The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-06
IN CONGRESS-.
Concerning the Treatment OF
Germany.
The Much Discussed Sugar Duty and
the Conclusions Arrived at.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The president
yesterday sent to congress the statement
,sf the German contention In reference to
che discrimination against the importa-
ton into the United States ~ German
sugar, to which reference was made I'm MS
annual message to congress. The stale
ment Is In tho form Of a letter from secre-
tary Gresham 90 the president. In SUD
stance, this Is a recital of German protests
made Aug. % last, against the additlohal
duty OF l-l0th Of cent per pound I'M
posed by the Wilson act on sugars iin-
ported from bounty-paying countries
The protest is based on the fact thae the
measure is in violation OF the most Ia
yored nation clause, and really amounts 10
unfayorable treatment OF German sugar
1t would render the effects OF the mose
favored nation clause illusory, ana ex-
pose the contracting parties to arDitrary
duties.
No protest was made against that para
graph OF the Mckinley law which imposes
an additional duty on refined sugar com
ing from bounty-paying countries nppar-
entity for tho reason that only about sSOO-
600 worth of sugar was imported into the
limited States from Germany, an insignin-
cant amount
In discussing the German proposition,
Secretary Gresham recltcs the favored
nation clause OF the treaty, and says those
utipulations give either party the right,
special engagements of reciprocity ex-
cepted. TO take duties levied by the other
on articles. the produce or manufacture OF
any other country, and demand the same
treatment for its own products and man
ufactures.
1t is obviously no answer 20 say THAI
certain discrimination duties apply equally
10 all countries that may happen TO fall in
a certain category; itisa a
Mere Argumentative subterfuge,
inconsistent with the clear intention OF
the treaty
The secretary refers at some length to
negotiations between this country and
Great Britain, about 1s4l, relative TO rice
Importation, in which the United states
then assumed position, finally conceded
by Great Britain TO be correct, very similar
to that now taken by Germany In tho
case of sugar. and in fact the dscrimin-
alton in the present instance Is even more
pointedl-x ut variance with the treaty
stipulations.
The secretary held that the payment Of
y bounty Oh vApoIbtu pANauNbo NtthA.Ne bo
considered ia tho light of discrimination;
certainly not more so than the -impnsitiaa
of . protective or practically prohibitivs
duty on the importation of an article
The two measures are the same in princi-
pie; tho question as to which shall DO
adopted Is
A Matter OF Domestic Policy.
Each are intended to create national adj
vantage in production of manufacture,
and as Between the two the bounty 10
more favorable to the inhabitants Of for
eign countries, since it tends TO enable
them to get cheaper articles at the ex.
pense of the bounty-paying governments.
In conclusion. the secretary says that
che additional duty levied on beunty-pay-
ing sugar by the act Of 1894 is discrimi-
nation, that it is an attempt TO Offset a
domestic favor or encouragement TO GER
tain industry by the very means forbidden
BY the treaty.
He assumes that the German govern
naent DOGS not claim that the treaty (mnde
with Prussia in 1929 affords any just
ground for protesting against additional
duties on sugar not shown to be the pro-
duct or manufacture of Prussia.