The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-08
LESS OPPOSITION
THAN he EXP ECTED.
Taft Satisfied With Progress
Made by Reciprocity
Agreement
WELL. RECEIVED BY PEOPLE
Important Change Probable in
Paper and Wood Pulp
Provisions.

Washington. d. c., February g.
President Taft is satisfied with the
progress which is being made looking
forward to the passage by Congress of
the reciprocity agreement between
this country and Canada. Although ne
had expected opposition 10 the meas
ure. he thinks that, on the whole 1t
has been we'll received by he people
of the United States, ami there has
been much less genuine opposition to
it than he expected. Among the White
House callers to-day. VINO discussed
reciprocity with the President, were
Representatives Mccall and Mann
Importnnt Change Likely.
AS a result OF the growing belief
that the paper and wood pulp provi-
sions of the new Canadian reciprocity
agreement Will operate one sidedly TO
benefit the Dominion without cor
responding benefit to the United States.
an important change Is likely to be
made by Congress In the measure be-
fore II is ratified
Paper manufacturers and others,
who have studied the agreement close
ly, believe that the language OF the ar
rangcment is so drawn that The United
States may be compelled to admit
paper free, before Canada complies
with her part OF the agreement The
situation has been presented to the
Ways and Means Committee of the
House in such strong light that
many members of that committee are
satisfied that the agreement between
the two countries on the paper and
pulp provisions is open to a construc-
WI jtb he ct ~
disadvantage OF American manufac-
tlirnrs
Secretary Knox, Of the State De-
partmcnt. sent a letter to the com
mittee to-day, stating tina, the com
missioners who framed the reciprocal
arrangement. had arrived at only a
tentative agreement upon the paper
schedule. IT can he changed. he said,
without defeating the rest Of the
treaty: and its adjustment can be left
TO future negotiations or future ac-
tion OF Congress.
Where Trouble Arises.
The trouble arises over tile distinc-
ton in Canada between crown lands"
and private lands;'' and the rulings
that the Treasury Department at
Washington has made on this sub
ject. Where Canadian provinces pro-
hibit the expectation of pulp logs It
is from :, crown laNQS.3, u H2 provinces
have no power to prohibit the cXpor-
tation of logs cut from private lands.
The Treasury Department las held
that even where a province has pro-
hibited the expectation Of .ogs from
Grown lands" the logs from private
lands. or the paper manufactured from
them, come in at lowest rate. On this
basis it is feared, that the courts will
hold that paper from private land tim
Der, or from provinces that have no
restrictions, can come in free, even
before the rest Of the provinces re-
move their restrictions.
Members of tho Ways and Means
Committee stated to-day that this was
not Tie opinion they hold when the rec
iprocity agreement first was made pub
lie They are certain also that tho
commissioners Of the two countries did
not hold that opinion. 1t was intended
that TO Canadian paper should come IN
free until all Canadian provinces al
lowed American mills to have free logs.
IT Is believed that q charge Will be
made in the language or t:is section,
so that il will not be left open 10 the
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