The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-07
ALARMED ABOUT IT.
The AdmInistrntion's' Tariff Policy
Ctusing n Lot of Trouble.

Austria against the American discriminate
ing duty on sugar, supplementing as 1T
does, similar action by Germany, is giving
the administration great concern. An
evidence of this was the conference to-
day, lasting about one hour, between
Secretary Gresham, Secretary Carlisle
and Attorney General Olney. Secretary
Gresham is concerned in the subject from
a diplomatic point OF view, Secretary Car
Isle is interested in the possible retalia-
ton upon the revenues of the government
and upon the attorney general devolves
the duty of giving an opinion as to the
legality of the proposed movement of the
government.
The Austrian minister undertakes TO
show in the first place that the imposition
of the differential duty of lilo of per
cent. per pound on Austrian sugar is in
violation of article 3, of the treaty of 1879
between the United States and Austria
Hungary. There it is asserted was an ex-
change of notes preceding the reciproc-
ity agreement under the Mckinley act
and that established a new basis of COM
mercal relations, and that Austria-Hun-
gary conceded to the United States the
same reduction of duties that it granted
to other countries, under what is known
as the most favored nation clause. The
Austrian minister also shows the assess
ment of the bounty of sugar produced in
Austria is not the act of the imperial gov
eminent, but entirely provincial affair,
and so corresponds to the independent
action of many of our states.
1nasmuch as the bounty system of Aus
tria differs from Germany it was con-
tended that the same construction which
put differential tariff on German sugar
did not apply to Austrian sugar. But
when this question came formally before
Secretary Carlisle upon an inquiry from
tho collector of customs at Baltimore, tho
secretary disposed of the contention on
these words, in a letter dated Aug. 81 last:
The department is in receipt of your letter of
the 18th inst, in which you request to be in
formed that the for ign countries grant direct
or indirect bounty on sugar. In reply have to
state that Germany and Austrla-Hungary grant,
by law, direct bounties on sugar. and that under
the operations OF the laws of France, Belgium,
Denmark and the Meth erlands, providing for
the remission OF the interna, revenue taxes on
bcets used in the prod uctiOn of exported sugar,
indirect bounties may apparently be earned.
Respectfully, J. G. CARLISLE.
This letter not only disposed of Ger
many and Austria, but held the subject to
additional taxes on sugar coming from
four other European countries. 1t may
be more than a coincident that each of
these four countries has begun the appli-
cation of restrictions upon the importa-
ton of American cattle or other food
products.
The whole situation is made more grave
by the belief which is entertained by the
administration that it is well nigh hope
less to appeal to congress for aid. If 1t is
finally held by the administration that
the sugar duty is n discriminating duty,
there will probably be another appeal to
congress to repeal it, but if it is held TO be
n fair tax and not in contravention of the
favored nations clause, the case probably
will be ono requiring simply executive
action.
There are, il is learned, other disturb
ing clements entering into our relations
with the continental European powers
which undoubtedly had the effect to slim
ulate the retaliatory policy adopted by
them. One of these, discussed at this
mornings conference, was the status of
the agents of this government stationed
in Europe to carry out the quarantine
laws when there seemed to be great
danger of the introduction of the
cholera into the United States last sum-
mer. The French government protested
against tue presence OF n lneulcal SIAN.
The Germans did not go SO far at that
time, but resented the operations, on their
soil, of the agents of foreign governments
who were not clothed with diplomatic
powers. In the end they protested
strongly against il, and have gone so far
as to intimate that if the provisions of the
pending legislation, which contemplates
a still further extension of the Inspe ction
principle to immigrants is carried out,
they will not permit them to operate.
As this threat was TO absolutely nullify
any effort that the United States govern
ment may make to exclude the emigrants
of the most dangerous class, and also to
expose the people of the United States to
infection from cholera, the matter is re-
garded as full OF gravity.
In fact tho turn affairs have taken.
makes il evident that our relations with
continental Europe are likely TO get en-
tirely beyond executive contr oil If we once
recognize the right of these countries to
dictate in matters of legislation. The
conference to-day did not result in
defining any line of policy and il is be-
lieved the president will be obliged TO Law
the matter before congress in a special
message to supplement the efforts of the
administration in congress TO pass the re-