New-York tribune., 1896-05-29
A PLEA FOR RECIPROCITY.
REPORT OF REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
THEY POINT OUT THE BENEFITS oFe THE REci
ppoc1ry POLICY TO AMERICAN COMMERCE
AND THE DISASTROUS RESULTS WHICH

AND THE DISASTROUS RESULTS WHICH
FOLLOWED IT'S REPEAL
Washington, May 2s.-The Republican members OF
the Ways and Means Committee who nave pee"
engaged for several months investigating the SUD
tect OF reciprocal trade relations with other couh
tries have finished their aoors, and to-day iaio e
report agreed on by them before their Democia'o
colleagues This report is comprehensive ooc"-
ment OF hfty-two pages covering in extenso the MS
tory OF the reciprocity policy adopted by the oheu
States the results Of reciprocity. the protests
against It's repeal and the effect OF reciprocity upon
the exports OF breadstuffs. together with h'~'
chapter showing the present condition OF Amei'es"
export trade II Is explained in the report that 'e
committee invited representatives OF the various
arts industries and occupa ons interested 70 appear
before II for the purpose OF making statements anu
explanations concerning the present conditiop 9i s
export trade Of the United States and the iegsiauo"
necessary to promote Its extension ana prosper.y'
The statements and explanations OF these sehue-
men, which, the report states, "are both Interesting
and important" are incorporated IN the repo'' V"
this subject the report adds: .
II will be observed that there is a remarkapie
unanimy in the sentiments expresseI conrre rranne
negoaed with certain countries G nr ana aS e
under the authority Of SECTION & n ,er St repea viii
also be noticed that the commercial sna senied
Without political OF distinction are almost without ex
ception anxious that such arrangements, s,n Sa' and
renewed and negotiated WIN OlHci
that the reciprocity policy be permanently adopted
in future legislation affecting the tarh ana 'he iof-
eign commerce OF this country.
The assertion is made by the committee tha' tne
repeal OF the reciprocity section and restoration OF
the duty on sugar did not result from any popular
demand or commercial necessity. 1t was not oe-
manded by any commercial or industrial assocla-
ton but was simply legislative necessity IN oroer
to accomplish tariff reform" the comm.tee
then shows the Importance of the reciprocity feature
T,rif of 80 far Germany Is con-
cerned It removed the embargo which, had been
placed on American products In 1880 admitted Tree
a number OF agricultural products and many more
at a greatly reduced rate of duty. For twelVe
years." the committeeman say 1.-The United states
had tried to accomplish this by diplomatic negotia-
tiobs but II had always failed until the adoption OF
the reciprocity policy enabled the Secretary or
State to offer the Germans a compensation which
they deemed equivalent In the free admission OF
their beet sugar to the United States Ihis ar
rangement was not sought by them, but by the
American Government. Germany responded with
great reluctance because Of the rapid increase OF
the Agrarian movement in Germany, which demand
ed high protective duties on all agricultural I'M
ports. .-,.
In the face OF these facts and the formal protest
which was entered by the German Ampassador' the
LID Congress proceeded to ignore the treaty stip
ulations and the commercial interests OF the unted
States without reflection, and with no motive ex-
cept TO repeal the legisa ton OF the List Congress
The committee and the Senate were warned that
the commercial agreements which had been en-
tered into under the act OF 1880 were solemn COM
pacts between this and friendly nations. which
should not carelessly aside and could not be
terminated In the way proposed without Natiora'
dlshonor They were reminded that the Govern
ment might properly ask permission TO Withdraw
from the compacts. and be released from It's ooh-
cations according to the custom OF civilized ma
tons Such method would be a serious blow 10
| L.I 1n,,a IN
and encourage but would preserve the honor OF the
Nation But in their mpetuoslty the advocates OF
tariff reform we're deaf TO reason and remon-
STRANGE.
RETALIATION By EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.
Such an offence as was committed by the passage
OF the Tariff act OF 1884, II committed BY any indi-
vidua or a corporation, would be followed by SUIT
| for damages; but when committed by one nation
against another the usual recourse is declaration
OF war or commercial retaliation. The Government
OF Germany adopted the latter alternative. and pro-
ceeded 10 begin a commercial warfare against the
United States which has demorallzed American COM
merce with that country and been serious blow
to the export trade.
Nor is II confined to the German Empire SYM
pathetic retaliation has followed from Austria Bel
glum Holland and Denmark. until now American
AGRICULTURAL products are practically shut out OF the
markets OF Northern Europe, and the result Is felt
by every man who raises bushel OF wheat or corn
or who sends a hog steer 10 the stock yards
Thus exports OF corn Europe dropped from 520Oo-
900 bushels In 1894 230000oo bushels In 1875. Ex-
ports Of wheat dropped from 100000 bushels to
100000 There was a loss In the exports of flour
OF 100000 barrels and other interests suffered ac-
cordngly.
Extended mention is made OF the protests filed at
the State Department by Austria Guatemala,
Brazil and other countries against the repeal. The
Guatemalan Minister at Washington asserted that
his countrymen had invested large sums Of money
In plantations and machinery for the production OF
sugar with a view 10 enjoying the benefits OF
American markets; that this large outlay would
not have been incurred If they had anticipated an
early abandonment OF the reciprocity policy and
imposition of a Guatemaan sugar: that the
ability OF Guatemala to produce sugar had been
demonstrated, and that financial ruin would befali
the sugar producers CT the Republic should the
Tariff bill OF 1894 become law and duty be i'm
posed on sugar imported from that country into
the United States.
The report next wells on the effect OF the repeal
on the milling and live stock industries. which. 1t
says have suffered more by the revocation OF the
reciprocity arrangements than any other interests.
From them. II says. have come the most urgent ap-
peals for a restoration of the policy One of the
largest manufacturers OF -four is quoted as having
informed the committee that the loss to the mer-
chant miers of this country occasioned by the re-
peal least $1,000 600 year or 900 barrels
of flour. to produce which would require the con-
tnual occupation OF 1888 fiourng mills with eapac-
ity OF 100 barrels day each for a year quota
tions are given from reports made TO the committee
by large millowners who assert that the reciprocity
treaties OF 1890 were extremely favorable 10 the ex-
port trade OF the United States. They kept the flour
trade In healthy condition. and were the , cause OF
the fine development of that industry, when mas
placed the United States ahead of all other milling
countries The effect of their repeal Is the disas-
trous milling trade now existing.
COMMERCE IRREPARABLY INJURED.
The fear is expressed by the committee that the
injury done to American commerce with Brazil by
the repeal of the reciprocity arrangement Is per-
manent at least so far -four Is concerned Under
that convention. from April l. 1891. to August 2S
1894 -four from the United States was admitted free
into that country. Now there Is duty OF % cents