The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-10
A RECIPROCITY BILL.
Provisions of a Measure Approved by
the Ways and Means subcommittee.

WASHINGTON, April 9.-The subcommit-
tee of the committee on ways and means,
which has been conducting an investigation
into the results of the recent reciprocity pol
icy of tne government has agreed to report
to the full committee as a substitute for
the large number of measures that have
been proposed in Congress during this ses-
sion relating to reciprocity and retaliation,
a bill which was offered by Mr.. Hopkins in
the House of Representatives to-day. The
bill comprises five sections, under the cap
tion of "A bill to increase and equalize the
trade of the United States with foreign ma
tions by the negotiation of reciprocal ccm-
mercial arrangements" 1t differs material
ly from the old reciprocity provision of the
Mckinley act. in that it does not offer low
er rates than those now established TO ma
tions entering into the agreements, but sim
ply relieves them from the imposition OF
additional duties.
The first section recites that for the pur-
pose Of equalizing the trade Of the United
States with foreign countries, the President
is authorized and directed, as soon as may
be afuer the passage OF the act to enter into
negotiations with several classes of coun-
tries with the view to the arrangement CT
commercial agreements in which reciprocal
and equivalent concessions may be secured
n 9 sne mines ana 81 Of
the United States. These countries are those
which export more to us than we send to
them; those whose. chief exports are ad-
mitted free of duty here; those
whose exports are adrniused into the United
States at. lower average rate than they
impose on our exports to them; those
that impose higher duties on our products
than they impose on those Of like character
coming from other countries, and those that
impose unjust, excessive and obstructive re-
strictions on imports from the United
States.
The second section of the bill gives any
such arrangement that may be made by the
President the force of law upon publication.
The third section provides that If any coun-
try included in these five classes refuses to
posed by the President. making such conces-
sions as he shall deem equivalent. the Presi-
dent snail. by proclamation. announce the
fact and thereupon the highest rates of
duty known in any OF our tariff acts since
Jan. /, 1850 shall Immediately apply to the
imports from such country. The fourth
which any country upon which the ex-
cessive duties .-,.sn]ie.s.x.. may secure
their remisson nskins concessions nc ss.sr
ing into an agreement. The last section
provides that the acu shall go into effect
Immediately on its passage.
said tonight: THE bin is intended to antic-
ipate the possible adoption OF the policy pro-
posed for Great Britain by Mr.. Chamberlain,
as well TO meet the oostructions that are
being continually offered by other govern
ments in the form of high tariffs and re-
strictive regulations against the importation
of our merchandise. With the governments
of such countries and colonies the President
is authorized and requested to negotiate reci-
procity arrangements which will equalize
trade and secure for our products In their
markets the same advantages that their prod
ucts now enjoy In ours. 1t is not intended
to demand that other nations shall revolu-
tionize their commercial systems or abolish
their tariffs. but that they shall be asked to
make concessions in our favor that are at
least equivalent to those We have already
made in their favor; and II they decline to
do So ii will simply be common justice to
our own interests to revoke what we have
voluntarily offered them and reimpose the
duties that were assessed on their imports
in the duties now charged on imported mer-
chandse by the laws of the United States.
1t removes no protection. 1t imperils no in
terests As Mr. Blaine advised, il proposes
to use tthe tariff to trade on and ask our
foreign neighbors to adopt the golden rule
in commercial reciprocity"