Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-28
Editorial Comment
Maine. Shoe on III. Other Foot

Boston Transcript
Representative Carroll l.. Beedy of
Maine, in the House of Representa-
tives yesterday, entered protest
against the suggested embargo or ex-
port tax on Canadian pulp wood. He
called attention to the fact that
ninety per cent of the timber in
Canada is on crown lands and under
the Canadian law cannot be ex-
ported. OF the remaining ten per
cent of forest land in Canada. he
said, less than one fifth is cut over
for pulp wood purposes. Under the
circumstances, he maintained that
it was a specious plea when Cam
adams said the embargo was needed
to preserve their forests. The real
reason was to build up a great pulp
industry in Canada to meet the need
of the American market. Such an
export duty obviously would tend to
the injury of a business of great
proportions in Maine and other
States, for this country is continu-
ally increasing its importations of
pulp wood. This disturbance in an
industry employing about $4,000
people with an annual pay roll Of
$185, 600 would further result, Mr..
paper amounting to tax on every
consumer.
The Maine congressman shows
pretty clearly that here is a case in
which the impelling motive is to
build UP Canadian industry at the
expense Of industry on this side Of
the line. 1t is perhaps, dangerous
policy for Canada to adopt. The
Dominion may need the United
States more than the United States
needs the Dominion. But is the
State of Maine in position consis-
tently to become the spokesman in
this matter? Since 1909. Maine has
forbidden the expectation of electric
power not only to foreign. countries
but to Names sister States in the
Union, Fearing that the law might
not stand the test il it's constitu-
tionality were brought into question,
further bar to the export of power
has been found in the disposition to
write into the charters of power
companies as they were granted or
amended provision similar to that
contained in the general statute.
Names protest against the proposed
pulp wood embargo in Canada
would seem to be case of finding
the shoe on the other foot.
1t Is striking parallel. The Maine
people did not have the excuse that
the export of hydro electric energy
would exhaust one Of their natural
resources: because the streams
which produce the electricity flow on
like Tennyson's book. Their posi-
ton was frankly stated. They hoped
that II the export Of electricity were
forbidden. industries would move in
to the State and there establish
themselves. 1t was the avowed in
tention to bring business into Maine
because its hydro electric power
could not be obtained elsewhere.
Now, 1t is asserted, Canadians want
to bring business to Canada by i'm
peding the export of one of her
natural products.
Some, at least, among the Maine
people of late have been experiencing
change of heart. There Is we'll
defined and vigorous movement in
progress to secure the repeal of the
law Of 1909, and with it's repeal to
abandon the policy of the past six
teen years. 1t Is to be hoped that
this effort will succeed. The State
has not benefited in any marked de-
gree from its monopoly Of it's power.
That the attitude on the subject en-
bodied in its existing law may have
unfortunate bearing upon other mat
ters OF much Importance to its peo-
pie Is shown by the parallel i'm
mediately suggested when Maine
protests against the effort in Canada