Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-31
MEANS MUCH TO KANSAS CITY
FRENCH DUTIES ON MEAT PROD
UCTs MATERIALLY REDUCED. --
Chief Benent to France II In Reduce
ton of Rate ON Brandies, Wines,
Vermuth and Works of Art
Goes Into Eject -
June 1.

States and France have concluded the first
commercial agreement entered into under
section Ill of the Dingley tariff law. The
negotiations have been pending for the last
eight months, and after many vicissitudes,
were concluded on Saturday last, when Am
bassador Cambon, in behalf Of France. and
John Kasson, reciprocity commissioner for
the United States. affixed their signatures
to the formal agreement
1t makes important changes in the tariff
rates on a number of articles constituting
the chief trade between this country and
France. The particular advantages secured
by the United States are on meat products
and lard compound, France reducing her
rates one-half on meat products and about
one-third on lard compound. The chief
benefits to France are in reduction in rates
on brandies, stilled wine. vermuth and
works OF art. There is no reduction in the
rate Of champagnes, although the Dingley
law contemplated reciprocity reduction
on champagnes in case mutual concessions
were given.
By the terms of the agreement the new
rates go into effect on June /, or next
Wednesday. In the meantime. under the
terms OF the law, the president has issued
proclamation granting the reciprocal re-
ductions specified in the agreement, and at
the same time the French authorities at
rates in accordance with the agreement.
The conclusion Of the agreement Is
source Of general congratulation among the
officials of the state department, and Of
the French embassy. Several reciprocity
negotiations have been in progress, and it
was thought those with Great Britain were
likely to be concluded first. The French
negotiations began last: October, when NJ.
Patenotre was the French ambassador here.
bnr - limit.
ed States expected much larger conces-.
sions, particularly on meat products, than
II. Patenotre was ready to yield. M. Cam
bon, formerly governor general of Algiers.
and regarded as one Of the most capable
diplomatic officials in the French service,
when he succeeded NJ Patenotre resumed
the work, acting under instructions from
Paris; concessions were made which al
lowed the two governments to come to-
gether.
It was matter of no little surprise that
the arrangement was concluded at the
present time, when the war emergency
| compelled this government to look for
eyery possible source Of revenue and when
there was a concentration Of official atten-
| ton on measures relating directly to the
| war.
Aside from the tariff changes made by
| the new agreement, the convention Is re-
| garded as significant in showing the good
| will existing between the United States and
| France.
| In official circles there never has been
any question as to the continued cordhlity
| between the two countries, but in unofhcial
| quarters there have been reports OF fric-
| tion. It is believed that the agreement
will serve to dispel misapprehensions as to
| the satisfactory relations between the two
governments, and that 1t will be quite as
beneficial in increasing the good will be-
| tween the two republics as the trade
The benefit Of the French minimum tariff
which is granted to various products of the
soil and industry of the United States Is
especially advantageous to Western indus
tries. including the large meat packing in
! dustries of Chicago, Kansas City. Omaha
| and st. Louis. As result Of these con-
sessions, it is believed among the officials
| that the agreement will have a beneficial
i influence in increasing the interest and CO.
operation of the West and the country in
general in the French exposition in 1900.
President McKinley's proclamation put
| ting into effect the reciprocity agreement.
| recites that the maximum tariff on canned
meats is to be Is francs per 100 Kilograms.
| manufactured and prepared pork meats. 80
francs per 100 Kilograms; lard and its COM
| pounds, Is francs per 100 Kilograms.
Following is the new rate granted to
| France:
On argols, or crude tartar. or wine lees.
crude, per centum ad valorem.
On brandies or other spirits, manufactur-
ed or distilled from grain or other mate
rails, $1.75 per proof gallon.
On paintings in oil or water colors. pas
tells, pen and ink drawings, and statuary. u
per centum ad valorem.
It is further declared that the rates OF
duty heretofore imposed and collected on
still wines and vermuth, the product OF
France. under the provisions of the United
States tariff act Of 1897. are conditionally
suspended and in place thereof shall be i'm
posed and collected on and after the LIST day
of June next as follows. namely:
On still wines and vermuth. In casks, 3;
cents per gallon; in bottles or jugs. per case
of one dozen bottles or jugs containing each
not more than one quart, or twenty-four
bottles or Jugs containing not more than
one pint, $1.25 per case. and any excess be-
yond these quantities found in such bottles
or jugs shall be subject to a duty OF cents
per pint or fractional part thereof, but nc
| separate or additional duty shall be as.