The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-08-17
FRANCE WANTS RECIPROCITY.
ADxious to Obtain Lower Rates OF
Duty ON. Ce rtein Goods.

Anxious to Obtain Lower Hates OF
Duty ertein Goods.
The French government has opened ne
go;iatiens With the United States for the
purpose OF arranging reciprocal relations
that will enable them to enter sorile OF
their goods at a less rate OF duty than IL
imposed under the general provisions OF
the new law These negotiations we're
begun by the French embassy with the
State Department, and the Secretary ut
State has asked the Secretary of the Treas
ury 10 designate some one to act with that
department ia carrying on the negotiations
Secretary Gage has designated Assistant
Secretary Howell, who has charge of the
customs branch Of the Treasury work.
The French government represents that
Under the law OF 1890, known as the Nc
kinley act, it was given special rates on
many of the articles it imported into This
country, and that as result of those on
cessions IL reduced the rates Of duties on
American products to the minimum. When
tic Wilson hill was enacted into law,
owing TO the lower rates that prevailed,
Eothing was said about these rates, FOR
there was, as the French government vieTe'l
the situation, no ground for complaint on
the part of the French rnanufactur rs
The increase of the rates by the Dingiey
bill has called out this mild protest
The French ambassador represents TINT
for several years the French government
has admitted American petroleum and lum
Der into that country at the minimum rate
Of duty and they hold that there sh0uldbc
some concession made to the french peo-
pie on tnat account. Both these products.
IL is claimed, come into France at less
rate OF duty under previous arrangements
that We're made than from other countries.
In return the French want their wines and
silks let into the United States at re-
duced rate.
Under the reciprocal provisions OF the
nipgley act there can be no reduction ia
the duties on French silks The act 1t
self states upon what articles the Presi-
dent has the authority to reduce the rates
and fixes that reduction absolutely. II
the French people, therefore, have visions
OF getting their extensive silk manufac
lures into the United States at less rate
than was paid by other nations that
dream viii be scattered. Champagnes,
which is one OF the big industries Of the
country, can, however, be treated favor
ably under a proclamation by the Presi
dent.
If the President is convinced that the
French government is permitting the entry
of certain of the American products at a
low rate OF duty he can grant the admis
sion OF champagnes At SO dozen quart
bottles, which, ia this case, rs a reduction
OF 25 per cent of the duty fixed by the
law. This reduction would be a big item
TO the French wine merchants when the
total Of their impurtdtions into the United
States is taken into consideration. Sec
tiop also provides for a reduction in the
rates or NerrnUth and still wines and in
argols, or crude tartar, all OF which Is
largely exported by the French people.
The negotiations are still in a tentative
shape, but it is believed that out of them
will come a condition that will be mutually
beneficial TIC both countries. This Is the
first suggestion on the part of any Euro
pean country that reciprocal arrange
ment would be fayorably received.