Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-09
DISPUTE WITH CANADA
Joint Commission Will Not Be
Aa ReassembIed.
QUICKER METHOD IN VIEW
individuals With Full Powers Will
Confer.
QUESTIONS EASY TO SETTLE
Libraries Established by Mr.. Carnegie
Aggregate Benefactions by
the Great Iron Master.
QUESTIONS EASY TO SETTLE
RY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
Secretary Root has decided not to recall
the Joint high commission, which was ap-
pointed several years ago. to determine all
matters in dispute with Canada, and will at
tempt an adjustment of existing differences
by the appointment of individual plenipo-
tentiaries who will carry on negotiations
either here or In Montreal.
Sir Mortimer Durand the British ambas-
sador. had several conferences with Secre-
tary Root on the subject before his recent
departure for England. and was furnished
with a brief setting forth the ideas of Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Mr.. Root on the subject.
Ear Grey. the governor general of Canada,
discussed the subject with them while he
was here at the time of the Franklin CEN
tennial and II was agreed by all concerned
that the negotiations were much more like
ly to be successful if they were conducted
quietly by two men instead of before con-
spcuous tribunal composed of dozen emf
nent statesmen and diplomatists.
You will remember that the joint high
commission sat at Quebec in 1888 and at
Washington I'm 1899 Vice President Fair
banks was the chairman. The other Ameri-
can commissioners were Judge Gray of Del
aware. John w. Foster and John A. kasson
of Washington, II. Jefferson Coolidge OF
Boston and Nelson Dingley of Maine. Upon
the death of the last gentlemen Serene L.
Payne of New York was appointed to the
vacancy.
The Canadian commission consisted OF
Sir wlfrid Laurier. prime minister of Can
ada; several members of his cabinet and of
the dominion parliament, and Lord Herself
ell, lord chancellor of England.
Deadlock on Alaskan Boundary.
The commissioners reached an amicable
conclusion in regard TO several of minor
matters in controversy, but came to a dead
lock on the Alaskan boundary question. The
Americans urged final settlement of those
points that had been agreed upon, leaving
the boundary open for further discussion,
but the Canadians insisted upon throwing
everything into the pot" as Sir Wilfrfd
Laurler expressed II, and made their as
sent To the minor propositions contingent to
az agreement upon the major. An adjourn
ment soon became necessary on account or
the deadlock, but the tribunal did not dis
solve II simply took a recess subject to
the call of the chairman.
The Alaskan boundary was finally de-
termined In a manner satisfactory 10 the
United States by a tribunal of which Sec
rotary Root was a member, which sat IN
London i'll 1903. and thus the chief obstacle
to an agreement was removed. There will
he equal difficulty. no doubt, In settle
ment of the Atlantic fisheries question, and,
indeed, our own people cannot agree upon
the manner In which they would like TO
have II settled. That dispute has perplexed
both governments for n hundred years, and
has been discussed so long and so often that
the correspondence now fills a bookcase.
The Canadian government is willing to give
the fishermen of the United States entire
freedom In their waters, provided Canadian
fishermen can have equal freedom In our
markets. Such an arrangement DOUBTLESS
no ~ 10 all VINO eat nSn,
but the fishermen of Gloucester. Mass. have
thus far been influential enough to preserve
their monopoly and persuade Congress 10
put duty on Canadian fish big enough 10
prevent their importation.
1t would be a waste of time to take
up this controversy. 1t would also De
waste OF time to negotiate reciprocity
treaty although an overwhelming major
ity OF the population on both sides woulc
be glad TO have mutual concessions made
In the reduction OF duties. They would
even 20 farther and remove all trade bar
riers by abolshing every custom house on
the border Free trade between Canada
and the United States would be great ad-
vantage to both countries. but individual
interests stand in the way. The wheat
growers OF the northwest, the lumbermen
of Puget Sound and along the Great Lakes.
the farmers Of New England and northern
New York and the coal miners of Mary
land and West Virginia, have fought re-
ciprocty with Canada with great deter
minatlon, and on the Canadian side theN
IL an active and influential minority making
similar opposition. Both of these minorittes
are strong enough to prevent the ratihca-
ton Of any reciprocity treaty that might
be made. 4
Questions That Can Be Settled.
There are. however. several other import
ant questions concerning which 1t would be
easy to arrange a satisfactory settlement.
They are:
l. The fishing rights in the Great Lakes,
which involve millions of dollars and are
OF supreme Importance. Secretary Root
and Sir Mortimer Durand have already
practically agreed upon treaty. Both
countries are of the same mind and the
question can be settled very promptly.
? Regulations for wrecking and salvage
on the Great Lakes
3 The revision Of the treaty Of 1917 under
which new gunboat may take the place of
the ancient side-wheeler Michigan upon the
lakes.
4. The regulation for fur-seal fishing in
the north Pacific ocean.
8. The settlement of the boundary line
between Canada and Maine.
q. Regulations for the transit OF merchan-
disc In bond through intermediate terri
tory.
Z The adoption Of uniform alien labor
laws ana regulations 10 govern the immi-
grafton of iahorers.
$. Regulations for the transfer OF prison
ers through intermediate territory.
- Uniform mining regulations.
10. Canal tolls.
Mr. Chandler Anderson Of New York. sec
rotary OF the high joint commission has
been preparing a series OF BRIEFS upon all
OF these questions, setting forth the why's
and wherefores. the arguments and the
evidence on both sides, for the education
OF the plenipotentiaries when they are APP
pointed. SO that there need be no delay
by making Investigations Indeed 1t would
be difficult TO obtain any fresh facts
To- advance any new arguments In support
OF either side OF the controversy on any
proposition on the list. Some of them have
been discussed for century. But Mr.. An
derson has made careful compilations of
the discussions that have been carried on
between the two governments. and Secre-
tary Root has ordered them printed. There
fore the plentpotenttaries. when appointed.
Will have comparatively easy task
Sir Mortimer Durand, the British ambas-
sador, secured the assent OF his govern