The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-02
FEARS OF FOREIGNERS
BASIS OF THE PROTESTS AGAINST
THE NEW TARIFF LAW.
Several European Nafions Afraid the
merce with Their People.

WASHINGTON, Aug. LIN a late num-
Der of the Congressional Record containing
speeches on the tariff conference report is
a. speech by NJ n. Johnson, of North
Dakota, in which he makes a compilation
of the protests received by the State De-
partment from the representatives of for
eign governments against certain duties i'm
posed in the Dingley tariff bill, while that
measure was pending. Some of these pro-
tests have been made public, others have
been referred to the committees of Con-
gress having the tariff bill in charge and
little or no attention has been paid to them.
Nearly all these communications revert to
the commerce between the several coun-
tries and the United States. They insist that
the new tariff will retard that commerce
and some of them intimate that it will re-
suit in decreasing the demand for Ameri
can goods. Some OF the ministers disclaim
any intention to interfere in the internal af
fairs of the United States. but make the
representations for the benefit of the COM
merce between the countries. Some sugges-
tions are made that the injury to be done
the treasury of the United States on ac-
count of the imposition of the proposed du-
ties will be considerable.
Minister Brun, of Denmark, calls atten-
ton to the fact that the tariff on Ameri-
can goods going into Denmark is very Ia
vorable and that his government views with
a great dell of apprehension the pending
tariff bill He says that the admission of
Danish products on a favorable tariff would
only be fair return for the rates granted
American products. The Danish products
which he said would be greatly affected by
the new bill were: Beer, cement, white cab
bageS, hemp seed, porcelain, hides and
skins, wool rags, pebbles, lime cha!R'
gloves, leather, condensed milk. granite,
monuments, dairy machinery and Doecker
tents.
There were three communications from
Baron FaVa the Italian ambassador. The
first protests against the duty on italian
oranges and lemons which, he says, would
prove very disastrous to the Italian trade
in these fruits. A second communication
from Baron Fava is against the 90 per
cent. duty on canded fruits, which the
manufacturers of Leghorn say would de-
stroy their market in the United States. In
a third communication Baron Fava speaks
of a letter of the secretary of agriculture,
in which he refers to ministerial decree
of Italy relating to meats from the United
States. This decree required a consular wise
for certificates of origin, issued by Ameri-
can authorities and accompanying ship
ments of meat. Baron FaVa informs the
State Department that the question has
been submitted for examination to the Zoo
technic and Epizootic Board. The embassa-
dor adds: His Majesty government, how
ever. desires to perform friendly act to-
ward that of the United States by frankly
fOrewarning it that it could in no case be
induced to modify the provisions contained
in the aforesaid decree in accordance with
the desire expressed by the Department of
Agriculture if the United States should per-
sist in retaining in the new customs tariff
the eXorbitant duties to which l have had
the honor to call your EXCellencyS atten-
ton in my preceding written and verbal
communication The same warning has
been communicated, with the same ami
cable intent, by my government to the rep
resentatives of the United States at Rome.
Count Lichtervelde, minister of Belgium,
sent three communications concerning the
tariff One referred to the retroactive
clause adopted by the House. and pointed
out that it works great hardship upon
those who were shipping articles which
could not be safely transported in the win
ter such as plants and bulbs. The other
communications refer to the rates on ce-
ment and sprats and Sardines He says
that the disContinuance of expectation of
Belgian cement would result disastrously
to grain exported from the United States;
on account of the higher rates that would
be charged because vessels would have to
sail one way in ballast.
The Turkish government protests against
the duty of 81 per pound on crude opium,
and says that the tariff cannot be for the
purpose of protecting a home industry or
to secure increased revenue He thinks the
revenue of the government would suffer,
but says that in case it did not the cost of
the drug used for medicinal purposes would
be greatly increased to the consumers.
J. B. Pioda minister of Switzerland, says
that the new tariff will be disastrous to
three principal in lustries of switzerland
and clocks. He says his government "ap-
peals to the sentiments of friendship AMI
equity of it's sister republic. He sub
mitted that the Swiss government desired
as follows: THAT bolting cloth remain on
the free list and that there be no Increase
in the rates on silk piece goods, silk rib
bons embroideries Swiss watches and
watch movements. and tar colors"
Sir Julian Pauncefote sent two very brief
communications, one in December, 1896, in
forming Mr.. Olney that the fishery board
of Scotland protested against the high rate
on cured behring's, and that at the re-
quest of the Marquis of Salisbury he rep
resents to the United States government
that the high rates which the Dingley bill
imposes on salt maclSerel and other cured
fish would cause grave injury to the fish
ermen on the west coast of Ireland. This
note is dated June Is, 1897
The protests of the German embaSSador
and the Austrian minister against the
countervailing duty on bounty export sugar
have already been published.
The consul general of Greece protests
against the rate imposed upon Zante cur
rants and raisins.
Fifty-three Irish members of the British
Parliament join in letter to President
Mckinley. saying that the duty on cured
mackerel and herring, caught on the west
coast of Ireland, will work great hard
ship to the Irish fishermen, and praying
the President to secure modification OF
the rates in the Dingley bill
The protest of Argentine against the duty
on hides and wool, and of Japan against
a number of duties has already been pub
lshed China made a protest on lines SIM
liar to those of Japan.
Obituary.
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