Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-08

cessions. The Dominion IL weary OF the
miserable tariff war with Germany,
which has been persisted In since 1903.
France can have the intermediate tariff
as soon as the French Senate will ac-
ccpt the commercial treaty that Is now
lending; and consumers In Canada will
welcome the day when the Intermediate
tarif is also applied to textiles. hard
ware. and chemicals from GERMANY But
then the worries OF the government In
regard to the Payne bill will begin. for
since the intermediate tariff was enact
cd In November. 1906. the Canadian Man
ufacturers' association has been in
continual state of apprehension lest the
intermediate rates, which are about 10
per cent. below the general tariff should
re applied to imports from the United
States. Under the Payne tariff. If the
Canadian intermediate tariff Is conceded
20 either France or Germany. the same
concession must be made to the United
states, or the maximum rates OF the
Payne bill will go into operation against
imports from Canada.
Politicians at Ottawa had expected
that II any concessions were made to
Canada, or II Washington made offers
Of reciprocity. they would he conditioned
oil granting to the United states the
! came tariff concessions as Canada makes
to England. They have depended upon
n demand like this as n ground for re-
fusing any proposals of the kind. This
ground is now cut from under them by
the provision in the PAYNE bill that no
British colony shall he denied the min
mum rates. because OF any preference
It may make in its tariff to England or
to any of it's sister colonies. The order
of minimum rates and also the offer OF
reciprocity in coal come in a shape
never contemplated by Sir Wilfrid Laur-
ier and the ottawa politicians. The
Iaurier government will have to decide
between the Canadian Manufacturers
association and the coal operators OF
| Cape Breton. and the general body of
consumers in Canada. one contest at
ottawa will include both these issues;
fc, there has long been an understand
ing between the manufacturers of on
tario and Quebec and the coal interests
ot Cape Breton for mutual protection
ana support. Before the tariff commits
zion Of ,,-e. manufacturers we're asked
concerning the duty Of SO cents ton on
coal. Almost invariably their answer
I
this aspect of the protective tariff. Ca
nadians have paid the duty since 1879
solely for the advantage of three or four
mining companies. operating In Cape
Breton or on the mainland of Nova
Scotia.
Originally, the purpose of the duty
wa- to force Cape Breton coal into use
IN all the vast territory that lies be-
tween the Atlantic and Lake SUPERIOR,
and with this object in view. from 1879
to 1887. the duty was imposed on an
tiracitc, we'll as on bitumnous coal.
Failure overlook this plan. Nova Scotia
coal never came into use far beyond
Montreal: although Nova Scotia coal
companies do now control the coal trade
OF the Maritime Provinces and OF Que
, bee. 1t costs Ontario and Manitoba
atcut three and a half million dollars
n year to give the Nova Scotia COM
Ianies this measure OF control Of the
coal trade Of the Dominion; and 1t is
because the coal operators are con-
,inced that they would lose the trade of
Quebec that Nova Scotia members Of
the House of Commons are already
ressing the 1Aurier government for a
declaration that II will not accept the
offer OF reciprocity in coal that Is made
in the Payne bill. Both political parties
At Ottawa since 1897 have been out-and-
cut protectionists--the conservatives as
r matter OF policy and tradition; the lib
erals as n matter of political tactics.
Judging from past experience. the
!.aUrier government will allow no inter-
ference with the coal or the iron and
steel industry Of Cape Breton. These
Industries. through the tariff and
through bounties, cost the Dominion
seven or eight million dollars a year;
and interests which have been sufficient
| ly powerful at ottawa to secure such
, favors are likely to be strong enough
to compel the government to ignore the
offor from Washington. A few Ontario
and Manitoba supporters OF the govern
ment may be inclined to protest. But
there is not a corporal's guard of indie
PENDENT liberal members in the House
OF Commons