Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-02-03
RECIPROCAL TRADE TREATY.

PRESIDENT TAFT, In special message
which he sent to both houses of Congress
on Thursday afternoon of last week, makes
a plea for the ratification by Congress of
the Canadian reciprocal trade convention
which was signed in Washington by Sec
rotary Knox and Ministers Fielding and
Patterson, of the Canadian Cabinet.
The treaty has been referred to the
Foreign Relations Committee, with the
understanding that when it is disposed of
by that committee it will 90 to the Finance
Committee.
President Taft points out the long stand
ing friendly political and economical rela-
tons between the United States and Can
ada. He holds that while the political
relations are well-nigh ideal, closer COM
mercial relations and more mutual ad-
justment of the tariff schedules have been
badly needed and demanded by various
interests.
THE guiding motive in seeking adjust
ment of trade relations between two coun-
tries as situated geographically" he says,
should be to give play to productive forces
as far as practical, regardless of political
boundaries. While equivalency should be
sought in an arrangement of this character,
an exact balance of financial gain is neither
imperative nor attainable. No yardstick
can measure the benefits to the two peo-
pies of this freer commercial intercourse
and no trade agreement should be judged
wholly by custom house statistics"
He declares the United States has reached
a stage in development that calls for a
statesmanlike and broad view of the future
economic status and its requirements.
we have drawn upon our natural re-
sources in such way as to invite atten-
ton to their necessary limit" he holds,
land this has aroused effort to conserve
them and find new fields Of production.
He points out that the foreign trade
of Canada in the last fiscal year of 1910
was $6,551,000,000. The imports were
$376,000,000 and of this amount the
United States contributed more than 1928
100000
The reduction in the duties imposed by
Canada will largely increase this amount"
Mr.. Taft asserted, land give us even a
larger share of her market than we now
enjoy great as that is" He holds that
reciprocity must necessarily be chiefly con-
fined in its effect on the cost of living and
forest products.
President Taft concludes his message
by calling Canada "our good neighbor."
She has cost us nothing" he says, lin
the way of preparations for defense against
her possible assault and she never will
She has sought to agree with us quickly
when differences have disturbed our rela-
tons. She shares with us common tradi-
tons and aspirations.
On the reciprocal free list are placed
wheat and other grain. dairy products
fresh fruits and vegetables, fish of all kinds,
eggs and poultry, cattle, sheep and other
live animals; also certain commodities now
free in one country, such as cottonseed oil
by Canada and rough lumber by the United
States. Tin and terne plates, now dutiable
in both countries, are made mutually free.
Barbed wire fencing, now exempted from
duty in Canada, is also exempted by the
United States.
Some raw materials such as mica and
gypsum, which enter into numerous in
dustries, are to be made free by the United
States. Printing paper is to become free
on the removal of all restrictions on the
expectation of pulp wood
The convention provides mutually re-
duced identical rates on secondary food
products, such as fresh meats, canned
meats, bacon and hams, lard and lard
compounds, canned vegetables, -four, cereal
preparations and other food stuffs partly
manufactured; also mutually reduced rates
on list Of manufactured commodities
which includes motor vehicles, cutlery,
clocks, watches, sanitary fixtures, satchels
and similar leather goods, plate glass, brass
band instruments, printing ink and various
miscellaneous articles. Agricultural i'm
plements, such as plows, harvesters, thrash
ing machines and drills are reduced by
Canada to the United States rate
A small list of articles is given special
rates by each country. Canada reduces
coal to AS cents per ton and cement to Il
cents per 100 pounds. The United States
reduces iron ore to 10 cents per ton and
lowers the rate on aluminium products and
on dressed lumber.
Reports from Washington indicate the
defeat of the Canadian treaty, or at least
its failure to pass at the present session
of Congress. The standpat Senators are
opposed to it; Insurgents who come from
agricultural districts along the Canadian
border are afraid of it; certain Democrats
say it is dangerous because it will invite
retaliation from nations not SO favored,