The Detroit times., 1910-09-12
CANADA EAGER FOR
LOWER TARIFF
FROM ]. 5.
SIR GEORGE W. ROSS.
Distinguished Canadian Statesman,
Visiting Detroit, Complains That
Uncle Sans Schedules Are Twice
As High as Those of Dominion.
Praises Taft, Chats Interestingly OF
insurgency and Tells Of Conditions
In His Own Country.
SIR GEORGE W. ROSS.

Sir George w. Ross. OF Toronto,
Ont. president OF the Manufacturers
Life Insurance Co. and a member OF
the Canadian senate, arrived in Detroit
Friday night To deliver an address on
Recent Canadian Insurance Legisla-
ton" before the National Association
OF Life Underwriters, now in conven-
ton in the Hotel Pontchartrain. Sir
George chatted with Times reporter
on the political situation in the United
States and Canada. He has been one
of Canada's best-known public men
for many years. He was formerly pre-
mier of Ontario. and a member OF che
government for years before his eleya-
ton TO the premiership. He has been
in the senate about Ave wears. The
Canadian senators are appointed by
the government for life. not being sub
! ject to the uncertainties OF an cleo
ton, as is the case in the United
States. Sir George Ross is now some
what crippled with rheumatism, being
obliged to walk with crutch, but Is
as virile mentally as ever.
Il have noticed that you people
over here start business earlier in
the morning than we do in Canada"
said Mr. Ross when The Times rep
resentative was ushered into his room
/ in the Pontchartrain shortly after he
was astir. You also stay up later al
night, too"
Asked what he thought of the In
! surgency movement In the United
States, he said:
| thipl that 10 iugnrppnts will
cause a serious split in the Repub-
lican party If the warning factions
don't soon get together and settle
| their differences. | think the first
real test in the matter will come this
fall in the New York state conven-
ton. Sherman and Roosevelt will no
doubt make big fight for the tenn
porary craftsmanship. and the result
will doubtless determine the immedi-
ate future OF the Republican party
Col. Roosevelt was born an insur-
gent"
Does the Canadian government
I favor the insurgents" Senator Ross
was asked.
| mo" he answered, I'VE don't favor
any particular class or party in the
| United States. We want lower tarir
| from the United States and We are in
| sympathy with any party which Will
give us that. The United States tariff
is now about double what ours Is.
The average OF the United States du-
i ties on Canadian products is about rs
per cent, while that OF Canada Is only
"a. Moreover, Canadians buy about
$50 worth of United States goods per
head, while the people of the United
| States buy only 81 worth from Can
ada. So. you see, we have every
reason to wish for a better arrange
ment with the United States.
I'm Canada we like the tariff conf
mission idea which is now being pro
NOTED in the United States. In fact.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier suggested the es-
tablishing OF tariff commission Tor
Canada in one OF his speeches during
his recent tour through the Canadian
northwest. OF course, II doesn't fol-
low that we shall get the commission,
simply because the premier favors 1t;
the idea may be knocked I'm the head
In the house. However. we have
! railway commission In Canada and II
is giving splendid service 10 the coun-
try. Ii also has supervision over the
express companies and long distance
telephones. 1t is composed or men OF
good sound business sense, and that
| is the kind OF men who should COM
pose the proposed tariff commission.
| am sure commission OF shrewd
business men, divorced from politics,
could give the tariff much better con
sideration than it gets from parlia-
ment.
The Taft administration made
good record for itself during the past
session, and it's bringing the tarin
commission plan to head was one
| of the best pieces of legislation taken
up. am Republican at heart, have
been ever since the time Of Lincoln,
and would be with Mr.. Taft were
living on this side of the line. ]
notice that Mr. Roosevelt hasn't given
Mr.. Taft credit Tor accomplishing
much. but | think he has done all
| right. Ii looks to me as though Mr..
| Roosevelt might be planning to lead
the insurgents in the next election, or
something like that. However, the
Republicans may soon get together
| again and suffer no particular injury