The Washington herald., 1906-11-13
Canada and the Tariff.

our friends the Canadians are about
20 enter upon a period of political and
economic agitation and travail the fury
and extent OF which not the wisest states
man among them possesses sufficient
prescieHce 70 forecast. IN other words,
our Canadian friends are preparing to
tinker their tariff. Their Parliament has
been summoned TO meet on November %
This is a new arrangement in the public
affairs of the Dominion The old system
contemplated the assembling of the
Dominion Parliament as soon as possible
after the beginning of the year. But the
tariff question in a new form has unset
tied the old order and Canada's states
men may be expected 20 go at one an
other hammer ana longs from the open
ing day 90 q late date ia the spring. or
perhaps the delightful Canadian summer
viii find them stin struggling with their
task. we know down here something
about such things.
The Canadians, being novices at this
business, have. Of course. undertaken to
settle It all in advance through the work
of commission. TO an American. this
offers a prospect too beautiful to con-
template. It is Intoxicating TO the reason,
dazzling 10 the fancy. and absolutely
paralyizing 20 all the other faculties Of
the mind We have tried it. Beginning
its wol& in September, 1895, a Dominion
government commission spent many
months in investigation and hearings. L
visited all parts of the Dominion and held
its sessions in the principal cities The
claim is made, and doubtless with good
truth, that its Investigate tions were notable
for their thoroUghness, "and in many in
stances those who appeared before it
with appeals or arguments for changes ia
rates were obliged TO face questions
which were decidedly embarrassing" Ger
tainly. 40 doubt whatever about that.
The decision Of the commission will ap-
pear in the government bill" il is naively
announced from Ottawa.
The proposition, of course, is not TO re-
duce rates, but to increase them Your
real present-day tarifite the world over
is obsessed OF the ideas that schedules.
once established, should go up and never
down. The Canadian farming communi-
ties want low tariff, while the Do
ninions developing manufacturing inter
ests are urgent for more protection and
higher rates. But mark this strange
situation in Canada, as reported from
Ottawa: THE general prosperity Of the
country under the present system has
produced a 'stand-pat' group Of impor-
6ant proportions, and SUI larger group
fayoring an adjustment Of particular
schedules, rather than a drastic revision
Of the tariff system"
It's the same old story everywhere
when the tariff is involved. one group
or set of interests is entirely satisfied
with existing conditions, while other
groups demand change, either a lowering
or a raising Of rates. In the case of Can
ada, IL the present rates are considerably
increased, various heavy lines of manu-
factUre IN the United States will suffer.
And that seems TO be the aim Of the
Canadians. They have asked Us for reci-
procity and have received nothing sub
stantiaI Now they are going to force. if
possible. American manufacturers who
have established trade in the Dominion Ia
set up plants on the Canadian side OF the
border, in which would be employed
Canadian labor and where would be spent
the wages of this labor. The voice OF the
reciprocity advocate is stil heard in
Massachusetts, in Minnesota, and In other
odd spots. but. aside from defeating a
Congressman or tive, Ii does not seem to
have much influence. Possibly. after all
the Canadian politicians are only trying
20 bluff some standpatters in the United
states. II that Is their game, it viii be