The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-01-07
DUTY ON FOREST
PRODUCTS To
Be REPEALED
Special to The Journal.

MlHleapOlS, jan Some lEIGISSt-
ing correspondence in regard to the
international aspect of the question OF
repeating the duty on lumber and
other forest products has been given
out by the National Forest Conserva-
ton that the first step in forest conser-
walton is to repeal the tariffs which
prevent American consumers from
freely drawing on the forest products
of other countries. This correspond
ence is between Senator VIM. c. Ed
wards, a member of the Canadian
parliament. of Rockland. Ontario, and
a large manufacturer of lumber and
pulp in Canada, and the secretary of
the league. Senator Edwards was
the official representative of the Do
minion at the recent Conservation
Commission conference in Washing
ton, ID. c.
From this correspondence it appears
that although most manufacturers OF
lumber in the United States object to
the repeal of the tariff on lumber, alleg-
ing inability to compete with Cana
dian lumber, the Cnadian 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 under
sold at home and have had their
market ruined. In consequence the
lumbermen Of Canada made an effort
TO have q retaliatory tariff placed on
American lumber, but this agitation
failed, largely it is said, on account of
the remarkable telegram sent by Sen
atoT Edwards to Sir Wilfrid Laurier.
1t is stated that the Canadian impOr-
tatiOns of American lumber have been
chiefly tDuy GRADES cnr.0nafTfInF9 n
which, the lumbeTmen appearing be-
fore the ways and means committee
said they most feared.
Under date of Dec. II, Senator Ed
wards writes TO the secretary of the
League:
Recalling the promise I made to
you at Washington a few days ago,
herewith enclose copy Of the telegram
| sent Sir WilfTid Daurier in June last
after a large depUtation 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 the time
since, deluging our Canadian markets,
produced and sold so cheaply that it
has been impossible for us to com
pete. Hard of course for the moment
on lumber producers: but a great
benefit to the buyers and users of lum-
Der.
The ground ] take is that we will
win in the end. II you Americans are
foolish enough to exhaust your for
ests, not only to supply your own
wants, but ours also, our timber will
grow and become more valuable in
the meantime, which will result in
great profit to us.
''I am taking the liberty of sending
you also a paper which has a letter
in it / hurriedly wrote something
over a year ago on the pulp question. s.
The following is copy of the tele-
gram Senator Edwards sent TO Sir
Wilfrid Laurier:
Most sincerely and earnestly hope
you will pay no regard to unjustified
demand made upon you for duty on
southern pine coming from the United
States. The demand arises IN conse-
quence of a temporary stagnation in
our business which will soon pass
away. The imposition of the duty
would be most trifiing in so far as
mitigation of the present dulness in
Canadian trade is concerned, and
would be most unpopular excepting
with few Rvaricious lumber manu-
facturers. l sincerely beg you to al
lOH OnS SdLdFaAdl " 0AASi
without placing it in the despicable
position of robbing the consumers of
its product for its benefit"
InNansWer TO a request for permits
sion to make public use of the CORE
spondence Senator Edwards wired
Dec. %:
You are at liberty TO use my letter
also the copy of the telegram to Sir
Wilfrid Laurier and letter in Witness
on pulp question in any way you de-
| sire Take no stock in childish state
nent that Canadian government will
| impose export duty on forest products
/ if American government removes i'm
port duties. Such too absurd for con,
sideratiOn. Is ridiculous"
In the letter referred to as being
published in the Witness (MontreaD
| Senator Edwards takes the position
/ that there is no good reason why Can
ada should place an export duty or
pulp wood shipped to American pull
and paper mills.