The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-24
CONFERENCE ENDS MIDST
FLOW OF ELOQUENCE



out that Canada and the United
States have much in common and dc
clared that they should stand TO
gether for the common good OF all the
people I'm the struggles OF the future
In this connection he spoke prophet
ically OF the relations between the
|oricnt and; the occldent. He said IN
part:
I'VE Canadians have a right TO criti'
else as near relations. Your struggles
4 nthe revolution OF n century ago was
our struggle as we'll as yours. and
the benefits that came To you as
result OF IL came to us as well. We
had the same fight In 1897. What
was won for you nthe revolution
was won for us In parliament. Your
struggle OF 1860 to IS was ours as
well as yours. II was the old strug-
gle OF the Royalist impulse In the
south against the Roundhead impulse
in. the north. and slavery was only the
occasion for II.
The report of the committee on reso'
buttons unanimously adopted at Fri
day afternoons session Of the confer
ence follows:
To the conference on better trade re-
lations with Canada:
0entlemen-Your committee on res
oiutions presents the following unani-
nous report:
In considering the question before
this conferences. VIZ. how can Deter
this country and Canada. there appears
TO your committee only one practicai
channel for immediate use In the bet
torment of these relations. and that IL
through q reciprocal maximum and
minimum provision In the tarin bill
now pending and about TO be enacted
by congress-. Believing that the enact
ment of such a provision into law. with
discretionary powers vested In the ex-
ecutive to negotiate and put into ef-
feet commercial agreements with other
maximum and minimum as set by con-
gress. TO be essential to the growth
OF foreign commerce and TO be the nrst
step necessary In arriving at closer
trade relations with Canada, your COM
mittee recommends the adoption by this
conference of the following preambles
and resolutions;
manufacturing In this country and the
corresponding employment OF our la
Dor and our capital requires the devel-
opment Of foreign markets for our
Whereas, The Dominion OF Canada.
consisting OF territory Immediately con
tiguous 10 our own. with wonderfully
future power OF consumption, offers
one OF the most fertile fields for the
extension OF our markets; and
Whereas, Under our tarin conditions
and methods such markets In Canada
and In other foreign countries can best
be opened and extended by the means
or reciprocal trade agreements made
effective within the limits OF maximum
and minimum tariff schedules fixed by
congress, reciprocal and concilfatory
rather than punitive In their nature.
under the terms OF which power and
discretion should be lodged I'm the
executive TO negotiate the best pos
sible commercial agreements with Can
ada and other countries; now. there
fore. be II
Resolved. BY this conference OF del
egates. representative OF manufactur-
ing and commercial organizations and
associations in the United States. that
we urge and demand that In the enact
ment Of the pending tariff bill there
be "a maximum and minimum provision.
reciprocal I'm character. with power and
discretion vested In the executive to
apply the ma ximum or the minimum or
any rate intermediate between these
limits IN the negotiation OF reciprocal
trade agreements with Canada and
other foreign countries
Events in Washington during the
past few months have conciusively de-
monstrated tAe fact that an accurate
knowledge OF costs and conditions OF
production Is essential in enabling con
gress to frame an equitable measure,
and TO determine whore the maximum
and where the minimum should be
placed
The successful exercise by the execu-
tive of the discretion and power to ne
Gotiate commercial agreements. In the
opinion OF your committee. depends
upon ana necessitates basis OF actual
and definite knowledge OF facts sur
rounding the methods and cost OF pro-
duction both at home and in the coun-
try with which agreements are to be
negotiated
No adequate machinery for the ac-
complishment OF these results exists at
present. and the tariff now framing
must therefore be determined in the
light OF the best information availa BILE.
inadequate. incomplete and inaccurate
though IL be
Tariff CommissiOs Desired.
For the future assistance of congress
IN tariff Legislation and for the aid OF
the executive in negotiating reciprocal
trade agreements with Canada and
IL OF greatest Importance that a con-
tinuing, technical study OF the basic
facts and conditions underlying the
tarin and commercial trade agree
ments. should at once be undertaken,
and they therefore, recommend the
adoption OF the following preambles
and resolutions:
Whereas. The locil OF recent his
toric events and the development OF
our resources and manufacturing have
made the United States world power
and have compelled this country TO
meet other nations upon commercial as
well as political grounds: and
Whereas. Our tariff should. there
fore. be based upon adequate knowi-
home and abroad. ascertained for the
purpose Of furnishing actual data upon
which congress can more intelligently.
scientifically and equitably construct
our tariff laws. and upon which the
executive may negotiate the most fav-
orable commercial agreements with
canada and-other foreign countries
now. therefore. he IL
Resolved by this conference, held in
Detroit. Michigan. April 90 and 10.
1909, that We demand that congress at
this present session provide for the
immediate creation OF a permanent tar
off board or commission. divorced from
partisan politics. to collect, collate. an =
alyze and study tariff facts In this and
10 congress for Its aid In framing tariff
legislation. and to the executive for his
Information in negotiating trade agree
ments with Canada and other nations,
and that said board or commission he
constituted OF men eminently qualified
and sufficiently versed and experienced
In productive industry to insure the ac-
complishment Of the purposes indi-
Gated
With provision for a truly reciprocal
maximum and minimum tariff. enacted
into law vesting proper discretionary
power in the executive To negotiate
commercial agreements: with a proper
tariff board or commission to ascertain
basic facts. as outlined In the resolu-
items above recommended. the way Will
then be opened for intelligent and eff
fectivo negotiations OF specific trade
agreements. Your committee believes
IL voices the unanimous sentiment OF
this entire conference In declaring that
one OF the first trade agreements TO he
concluded at the earliest possible mo-
ment should be with our nearest neigh
bor-the Dominion Of Canada. Your
n g.n FOR x,.I. he
adoption OF the following resolution:
Resolved. That the president OF the