The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-09
FLAG DUTIES IN ORDER.
other Products May Receive
the Fate of American
Meats.
GENERAL TRADE IN DANGER.
on Tariff War With Pow
erfuI Nations,

WASHINGTON, March S.-The State and
Treasury departments now have before
them The question of retaliating against
countries discriminating against American
meat and other products by levying 10 per
cent additional duty upon goods imported
from such countries. The act which grants
this authority is known as the "discrimina-
ting flag law" and provides that 10 per cent
additional tariff duty shall be levied and
collected by the Secretary of the Treasury
upon all goods imported by vessels flying
the flag of the country which discriminates
against American products.
No Presidential proclamation is neces-
sary, but the Secretary of the Treasury has
full power in his discretion whenever he
is advised of discrimination on the part of
any foreign nation. The law is mandatory
that he S hall collect 10 per cent additional
duty on goods imported under the flag of
that country.
This law, it is held, should in its intent
be operative at this time against Germany,
France, Belgium, the Netherlands and
Denmark, but the Secretary of State hest
tates to officially notify the Secretary of
the Treasury of the discrimination. 1t is
said that he has trouble in satisfying him
self that he can declare a discrimination,
while the countries making it claim that it
is merely health regulation that our
meats and livestock are excluded.
This same plea was made by Germany
against the American hog during Mr..
Blaines time until some commercial con-
cession was made by this country in return
for the admission of hogs. Immediately
consideration of the health of his Maiesty's
subjects was then dismissed.
The Secretary of Agriculture has in
formed the President and Secretary of
State that no diseased meats or livestock
are shipped abroad from this country.
that inspection here is more thorough and
complete than any foreign Government
has facilities for. and that meat which
Germany, France, Belgium and Denmark
pronounce infected is declared by our in.
spectors at inland points of shipment, the
port OF embarkation and foreign entry,
to be perfectly free from disease. Ii this
be true it is held that discrimination
against this country is unqualified, and
the Secretary of the Treasury should have
no opinion in the matter, but should i'm
mediately enforce the flag law
The question which seems to be bother
ing Mr.. Gresham is whether he shall take
the testimony OF our own inspectors or the
declaration OF foreigners who are seeking
an excuse for discrimination without in
volving penalty. 1t is said that he is
inclined to accept the technical plea of
foreign Governments and take the ground
that the exclusion of American products
is not discrimination within the meaning
of the law, and that any resentment by
this country can come only through a
proclamation of retaliation under the act
OF 1890.
1t is predicted by students of our foreign
commerce that discrimination against
American fresh meat and livestock, if not
retalated upon at once, will be followed
rapidly by discrimination against one arti-
Gle after another of American export, until
all American products will be excluded
from the countries of Europe, except Eng
land and possibly Austria Thus far
Austria has occupied only threatening
attitude, and it is believed that she. like
England, instead of joining in the tariff
war against America, Will be inclined to
take advantage of it for her own CONNER
cial profit. The danger of the situation
and the probability of very serious tariff
war between this country and all CONT
mental Europe IS Salu 10 be FULLY appre
ciated at the State Department. 1t is said
that it will be with great reluctance that
Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Gresham will take
any steps looking to the exclusion or even
restriction of foreign importations, both
because the policy is to encourage impor-
tations and because it is feared that if we
attempt to retaliate it might precipitate
conflict with one or several of the foreign
powers.