New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
TRADE WAR WITH GERMANY.
PASSAGE OF THE NEAT INSPECTION
BILL MAY LEAD TO RE-
TALIATION. 4.T
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

lBY TELEGRAPH TRTBUNE.l
Washington March 1O.-The action Of the Ger
man Reichstag the Meat Inspection bill
caused much comment at the Capitol to-day
among men who devote attention to the subject
Of foreign trade and commerce There an
impression among some of the members OF Con-
gress that II the measure should be enacted into
law in it's present form it might cause
mercial war between Germany and the United
States IN which the producers of both countries
would be exposed to serious injury A member
Of the Ways and Means Committee remarked:
If Germany courts tariff commercial war
with the United States she will probably dis
cover that we are as well prepared for the con-
sequences as she is. but 1t would not be good
thing for either country.
TRADE HAS STEADILY INCREASED.
The volume of trade between Germany and
the United States has been steadily increasing.
In the last calendar year it amounted In round
figures to S251, 100000: in 1S9S to S241 900 OOO
and in 1897, to 1898, 100000 The balance of
trade against Germany has also steadily In
creased in recent years. except In 1893, when
the volume of mportatons abnormay
large. In 1899 the exports to Germany ex-
ceeded the imports from the same country by
$12,O00,OO0, In 1895 by $S6.OOO.OOO and in 1897
by S3S, 100000. There was a decrease of i'm
portations of leather and kid gloves cotton
goods. silk goods, sugar and woollen goods, and
an increase of furs and fur skins, hides, and
skins and jewery. The decrease in cotton goods
amounted to S1SO0,OOO; in gloves to $1,000
in silk goods to S5OOOO0; in sugar. to $4,000
600 from $27OO0,OOO to $13,OOOOOO and in
woollen goods, to 5000, 900. Importations of
turs and fur skins increased from 100000 to
S1,SoO,OO0 of hides and skins, from 81 200 900 to
S2,3OO,OOO, and jewelry, from 100000 to
S9O000O
nf aevricu {ronl ipcr cal
from 100000 to 81 100000: corn. from 50. OOO.
600 to $13OO0.OO0; wheat, from 81 100000 to
SI,1O0,OOO; copper, In ingots. bars and plates
from $3.OOO,OO0 to S6OOOOOO: builders hard
ware, from S5OOOOO to $500, 900; typewritng
machines. from 100000 to 100000; oil cake
and meal, from So, 100000 to 81, 600 900; cotton
seed oil, from $500 600 to $500 900: bacon from
T.5OO,O00 to s., ,5O0,O 900; hams from $3OOOOO to
100000; sated pork, from 500 900 to $500 600;
lard. from $S,OOO.OOO to $13OOOOOO and lum-
Der. from SSOO,OOO to 81, 100000 Exports of raw
cotton decreased from S5OOOOO0O to SAT, 900 OOO
and of tobacco, from 81, GOO, 900 to S4OOOOOO
For number of years prior to 1891 there was
serious friction between Germany and the
United States account of the exclusion from
her markets by the former of American pork
products, except lard. and the exports fell from
S56OOOOO in 1873 to about $4,000 in 1890 In
1891 the restrictions were removed and exports
began rapidly to increase. that in 1894 the
total amounted to about 81 100000 and In 1898
TO $o,Ooo,OU. The bill now pending in the Ger
man Parliament proposes to impose still more
severe restrictions not only bacon, hams and
salted pork, but also on beef products which
are rapidly becoming an important item in the
export trade to Germany, and absolutely to pro-
nlo1t the importation Of pork and beef products
after the year 1904.
Two years ago Germany also imposed prohi-
on
American fruits, both fresh and dried These
restrictions still exist, despite the fact that Ger
man consumers are loud in their complaints
and scientific experts commissioned by the Ger
man Government to investigate the subject both
In the United States and at home have reported
lhat IN the process of drying the San jose scale
which was the cause of the restriction Is ex-
terminated and dried fruit rendered innocuous
PRESIDENTS POWER TO RETALIATE
The Secretary of Agriculture and other Of
hcials here have not been unmindful of or IN
ol1rerent to the proceedings in the German
Feichstag' which seem to them especially i'll
uneo IN view OF the negotiations initiated last
summer for a reciprocity treaty between the
United States and Germany which, it is under
STOOD, nave not been abandoned. The removal
Oh the RESTRICTION on pork by Germany in 1890
was due in great partsto the enactment bv Con-
gress in that year Of the Meat Inspection law
The act provided for most thorough and rig
orous inspection of meats for export and its
provisions are still enforced. The law also
ciothed the President with discretionary power
10 suspend importations from any country In
WhOie or III part, the Government of which
should impose unreasonable or uniust restrio-
tions or prohibitions on importations of agrt-
cultural or other products of the United States
Ihat provision is still in force
Inc provisions of the Tariff act of 1894 which
imposed discriminating duty of one tenth OF a
tent tet a pouno on bounty paid sugars imported
into the United States was the subject of .
vigorous protest by Germany and other Euro
peah countries which paid bounties on beet
sugars produced for export. The countervail;ne
outes imposed on bounty paid sugars imported
unoer the Dingley act have also caused many
have done something to promote the pronosaS
action OF Germany which would result In serious
INJURY 10 the American export trade In meats