El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-23

:
Dingley bill, that the national policy"
had been a failure and that the new
program permitted the gradual reduc-
ton of the tariff in three ways The
first thing done was to lower the tar
if against Great Britain by granting
a preference, at first, of one-eighth in
the tariff duties That preference now
has been increased until it is one-third
of the general schedules.
The lowering of the tariff barrier
against England was, according to the
claims Of the Liberal government at the
time, a step in the direction Of tariff
based not upon the protective system
but upon the requirements of the pup
lie service" Since that time the Lib
eral party has not denied either the
existence or the desirability of Incl
dental protection, although 1t con-
stantly claims to be seeking further
reductions.
Liberal Program Opposed.
The protected interests, especially the
manufacturers, were intensely opposed
to the Liberal program, and especially
to the British preference and the pro-
posed American reciprocity Ihey sup
ported the Tory party in 1896 and were
defeated by a great uprising in the ru-
raj districts and the unexpected oeIec-
ton of the French speaking provlnce
of Quebec.
Four years later, in the general cleo
ton of 1900, the Liberals had so Tar
convinced the manufacturers OF thelr
desire to be reasonable and gradual IN
tariff reductions that the Tories bitter
" accused the manufacturers OF con-
tributing to the Grit campaign FUNDS
Efforts to bring about reciprocal re-
latiohs with the United States failed
| through the refusal of the American
senate to consider the treaties, anu
thereupon Canada loOked%abroad- very
carefully, very slowly, and very con
| servatfvely, indeed, the Laurier govern
ment and the ministry Of finance under
! the administration of Mr.. Fielding
proceeded to attack the general tariff
| Droblem. The work that has been
| done has been accomplished with little
/ frss and fury, but with great results
] The Canadian tariff, as it has been
amended from time TO time under the
! present Liberal government, stln Is
l protective in character, although us
! general average is much lower than
| that of the United States or Germany:
| and its free list is larger than that OF
| the limited States. The Canadian tariff
| now is admirably designed for swap
ming" purposes. It is so arranged as TO
permit of give and take negotiations
/ with any country.
| The General Tariff.
The general tariff, which IS the pa
sis of the plan, imposes duties aver
| aging 17h percent. Above this sur
| tax of an Increase of 80 Is percenl
| nav he levied against the wares OF
anv country that does not give CANADA
| its hest tariff terms. Below the gen
eral tariff is the intermediate scale
| which is a reduction Of 21z percent be-
low the general tariff, and which Is
| available for countries granting similar
| concessions to Canada. Lowest OF all Is
| the British preference of 50 Id percent
under the general tariff. 1t is the poll
CIV of the Canadian government 10 pre-
! serve this British preference at all
events. The Liberals are solidly for II
and the Conservatives also have come
over and now find a favorite pastime
| in accusing the Liberals Of infideIty to
the principle
When the pending reciprocity agree
ment was first brought forward the
Canadian Conservatives who opposed II
cried quickly that it would undermine
! the principle of British preference, for
getting that their own party, when last
| in mower. had refused even to admit the
| desirability Of British preference
Under this complex system Canada
| wear ago negotiated a treaty Wltr
| France which resulted IN material re-
auctions of the tariff with mutual con-
cessions- AS many other countries
have most favored nation" clauses II
their commercial treaties with Grea
Britain. and as Canada is in treaty
sense a part of the British empire
these concessions were extended auto
maticalIy to many other countries o.
Europe.
Under the operation of this system
Canada became involved in a tariff wal
with Germany The Germans objected
to the British preference and placed
surtax on Canadian wares. The Otta
wa government Immediately retaliate'
and for II years intercourse between
the two countries was interrupted But
at last. the business men of German.
held out an olive branch to the bus1
ness men Of Canada, and on March o
last year the tariff war ended
| On the whole It may be said that th'
tariff tinkering in Canada in the pas
IA years has resulted in great!
STRENGTHENING the commercial position
of our northern neighbors
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Agreement
, months to change the steamship Seized