Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-02

Abrosation Of Earlier Arrangement.
Washington, March 2.-The free list
of the reciprocity agreement negotiated
with Canada by President Taft bears q
remarkable similarity to the FREQ list
of tho reciprocity treaty negotiated
with Canada by President Pierce in
1854. If the Taft agreement is rati-
fled and the similarity between the two
continues. as to the effect upon busi-
ness. the people Of the United States
may see most wonderful spectacle in
the quick boom line.
| The history of the treaty Of 1854
shows its negotiation to have been one
OF the great pieces of constructive
craftsmanship Of modern times. It's
continuance to the present day, with
the natural notifications suggested by
leaders on both sides Of the line would
long ago have brought free trade In all
things between the two countries. In
deed. at the time the abrogation Of the
treaty was proposed by certain cunning
corporation interests of the United
/ SSoSOSS AO ACS0 - p0A6OAo6O SAAAA ASo&sS
Buchanan Of Hamilton, Ont. leading
Canadian politician. issued a strong
plea for the establishment between
Canada and the United States Of an
American Zoll verein by which each
country was to adopt the same duties
as against the rest of the world, with
absolute free trade between the two
contracting parties.
Trade Doubled In Wear.
The first and immediate result Of the
treaty of 1854 noted by the people Of
the United States was that the trade
between the two countries doubled In a
single year. Our exports to Canada
jumped from the neighborhod Of 311,-
000; 900 q year to more than so. 00o. 900
while the imports from Canada ran up
from something over 3s,o00.0oo to more
than SIG, 100000. A continuous I'M
provement in the conditions was re-
ported on both sides OF the line until
the approaching civil war began to In
terfere with the business activity of
the United States. II q similar increase
in trade should follow the adoption OF
the Taft agreement the effect would be
sufficient to attract the attention OF
the world, for our exports to Canada
now reach to moro than $200. 600
per annum, while our imports from
Canada total between $75.0oo.oo0 and
500. 0oO, 900. To double this would DO
regarded az quite neat bit Of trade. 1t
il conceded by all concerned.
| But the treaty Of 1854 had other
points which are of interest at this
| time. The particular interest hostile
to that treaty and which worked Tor
its abrogation from the day OF its ne
gotiation was the railroads running be-
tween the Great Lakes and the sea-.
Their hostility was due to the fact that
the treaty extended to Americans the
use Of the welland canal and Of all the
Canadian canals around the rapids OF
the ST. Lawrence upon the same basis
az that enjoyed by the Canadians.
This, as one jump. took IL per cent
Of the grain and agricultural trade OF
the middle west away from the rail-
roads and the Erie canal, and formed
lever by means Of which for the first
time the people of the middle west
we're able to place some limit upon the
freight rates levied upon them by the
railroads.
Vicious Attack on frosty.
At the very outbreak Of the civil
war. even before hostilities were be-
eun advantage was taken In the house
of some Canadian newspaper comment
not friendly to the north to set going
the first steps for abrogation OF the
treaty. The secretary of the treasury
was called upon by resolution to report
on the workings Of the treaty. and un-
der this there was placed In the record
Of congress q most vicious attack upon
the treaty. drawn by Israel T. Hatch. OF
Buffalo. friendly to the railroad inter-
ests. who had served one term In con-
gree q. few wears before, and who was
employed by the secretary to report
upon the treaty. But powerful de-
tense Of the treaty was drawn 10y
James w. Taylor, Of st. Paul. and sent
| to the secretary for transmission 70
congress. This so thoroughly demol-
ished the opposition to the treaty that
the secretary Of the treasury sent both
documents to the speaker and begged
congress to excuse him from standing
sponsor. in his official capacity. for
either.
The attempts to kill the treaty con-
tinued, however. from year to year, be-
ing renewed as often as any act IN
Canada hostile to the north in the civil
war appeared In the press. f1naiiy.
in December, 1853, Justin 8. Morrill, OF
-. -"
house instructing the president to give
notice to Canada Of the intention OF
the United States to declare the treaty
abrogated. This was reported to the
house by Elijah Ward Of New York. In
the following April and the debate.
which began on May 10, continued for
eight days during which the house wit
messed a parliamentary battle Of the
first magnitude. The result was a
slight victory for the anti-railroad
side, since that side was able, by a
small majority, to put the matter over
until the following December,
Amendment Defeated.
Under the leadership OF Mr.. Arnold
OF Illinois, an attempt was first made
to amend the abrogation resolution by
providing for the appointment Of three
commissioners to negotiate with Can
ada with regard 70 some features Of
the treaty denounced by the railroad
- R,sA A. a. tAA