New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-02
frrom The Tribune Bureau.l

Washington, May 1.
CANADIAN RECIPROCTTY.-A Massa-
ehusetts member of the House has intro
duced a resolution declaring. 1t 10 be the
sense OF Congress that a reciprocity agree
/ nIent with Canada should be arranged ana
providing that when adopted copy OF the
resolution shall be sent TO the President
Representatives Parsons and Fish are
greatly interested in this resolution, and,
finding the Ways and Means conmittee Tar
from enthusiastic regarding its adoption
are assisting the Massachusetts statesman
| in securing sufficient number OF sigma
lures 10 insure favorable report
Such energy is, perhaps, admirable in 1t
self. but those who understand the situa-
ton can hardly refrain from asking. ITO
what good end?" The end sought by the
author of the resolution is clear enough
The people of his state want reciprocity with
Canada. and are not sufficiently we'll posted
10 appreciate the futility of his proposed
measure; wherefore he may gain some po-
litical capital Me6srs. Parsons and Fish
are, presumably, sincere, but tt is hard 10
understand what good end they expect 20
serve. As every one knows who has talked
to President Taft on the subject he is eH-
trenlcly anxious to secure closer trade Tela-
tions with Canada, and, n possible, some
form Of reciprocity He does not need 20
be spurred by Congress On the other
hand. Canada while eloquent in her nrotes-
tations that she would welcome closer reld-
tons with the United states. is emphaticaly
opposed to any agreement which will not
give Canada so much the better of the mar
gain that no one with the interests Of this
country sincerely at heart would think 81
accepting it The action of Quebec, fol-
LOWING immediat ely on tile granting IN
Canada of the minimum tariff Of the United
States in return for concessions little mOr1
than perfunctory, affords a convincing in
stance of the sincerity of the Dominion's
desire for some more affective reciprocal
arrangement. Quebec has positively pro-
hibited. for a certain date, the expectation
nf pulp wood to this country. Now New
Brunswick, by The way. is contemplating
similar action. Those who are prone TO be
mialcd BIZ paper declarations in favor er
reciprocity would do well TO bear IN mind
that Il takes two to make a bargain, and
no proper bargain can be made where one
Of the parties thereto is determined TO get
all the better of it
THE TARIFF BOARD-The most con-
vincins testimony TO the efficiency or the
Tariff Board. created by the Payne Law, is
to be found ia the latest issue of THE
American Economist the official organ of
the American Protective Tariff League, In
8 long indictment, containing some counts
which are trae, THE Economist says of
the legislating board. 1T has undertaken
10 secure high priced expert services to e1-
anime into production cost" and that ap-
pears to'he The gravest charge of all. in the
Of CT Ir oil true
The Tariff Board has, under instructions
from the President, undertaken to secure
high priced experts, Neither the board nor
the President believes in cheap men nor in
tyros 1t does purpose TO examine produc-
The Economist an opportunity to asperse
its conclusions with the charge that they
were procured either by cheap men or by
other than experts Shall we leave tariff
protection 10 the tender mercies of Pro
fessor Emory, Jimmie Reynolds and Beef
Trust Sanders" inquiries The Econoulist'
in 4 final scream, and inquiry at the White
House reveals the tact that that Is practi-
cally what the President purposes TO do.
At least he purposes to delegate 10 these
men, Of whose ability he entertains the
highest opinion, thu task Of ascertainng
production cost and with that knowledge
the tariff viii oe at his mercy Mr. Taft,
who is a somewhat supplemented states
man, believed the Republican party meant
what il said when it declared in its ma
tional platform that the tariff should equal
the difference between the cost OF proauc-
ton here and broad. plus sufficient mar
gin 10 afford a reasonable profit to the
American manufacture, He purposes to
find out that difference and then, If there