The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-08-14
LETTER
lFrom Our Regular correspondent..l

Washington. D. c., Aug. 10. 1905.
The reciprocity question is to be
given new Alp at the meeting OF
Congress. 1t Is said that the Presl.
dent in spite OF his previously ex.
pressed determination to send no more
reciprocity treaties to Congress will
reconsider his threat and give the
Senate n chance to turn down some
more reciprocal arrangements. This
Is contamination devoutly to be
hoped for and It is said to be forced
by a growing demand of the voters
In the wheat and cattle regions that
something shall be done for their re-
lief. II is stated from st. Petersburg
that Russia has already arranged be.
tween the Foreign Office and Ambas.
sador Myer for a new treaty that will
admit American goods to Russia on
a par with those of other countries.
America had good and growing trade
with Russia half dozen years ago
and 1t was killed at blow by a de.
cision OF the Supreme Court which
declared that Russian sugar was
bounty fed and in consequence had
to pay discriminating duty on com.
ing to this country. Now Russia ex.
ported little to us except sugar, while
our exports to her were large and
varied. Our exports were about fifty
million above our imports with that
country alone. It is probable that
Russian sugar was bounty fed with.
In the strict meaning OF the act
though Russia never would admit
the contention. Anyhow when we
shut out her sugar she Disseminated
against our manufacturers and We
have not only lost the benefits Of
good many years trade with rich
and growing country. but have lost
our place in her markets which has
been filled by manufacturers from
other countries. There seems no par.
ticular reason why Russia should
want to negotiate fresh treaty
with us except on the general score
of friendship and that does not count
for much between nations. But the
chance has been offered and II is
possible that advantage will be taken
of the next session to bring the mat.
ter to the attention OF Congress.
1t is certain on the other hand that
something will have to be done about
the German situation. Germany has
denounced her treaty with us that
will expire in March, 1906, and the
farmers of this country are threaten.
ed with discriminating duty against
American foodstuffs that will be
quite as disastrous to them as to
Germany II It come down to a tar.
III war. Then there is the Chinese
question. The boycott against Amer.
lean goods is spreading in China and
while the government processes to
be helpless in the matter. 1t is we'll
known that 1t is using the agitation
as a powerful lever to force the more
liberal reception of Cinnamon in this
country. There is serious question
whether Congress Will permit more
liberal rendering of the Chinese ex-
clusion act. The chances are that 1t
will not. But at the same time 1t is
possible that against the chance Of
losing a very valuable export market,
Congress might be willing to make
some concessions. in dutiable arti-
Giles from China that would suit the
Chinese almost as well rs lifting the
ban that has for SO many years hung
over Chinese labor.
AT the very time that there has
been SO much pressure brought to
bear from China to mitigate the rig.
ors Of Chinese exclusion, there has
been very important capture OF
Chinese on the Canadian border near
Buffalo where they were attempting
to get into this country in defiance of
the immigration restrictions. This
news was brought to the attention of
the Treasury Department by its in
spectors who made the capture and
1t will not do the Chinese govern
-