The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-01

Washington, Jan. 26.-Within less
than 10 months after the initiation
by President Taft of negotiations with
the Canadian government there was
laid simultaneously before the Amer
lean congress at Washington and the
Canadian parliament at Ottawa today
reciprocity arrangement, which, if
approved by the legislative branches
of the two governments, will surely
do much, in the opinion Of the nego-
tiators, to enlarge and liberalize the
trade between the United States and
Canada. Usually such arrangements
present instance this was not DONE
with the result that considerable time
will be saved in the consummation Of
the agreement which can be made eff
fective by a simple majority vote in
each of the two legislatures. In the
case Of treaty it would be necessary
in the United States at least to have
the approval of a full wo-thirds Of
the senate, but now the way is clear
, for the ways and means committee
of the house and the finance
committee Of the senate to proceed as
it would with any tariff bill.
The animating purposes of Secre-
tary Knox appears to have been to
secure a reduction of the high cost
of living" by greatly enlarging the
free list SO far as it relates to food
stuffs coming from Canada. On the
other hand, he secured a notable
abatement of duties on a number Of
American products consumed in
Canada.
than 81 per cent Of the Canadian
goods imported into the United States
will benefit by considerable reduc-
tions Of duty and only per cent of
Americas Canadian imports will re-
main unaffected.
The agreement to become effective
must be put in the shape Of law
| amendatory of the existing tariff acts
in the United States and in Canada
and it will require sharp work to ac-
complish this so far as congress is
| concerned in the brief time remain
ing of the present session
The terms Of the new re-
ciprocity agreement between the
United States and Canada were
announced simultaneously here and
at Ottawa today. The agreement
provides reciprocity on leading food
products and places on the free list
certain commodities, such as cotton
seed oil by Canada and rough lumber
by the United States, and some raw
materials. Printing paper is TO be-
come free on the removal by Canada
Of ell restrictions on the expectation
Of pulp wood.
Urging to the prompt passage Of a
reciprocity treaty between the United
States and Canada President Taft to-
day sent to congress q special message
accompanied by the agreement look
ing TO such treaty, reached by repre-
scntatiNcs Of the Canadian govern
ment and OF the State department at
recent conference in this city.
Identity Of interests Of two peo~
pl"s linked together by race, lam
;uagc political institutions and geo
graphical proximity" the president
gives as the chief reasons for such
reciprocity as he recommends.
Mr.. Taft urges liberality Of view
in dealing with the proposed treaty.
After speaking Of efforts made pre-
vious to the conference here this
month to bring about q treaty agree
ment between the two countries, he
says: THE path having been thus
opened for the improvements Of com
mercial relations, a reciprocal trade
agreement is the logical sequence of
all that has been accomplished in
dlSposing of matters Of a diplomatic
and controversial character.
No yardstick can measure the
benefits to the peoples OF the frecr
commercial intercourse and m trade
agreement should be judged wholly
by custom house statistics.
We have a stage in our own de-
vclopmcnt that calls for a broad view
| "t our future economic status We
HAY" drawn upon Our natural re-
''urceS i'm such way as to invite
attention to their necessary limit.
This has properly aroused effort TO
conserve them. We have So increased