
customs and the commissioner of inland
revenues to make the revisions. Before
attempting the work these gentlemen
sitting as a commission, visit the capitals
of all the provinces of the dominion and
other trade centers and invite all persons
Interested 10 submit suggestions ana
opinions, orally or in writing. The range
of the inquiry is Indicated by circular
issued from the department of trade and
commerce, which is broad and compre-
hensive.
Mr. Fielding minister of finance; Mr.
Patterson, minister of customs, and Mr.
Rodeur, whose office corresponds to that
of commissioner of internal revenue In
the United States, are now in the north
west provinces comforting with farmers,
lumbermen, merchants and various in
dustrial and commercial associations, who
are taking a lively interest in the subject
and are sending down plenty of public
sentiment we'll as facts
Prairies for Low Rates.
There is naturally considerable division
of opinion. Producers and consumers do
not agree any better in Canada than in the
United States. They are more inclined to
be reasonable over here, however, than
they are at home. Ontario is the manufac-
turing province and, and as have stated in
previous letters, its mechanical industries
are increasing rapidly and have been pros
porous. During the past few years several
large American companies have started
branch factories in Canada to compete
with the local industries for the trade in
agricultural and other machinery particu-
larly. These firms have been cordially well
coined, because they employ local labor and
contribute to local prosperity. They, too
are encouraging high duties upon all ma
C0lnery ana implements. But the farmers,
especially those in Manitoba and the new
prairie provinces of the northwest want
TO get their machinery at the lowest prices
and are opposed to higher rates. The Ca
madam manufacturers have neglected the
prairie markets until recently. They have
been satisfied with their sales in eastern
provinces and our implement manufacturers
In the Mississippi valley have had the ad-
yantages of low freights. But the Ontario
people now asking the tariff commits
sion to shut out American implements and
machinery entirely-a proposition which is
resisted with great Vigor by the new settlers
In the northwest.
The duty on moving machines. harvesters,
plows, planting machines and similar arti-
Giles Is only 20 per cent while that on en-
gtnes, Windmills, farm wagons, axes hoes
shovels and other implements and heavy
machinery is p per cent which disinterest-
ed persons consider reasonable. The freight
rates from st. Paul TO Winnipeg on such
merchandise average forty cents a hundred
weight. The future Importance of the
market may be judged by the fact that So
500 American farmers took up land in
canada last year, and probably 5000 fol-
lowed them this year, If not more. MANY
took machinery and implements with them
from the states because one of the induce
ments offered TO immigrants Is the free adj
mission of household furniture and farm
ing outfits. They took their ploWs now
ing machines, harvesters and wagons and
everything they might need for a year or
TWO. This individual importation has pre-
NC4Atu lAIt effect OF the Immigration from
appearing in the trade statistics but the
machinery and tools will have to be renew
ed, and there are now eight or ten agencies
Tor American manufacturers in every town
of Importance.
The strongest argument against a higher
tariff is that 1t will interfere with immigra-
ton. canada has been advertised as "a
cheap country to live in" and the prices of
many of the necessaries of life are much
lower on this side of the border than in the
United states. The liberal party, now rep-
resented by the administration in power
originated and has promoted the fmrnif,ra
ton movement, and naturally takes great
credit for its success. Its leaders will there
fore be very careful not to do ANYTHING
10 interfere with that policy.
Claim of the Manufacturers
The manufacturing provinces maintain
that the farmer is well protected by duty
of 60 cents q barrel on flour. u cents a
bushel on wheat, 10 cents a bushel on oats
cents pound on beef bacon and other
pork products, cents a pound on butter.
3 cents a pound on cheese cents a dozen
on eggs and orresponding duties on otTar
agricultural products. Consumers every-
where. whose living expenses are affected
oy every one Of the duties claim that the
FARMERS have protection enough. Hence IL
IS not likely that there will be ary consider
able change in the schedules of either farm
products or manufactured articles II &c
pretty certain, however, that a duty of 50 a
SLlOuS'ailu VIII De imposed upon lumber and
90 cents a bundle on shinglC, which are now
on the free list The lumbermen are MAX
ing strong fight particularly those from
Briush Columbia. For years thew have
been compelled to meet the competition Of
oregon, Washington, Minnesota Wisconsin
Ienbermen in the prairie provinces. and
even IN their own local markets They claim
that II Is easy enough for them to disnosa
OF the higher grades Of lumber but tbev
cannot compete with the Americans in tba
lower grades. and that during the mast sea
son six of the largest mills in British Co
iumoia have been compelled to shut down
because of American competition
Demand Of the Lumbermen.
During the year 1904 more than nine mil
lion dollars worth of lumber was shipped
from the United States across the border
and entered Canada free. and during 1905
there was a considerable increase. During
1904 three million dollars worth OF logs
were shipped from Canada into the United
States, but no lumber, for our duty is pro
hlhitive. Lumber firms IN the United States
have supplied large amounts OF lumber TO
the Canadian government for public works
and the mill men OF Canada are demand
ing law requiring that as long as the
people OF Canada provide the money for