New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-07
mWODERN TARIFF SYSTEMS.
AN IMPORTANT MONOGRAPH ISSUED BY tn Z
TREASURY BUREAU OF STATISTICS.

TREASURY BUREAU OF STATISTICS
washington April (SpeciaD.-'Modern farm
Systems" is the title of monograph Just issued by
she Treasury Bureau OF Statistics. 1t presents in
concise form statement Of the three distinct tarln
systems now applied in the principal commercial
countries OF she world. and Is OF especial lhteie
at this time in view OF the tarlh dlscuSs'ohs anu
,,andinr tariff legislation in certain European coun-
tries The tariff systems now in use among the
prominent commercial countries OF the WoTld may
he classed under three heads: % The general taflH
system: t2 the general and conventional tariff sEs-
tenn and 80 the ma ximum and minimum tarlH sES-
fem The system of a general tariff is the simplest
Of those enumerated. and consists in having Single
nchedue Of import duties, which IL applied 10 the
soo,ls OF all countries without distinction Such
tariff is altogether act of the legislative pranch
CT the government. 1t takes account only OF the
needs of the home country, and recognizes foreign
commercial relations only in so far as the latter
are in harmony with home interests
The system OF general and conventional tarlhs
however makes distinction between goods which
como from different countries The fact that nations
which make of a general tariff often mo theih-
selves compelled 10 change this tariff when they
later make commercial treaties is evidence or no"
difficult IL IS to maintain such tarin intact But
since modern nations are practically compelled TO
have more less commercial relations with one an
ether some way OF regulating these relations must
he found and The usual method of securing this
end is by means OF mutual understanding he
u
ton declares itself ready grant some concession
OF reduction I'm its tariff If corresponding conces-
sion IS offered In IL an agreement is reached
a treaty is then made, and a rule the willingness
is expressed 10 make further treaties with other
countries under similar conditions Such treaty
will usually introduce new tariff rates IL me
State substitutes these rates for those In the gen
eral tariff then no change i'm the system takes
place The usual course however, is for the state
now 10 maintain two columns in its tariff schedule;
the for those countries enjoying the most
favored nation treatment. which is called the
treaty or conventional tariff. and the second. con-
tanning the original rates, for those countries not
receiving this treatment. and termed the general
tariff.
The rates Of the conventional tariff are, of course
never higher than those OF The general schedule.
and usually lower II may be. however, that
one nation regards il OF Importance that a certain
rate a reduction OF which is refused by the other
power should not be increased during the period
Tor which the treaty j. made. The makng of an
agreement that rates shall be changed is termed
binding such rates That Is the conNentlonai
tariff schedule is composed Of reduced and bound
fixed. rates The general schedule may be
changed any time without breaking any of the
conditions OF the treaty pul the conventional Sched-
ule can only be changed 10y the consent of both
The general tariff is framed with the acknowledged
purpose OF being the basis for me hegotations o,
drawn up in these treaties. and, by the action OF
the most favored nation clause. the conventional
tariff becomes extended in application that.
rule ii IS the exception 10 apply The general tariff
For this reason the general tariff is regarded main
ly in the leht of preliminary sketch OF the real
a
schedule are infrequently made rather high.
that they can readily be reduced and conces-
$1,000 e sor s1,a ,,,fa,esa T,sason and tbs mn
desired high rates become actual rates. This pos
sbility generally exerts restrain ming influence in
which events in the field OF commercial policy may
take win always exert Considerable Influence in the
formation OF such tariff schedules bat the main
consideration must always be the needs of the home
The most prominent country using the general
and conventional system Is Germany. The general
amendments The conventional tariff is made up
OF the schedules contained ia the commercial Urea
lies with Austria. Italy Belgium. Switzerland.
Russia. Rumana. Greece and SerIia- Partly through
commercial treaties and partly through the action
OF the administration i'm making most favored ma
ten" agreements. Germany has extended the APP
now given 10 ali European countries except Portu-
SCI ne eehefaI thfif therefore. mas only very
limited scope. and IN this case may be regarded
penalty tariff. In Austria the general tariff i
tariff is the result OF several treaties
and practically applies 10 all countries %
The maximum and minimum tariff system i
OF all in It's form. Instead OF having two rates for
lew articles IL has two most articles on
frequently called the double tariT system In tb.,
aap1dsatlo a o. .hese rates the maximum schedule
mum schedule 10 the conventional schedule of The
most favored nation tTeatmenf TiTh a. reeve ne
istie difference between the two systems however
arises from the difference i'm their origin tn. mini
mum schedule is not drawn by negotiable he
tween the executives of the two countries hnt 8
framed by Inc iesislatiye body al the same time
legislative power fAes two rates OF duty on each
which 1es the axir1im SIet rate "a Is me one
articles may zoe taxed entering the co,lntrI-.
the ninimum extent TO which the duty ma he
al any time fhes. tpo rates show me ga, t;
bstws which the treaty rates be fixed
InaxiHum and minimum tarin system are SPAN G
France. Russia. Brazil Greece and Norway
HARRISON REPT RITF4N CTR GEgycrpc