Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-16
NEW RECIPROCITY P[AN
President Search Favors Giving
the Chief Executive Com
plete Authority.
Special Legislation Invites Con-
slant Tinkering With the
Tariff System.
Annual Report OF the President
Of the Manufacturers As
ISOLATION.

indianapolis. April 16.-In his annual
report President Search, of the Nation
al Manufacturers Association, called
attention to the declining exports of
American manufactured products, and
urged manufacturers not to neglect
their foreign customers in this era of
extraordinary home demand, lest in
times of depression they should find
their foreign trade destroyed and no
export outlets for the surplus of an
home market.
Reciprocity formed one. of the chief
topics of the report and the work of
the national reciprocity convention,
which was held in Washington last No
yember under the auspices of the assoc
citation, was reviewed at length. Mr..
Search maintained that the Washing
ton convention was thoroughly repre-
sentative Of the manufacturing inter-
ests of the country and its action in
Gicative of the true sentiments of the
manufacturers concerning reciprocity.
assuming the doubtful chances of any
action on the pending treaties of reci-
rrocity with France and Argentina. he
declared that further development of
the reciprocal trade idea depended up
on the possibilities of special legisla-
ton like that for which the proposed
concession to Cuba affords a precedent.
Mr.. Search said:
1.-THE concrete proposition which now
confronts us appears to me to be about
like this: Is it feasible, safe and ex-
pedient to undertake to adjust our COM
mercial relations with other nations by
means of special legislation, dealing
with each particular case, or is 1t
preferable from all points of view to
seek the same end by delegating to the
executive arm of the government the
lower to negotiate International agree
ments for reciprocal concessions?
"Our treatment of the Cuban prob
lem furnishes the precedent for the new
departure in reciprocity; but while we
recognize certain obvious advantages
in this plan we must not close our eyes
to the dangers that lie in such course.
We must recognize that such a method
of procedure practically invites a COM
.tinuous tinkering of the tariff. the pos
sibilities of which we can view only
with distrust and alarm.
With regard to the proposition to
create new federal department, Mr..
Search expressed qualification at the
progress that had been made towards
the passage of the Nelson bill, and
urged more energetic personal support
~ 1tvytl
bers of the association.
The principle of direct government
aid to the merchant marine. as embod-
led in the pending ship subsidy bill,
was commended to the association as
in perfect accord with the declarations
of previous annual conventions.
Concerning isthmian canal projects
Mr.. Search took the position that the
people really cared but little whether
the Panama or the Nicaragua route
should be chosen, so long as some de-
cisive action should be taken by con-
gress which would advance the matter
to the point of actual undertaking of
the construction of an interoceanic Wa
terway.
The pending bills for the reorganiza-
ton of the consular service on practi-
cal lines were recommended for apao
cal business lines were recommended
for approval by the association.
Attention of the association was di-
rected to the pending eight-hour blu
and the "anti-injunction bill, both of
which Mr.. Search said very gravely
the interests of the manu-
facturers of the country, and should
not be permitted to become laws with
out having been most carefully con-
in their bearing upon manufac-
turing interests.
What had been done during the year
to protect members against the impo-
sition of unconstitutional taxes and Ii
cense fees under the foreign corpora
ton laws of the various states was re-
ported and members We're recommend
ed to resist such discriminating and
unjust demands.
The appointment of a permanent
committee on interstate commerce law
was recommended as means of aiding
the movement to secure desired
of that act.
Commercial education was discussed
at considerable length. and Mr. Search
TecoLHIllellueu tAdl Tie dSSoCiduoH
should consider the feasibility of or
ganizing a system of examination and
certification of commercial students
upon their completion OF prescribed
courses of study, or the establishment
of correspondence courses of instruc-
ton as alternative plans to meet the
prevailing desire for larger facilities for
instruction in practical business meth
DDS, more particularly those entering
into International trade.
Warmed Against kidnappers.
New York. April IA mysterious
letter received by the Rev.
DR.. F. M. Clendenin, of Westminster in