Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-09-25

Berlin, Sept, 2S.--The customs tariff
committee of the reichstag began the
second reading of the tariff bill yester-
day. The section relating to agricul-
tural and garden products was taken
up first Baron Won Wangenheim
moved increasing to $l,S7iG per double
hundred weight the duties on num-
Der of imports, including wheat, rye,
barley and oats,
In the resumption of the discussion
of the tariff bill by the committee it
was evident that the outlook for posi-
tive results had grown more dismal
since the adjournment August Il.
Within the last few days the three
most important political parties, the
CGntristS, German conservatives and
free conservatives, have held a caucus
on the situation and adopted a resom.
ton to abide by the agrarian increases
adopted at the first reading in the
tariff committee and which the gov
eminent repeatedly pronounced mae
Ceptable. Some politicians outside OF
these parties interpret this as intend
ed to bring pressure upon the govern
ment and compel it to accept com
promise Altogether, therefore, the
tariff bills prospects are completely
uncertain and many experts in reich
stag politics regard its failure as high
ly probable. The SOCIALISTS indicated
in the Munich congress their plain in.
tentiOn to use all possible obstructive
tactics to prolong the discussion untn
the end OF the session so as to get the
expression of the country on the tariff
at next June's general election. 1t is
evident that the existing high prices
Of meats will play a considerable role
in the bye-eleCtions, in the newspapers
and in further debates as we'll as in
the general election. The butchers
guild of Berlin has just added 2h
cents per pound to the price of pork,
making it 2612 cents. A good tllet
costs AZ cents. Replying to the mo.
ton made by Baron Won Wangenheim
proposing increases in the duties on
wheat, rye, barley and oats, Count
PosadowskyWehn pointed out that.
owing to the constant growth of the
industrial element of the population in
| the agricultural districts ii has be.
come increasingly difficult from the
polite point of view to secure the pas.
sage of increased duties favoring agri-
culture. If, in accordance with Baron
Won Wangenheim wish, said the i'm
perial secretary of state, the agriCul-
tural duties are raised and the indus
trial duties lowered there would be
risk of raising the cost of living ana
so lessening the industrial productions
and capacity of the population and the
| government would never Countenance
| this. AS the customs tariff is intend
ed to lead to commercial treaties il
should contain no clauses the ultimate
aim of which was anything other than
balancing the difference in the cost of
production at home and abroad.
With reference to the suggestion
that negotiations for commercial
treaties might be commenced on the
basis of draft of the tariff bill. Count
Won ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS entered into
detailed explanations of the reasons
why Germany could only negotiate
commercial treaties on the basis of a
bill that hat become a law. Owing to
the enormous development of industry,
he said the existing tariff was thor
oughly out of date and the important
thing in the present case was the Gre
alton Of a basis Of negotiations with
foreign countries and especially the
continuance Of minimum duties.
Therefore, said the count, rates should
be fixed which were presumably prac-
ticable in regard to the countries with
which Germany had treated and the