The Washington herald., 1911-06-18
IN. Root Amendment.

So much has been said in an indefinite
way regarding "the Root amendment"
that it may not be uninstructive to pre-
sent clear understanding of the
amendment and its effect.
Ore of the great factors in the reci-
procity agreement with Canada is the
treatment which shall be accorded wood
pulp and paper made of that material
The paper manufacturers on this side
of the border, who have many millions
invested in paper mills. are naturally
anxious that there shall be no tariff
reduction, while the paper users, con-
stituting practically every newspaper in
this country, insist that the present high
tariff has resulted in paper trust, and
that it is wise and proper to give the
American purchaser an opportunity to
secure paper without paying tribute to
the trade monopoly.
Under the reciprocity agreement as
it passed the House, wood pulp and
news print paper are to be admitted
free from Canada into this country, pro-
vided that no export duty or other re-
striction is imposed by the Canadian
government, The Root amendment goes
further. 1t provides that this free entry
shall not be in force until 'the President
of the United States shall have satisfac-
tory evidence and shall make procla-
nation that such wood pulp, paper, and
board being the products of the United
States are admitted into Canada free
of duty"
The assertion has been made that this
amendment was framed by the officials
of the so-calIed paper trust, in the
knowledge that If it is adopted the pres
ent paper duties will remain undis-
turbed, it being certain that the condi-
ton imposed will never be fulfilled.
"The Canadian government" according
to one authority, cannot remove the
restrictions on explorations of pulp wood
imposed by the provinces So long as
these restrictions remain in any single
province, Canadian paper will not be
allowed free entry to the United States
from any part of Canada if the Root
amendment prevails. The Canadian
provinces imposed these restrictions in
the belief that they would eventually
force the removal of the American
paper industry to their country. They
are not likely to give up this policy
under the conditions created by the
Root amendment. They would be very
likely to abandon it under the condi-
tons established by the House bill.
The Root amendment, therefore, inn
perils the entire reciprocity policy with
out the possibility Of improving it. and
with strong likelihood of nullifyine
one of its most just features"
To understand the situation still fur
ther. it should be stated that nearly
nine-scnths of canada's supply Of pulp
wood or timber is located upon public
or crown lands, which are Under The
control Of the provinces and beyond
control Of the Canadian government
These provinces tax exports Of this
wood or pulp for the purpose Of devel-
opine home manufactures! II the reci-
proeiiy agreement shall be finally en-
acted IS it passed the House. the canas
dian provinces will Be forced 70 remove
this export duty or else the pulp and
paper produced on other than the pubiic
lands viii Be given sn ;nmenss edvan-
aee In bfief, as lhe situaiion nov
stands. there IS assured benefit N the
poFresss asrsentni in unamended
shsee while 'ht s5ai|'on 81 ihS Ro6I
sm<6dAstI irIfode.1s & ns.I 11S<S.S't