Montana labor news., 1935-11-21
LABOR AND The
CANADIAN TREATY

The Spokane Trades and Labor Cou-
neil, according to communications re-
ceived by the Silver Bow Trades and
Labor Council, is opposed to the Gov
ernment entering into a trade agree
ment with Canada. After having been
notified by Spokane as to their atti-
tude, Harry Grimes, secretary OF the
Trades Council, asked Senator Murray
Just how this treaty would affect or
ganized labor. Senator Murray, who is
in Washington, went to the State De-
partment to get more detailed and de-
finite information regarding the trade
agreement with Canada. The State
Department, however, is not making
public any specific information until
the treaty has been completed. In re-
gard TO the labor unions in Montana,
the Senator said. 81 have been lead
to believe we need O worry about
any affect on metals and that any
statement regarding metals at present
is merely rumors. If metals are to
be affected by the treaty you may be
sure | will make promp. objections and
every effort possible to prevent pro-
mitigation of treaty" The big metal
producers OF the country have been
given hearings before the committee.
In another communication to the
unions the Senator went into detail
about the proposed treaty and stated
that it was expected that great benefit
will accrue both to American agricul-
ture and industry from the Canadian
trade agreement. The agreement re-
duces tariff on cattle weighing sever
hundred pounds or more from three
to two cents per pound, and all calves
weighing less than one hundred seven
ty five pounds are reduced from two
and one half cents to one and one half
cents per pound. The Senator stated
that the quota of cattle to be imported
into this country was fixed at $500
head and 1898 head of calves. Part
OF the treaty provides that Canada
must keep hides on the free list and
reduce tariff on leather about 20 per
cent and tallow II per cent. The n
adam tariff on exports of American
cattle, sheep and lambs is reduced nj
third, while the reduction in American
exports of veal, lamb, mutton and beef
is reduced rs per cent. 1t is felt that
the American wool producers will bene-
fit on the reduction of the canadian
tariff from ten to fifteen cents per
pound on wool and substantial reduc-
tions on wooden fabrics. The adjust
ments that have been made in the
tariff schedules by Canada in methods
of determining values of import COM
modities may prove of great advantage
to American farm products. The met
ais, copper, lead, and zinc are not af-
fected. These metals will be benefit
ed from the increased industrial &C
tivity that should arise upon the pro-
mitigation and operation Of the trade
agreement.
The union headquarters are quite in
terested in this matter of a trade treaty
with Canada. From the reports that
have been sent out by the United Press
and the Associated Press, it appears
that quite a number of farm organiza-
tons are opposed to the national ad-
m%inistration entering into this contract.
On the other hand quite a number of
the banking, commercial, and shipping
interests have signified that they are
definitely in favor of it. While the
Silver Bow Trades and Labor Council
is not in a position at this time to ex-
press a decided opinion one way or
another, present events indicate hat if
the farmers and farm organizations
voice their opposition to it that labor
will join with them, at least in certain
specific phases of tariff schedules. The
present treaty proposes to adjust inn
port and export rates for both coun-
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