The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-03
LETTER ON TARIFF
SHOULD DUTY ON LUMBER m RE- E a MovEDt
xnterssting nswsIsstsns in csrssspsaa- ence netwean Senator Edwurds and Secretary of Conserve
 tien League.

hen League.
 Minneapolis. Jan 2.-(Special.)--- Some Interesting correspondence In re- gard to the internatIonai aspect of the question Of repeating the duty on lum- ber and other forest products has been given out by the National Forest Con- servation League, which is taking the position that the first step In forest eousegcstion Is to repeal the tariffs which prevent American consumers from freely drawing on the forest pro- ducts ox other countries This corre- spondence is between Senator William c. Edwards, . member of the Cana dian Parliament, of Rockland. Ontario, and large manufacturer of lumber and pulp in Canada, and the Secretary of the League. Senator Edwards was the ofIieial representative of the Do- minion at the recent Conservation Com mission Conference Yin Washington. D. c.
 From this correspoudencs 1t appears that although most manufacturers of lumber In the United States object to the repeal of the tarif on lumber, al- ieging Inability to compete with Cana alan lumber, the Canadian market has this year been flooded with American lumber. there being no Canadian duty on rough lumber, to such an extent that the Canadian manufacturers have been undersold at home and have had their market ruined. In consequence the lumbermen of Canada made an ef- fort to have retaliatory tariff placed on American lumber. but this agitation failed. largely 1t fs said, on account of the remarkable telegram sent by Sem. ator Edwards to Sir Wilfrid Laurier. It Is stated that the Canadian impor- tations of American lumber have been chiefly low grades. competition in which, the iumbermen appearing be- fore the Ways and Means Committee said they most feared.
 Under date of December IT. Senator Edwards writes to the Secretary of the League: Sa
 Recalling the promise I made to you, at Washington a few days ago, here- with enclose copy of the telegram I sent Sir Wilfrid Laurier in June last after large deputatlon of lumbermen had called upon him and our Minister of Finance, begging for the imposition of . duty on Southern pine coming from the United States, which was then and for the most of ths time since, de- luging our Canadian markets. produced and sold so ehesply that it has been impossible for us to compete. Hard of course. for the moment on lumber pro- ducers;, but a great benefit to the buy CTS and users of lumber.
 The ground l take Is that we will win iH the end. If you Americans are foolish enough to exhaust your forests. not only to supply your own wants, but ours also, our timber will grow and become more valuable tn the meantime, which will result in great ultimate proft to us.
 T am taking the liberty of sending you also a paper whica has . letter in 1t hurriedly wrote somsthing over q year ago on the pulls esestton.
 The following is . copy of the tele. gram Senator Edwards sent to Sir Will frid LAurier:
 ''Most sincerely and earnestly hope you will pay no regard to unjustined demand made upon you for . duty on Southern pine coming from the United l States. Tho demand arises in conses l quence of . temporary stasnation in | our business which will soon pass away. The imposition of the duty | would be most trIfing in SO far as | mitigation of the present duliness In | Canadian trade is concerned. and would l be most unpopular with a few ayari- 1 cious lumber manufacturers. I sin- 1 cerely beg you to allow one Canadian 1 Industry to exist without placing 1t in | the despicable position of robbing the | consumers of its product for its bens- | it."
 Tn answer to a request for permission | to make public use of the correspond l ence Senator Edwards wired Decem- l Der %:
 sYou are at liberty to use my letter, also the copy of the telegram to Sir | wilfrid Laurfer and letter In witness | on pulp question in any way you de- | sire. Take no stock in childish state- | ment that Canadian government will | impose export duty on forest products | if. American government removes im- l port dutieA Such too absurd for con- l Is ridiculous"
 In the letter referred to as being | published in The Witness (Montreai) l Senator Edwards takes the position | that there is no good reason why Can l ada should place an export duty on | pulp wood shipped to American pulp | and paper mills.
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