The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-02-02
AGREEMENT LAID BEFORE THE
CANADIAN AND UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENTS.
PULP AND PAPER HAVE TO WAIT
Food Stuffs Is Seen-Taft Sends
Message Urging
Passage.

WASHINGTON, Jan. ~. - W1Lnln less
than ten months after the announce
ment by President Taft of negotia
tons with the Canadian government
there was laid simultaneously before
the American congress at Washington
and the Canadian parliament at Otta-
wa, reciprocity arrangement.
Usually such all arrangement takes
the form of a treaty, but in present
Instance this was not done, with the
result that considerable time will be
saved in the contamination of the
agreement, which can be made effec-
tive by a simple majority vote in each
of the two legislatures.
The animating purpose of Secretary
Knox appeared to have been to secure
reduction of the high cost of liv-
ing" by greatly enlarging the free
list so far as it relates to foodstuffs
coming from Canada.
The intention of the commissioners
to remove all duties OH printing paper
and wood pulp was effected so far as
the dominion government could do it
outside the limitations existing in the
laws of the Canadian provincial gov
ernments imposing export duty on
wood cut on crown lands in Canada.
The agreement, to become effective,
must be put in the shape of law
amendatory of the existing tariff acts
in the United States and Canada, and
1t will require sharp work to accom-
plish this. so far as congress is con.
cerned, in the short length of time re-
naming in the present congress.
Urging the prompt passage of
reciprocity treaty between the United
States and Canada President Taft sent
to congress a special message. accom-
panied by the agreement looking to
such treaty, reached by representa-
tives Ut both governments.
Ne Principle Violated.
President Taft holds that CONNER
cial agreement with Canada "by which
We shall have direct access to her
great supply Of natural products with
out an obstructing or prohibitory tar
If, IS not a violation of the protective
principle"
How Treaty Affects Staple Articles.
The Canadian commissioners made
it plain that in their understanding
both governments would try to make
the tariff changes by legislation in
stead of by treaty.
Neither shall be prevented from
making any changes in tariff policy in
the future.
The Canadian commissioners declar-
ed it was agreed that the utmost care
should be taken by both governments
to see that only such customs regu-
lations are adopted as are reasonably
necessary to prevent fraud.
The government of Canada agrees
that American fishing vessels shall
hereafter be able to fish in Canadian
waters at nominal fee of 81 per an
mum.
Articles on Ere List.
Among the articles now dutiable that
go on the free list are cattle, which
are now dutiable at the rate of from
81 each to 27.5 per cent coming into
the United States and at Is per cent
going into Canada.
Canadian wheat is taxed rs cents
per bushel entering America, which is
more than double the rate American
wheat costs imported into Canada.
All food products like oats, barley.
buckwheat and the like, now pay duty
ranging from Is to As cents per bushel
coming from Canada, and from 10
cents to Is cents entering Canada from
the United States. Hay pays 81 ton
going to Canada and 50 returning. All
these will now be free, If the agree
ment is ratified.
Canadian timber now dutiable at -
cent per cubic foot, and all kinds of
planks of different woods, now duitable
at so cents to $1.25 a thousand, and
telegraph poles, now paying 10 per
cent and pickets at 10 per cent, all 20
on the free list.
There is no reduction in the case of
Canadian agricultural implements en-
tering the United States, which will
still continue to pay Is per cent. But
the American implements entering
Canada will do so at Is per cent where
they now pay 176 to 20 per cent.
Some special Canadian implements.
such as horse powers, portable ell
gines, hay-loaders, potato diggers, roll
ers, wind mills and hay tedders, which
now pay from 80 to As per cent duty,
may hereafter come in for 20 per ce;t,
while the Canadians reduce their own
duties on the same articles from 25
per cent to 20.
Opposition is Expected.
The principal fact to be considered
in connection with the agreemnt is
that if one is to judge from the vote
cast in both houses on items in the
tariff that are touched by this trade
agreement the proposition has not
chance in the present congress and
must wait until the Democratic WAYS
and means committee passes upon
plans for reducing duties especially
on food products. Senators and repre-