Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-19
Russia Increases It's Protective
Duties 20 Per Cent. at
One Time.
France, Spain, Austria and Other
European Nations Striving for
Higher Import Duties
The Principle Of Protection Fast
Growing in Popular Favor the
Civilized World Over.

If we turn to other countrles-those ma
tions which have hitherto held such pro-
nounced opinions In favor of protection as
the = nited States have done-what do we
see? Why a most empathatic resolu-
ton to keep out foreign imports and to
promote native industries.
Take Russia for example. That coun-
try during the past ten years has success
sively passed and adopted protectionist
laws, and is even now engaged in produc-
ing further measures In this direction, full
particulars of which are expected to be
published by the Russian government dur
ing this year. In June and July, 1887,
the rates on iron and steel and various
manufactures thereof, motive machinery
and other articles were all raised. In the
same year the import duties on agricultur-
al machinery, twisted cotton yarns and
buttons were added to. Severe alterations
were also made in the rates on wooden and
worsted yarns. But TIE last move was
the issue of a Russian imperial degree of
September, 1890. which placed at once a
uniform addition of 20 per cent. on ex-
listing rates. As stated before, the Russian
government is taking further measures to
protect native manufactures. The i'm
portance to England of these laws is very
great, considering that she has been ex-
porting thence large quantities of hoop and
sheet iron, tin plate, cast and wrought
iron, tin and pig lead, steam engines and
general machinery. The new tariff will
no doubt render larger commercial inter
course impossible.
The protectionist party in France is
using all its influence to wake the govern
ment of that country to adopt stringent
protectionist tariff when the existing
treaties expire at the end of 1891. 1t
proposes to have double tariff, one for
countries which will admit FIRE. ch goods
at a low rate, and the other one for hostile
nations. Practically all the most import
ant chambers of commerce in France agree
| that one or another industry requires pro
lection. The proposals will hit foreign
made cotton, wooden and other textile
goods, machinery tools, hardware, hides
&c, very severely, some of the suggested
duties being advanced double for the min
imum tariff, and Of course more than this
for the hostile tariff. The question of re-
vision is now being considered by the
| French legislature.
| The Spanish government is now consid-
ering the ACCESSIBILITY of amending its
present tariff and imposing duties on
cutlery, agricultural machinery, cotton
and cotton mann actures and many other
articles. Already the import duties on
! foreign wheat, rice meat. etc, are to be
raised. Italy is practically fenced round
by protectionist tariff and most English
manufacturers have given up any attempt
TO send goods thither. In fact, some
| British firms have opened establishments
| in IiolIar, tornc For fbo ,fao "a, "a
goods they cannot export.
| Austria-Hungary introduced tariff in
1887 which increase the duties on most
cotton goods, locomotive machinery and
metals. Roumania has made several in.
creases, covering large number of arti.
i Giles. Switzerland feels the effect of for.
eign imports to be too strong to be with
stood, and the government is preparing tc
abandon its previous free trade policy, and
intends introducing very soon new tariff
Roumania has made several additions tc
rates within the last or years; aIsL
Greece. Turkey, Bulgaria, Holland, Bel.
GUM and Denmark have not as yet taken
action in this respect. Portugal, in 1887
made large additions to the import duties
| on castiron tubes, colt n tissues, cutlery
etc. Germany continues to maintain hen
| p1SoC1it OK III VI piottStlOIis
International free trade conference is pro
posed to be held shortly in Berlin.
1t will, therefore be readily seen thai
the European continent is protectionist t
and that the termination of many com
mercial treaties in 1891 and 1892 will &C
centuate this position and make protec
ton still more accomplished fact. Eng
land alone among the leading nation:
maintains a semi-policy of free trade which
is not absolutely free because she taxes I
good many imported articles for revenue
purposes. Mr.. Gladstone recently sale
Ell G land traded with the whole world anc
not with one country, and t. at was hel
protection against universal law of pro
hibition. But all these countries are shut
ting their markets against her, and il
time England will only have her colonie
to look to.