The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-18
WANTS A TARIFF ON ELECTRICITY.

WANTS A TARIFF ON ELECTRICITY.
 The Toronto World is not content with advocating and contending for the tariff or export duty on wheat sent across into the United States, and which it would really make prohibitive' step further. It will be remembered that The Advertiser some. days ago had an editorial relating to the great power plants for electric development at Niagara Falls. These plants, as we said, are on the reciprocal plan, and either side Is to furnish power to the other in case it should be needed.
 This plan Is not at all satisfactory to The World, which seems to favor a kind of impossible wall between that country and this, over or through which no Canadian product should be allowed to pass without paying toll It af- fects to believe that the United States will reap the Hons share of the pro- fits of canada's magnificent water power at Niagara Falls. Electric
 
 asset of the country is to be dis tributed to United States centres. to cheapen heat. light and power to foreign people to keep their factories running, to give employment to their artisans and to subject Canadian pro- not ruinous, competition. The effect of the export of Canadian power will be felt further in the cheapening of the cost of transportation to the American people as against the people of this country"
 That, it strikes us, is a childish, dog n-the-manger argument. As we un- derstand that papers contention its chief cause of complaint is that the American manufacturers will take ad- facture everything needed in both coun- tries at prices which will break down the Canadian manufacturers. If this occurs is it not the fault of the Cana dians themselves? They will be able to get power as cheaply as we will, and if their workmen cannot compete with ours they had better import some Yankees to help them. We suppose they. will have no difficulty about get ting men from this side If they are willing to pay them. And the remedy 1t proposes for what it seems to look on as an outrage on Canada is thus set forth:
 The people of Ontario cannot afford to view the export of Niagara Falls power with indifference. Their rights were shamelessly sacrificed by the terms of the privileges which were conferred upon private interests, but there Is one way by which the rights that have been thrown away can be at least partly recovered. An export duty on power developed from the Canadian side of Niagara Falls Is the policy which must now forcibly present itself to the people of this province. The sooner this action Is taken the fewer the difficulties that will be en- oountered. Ontario needs for her own power, which can be used to increase the demand for labor and cheapen freight and passenger rates. The power belongs to Ontario, and to Ontarios in- terests it should be devoted. The question of imposing an export duty Is
 
 put straight to the candidates of both parties, and to the party leaders. It Is the duty of the legislature which s2daA tue =. fpreisna aeyploitation of Niagara Falls possible to take prompt FEctf6n- to S2eBaif~Tts sfFof
 We are somewhat curious to know how Canada. or Ontario, proposes to go about that export business. As we understand the matter. the two com panies, The Canadian and The Ameri- can, built their plants in common, to some extent, and each company is to furnish power to the other If 1t be- comes necessary or desirable. and we do not see how the Dominion will go about abrogating that agreement. Even if that Is done, we should like very much to know how that government will go about fixing the export rates and collecting the same. If it has the power 1t might absolutely prohibit r the Canadian company from furnishing any power to this side on any condi- tlons or under any circumstances. That would probably suit The World. which apparently wants to make close cor poration of Canada, so far as the United States is concerned.