The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-04-10

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that, as a. rule, it is the exception
to apply the general tariff. For this
reason, the general tariff is regarded
mainly in the light of a preliminary
sketch of the real tariff. As a con-
sequence, the rates in the general
schedule are not infrequently made
rather high, so that they can read
lily be reduced and concessions de-
manded in return. There is always
the possibility, however, that the
negotiations may be broken of for
some unforeseen reason, and the I'M
desired high rates become actual
rates. This possibility generally ex-
erts restraining influence in the
farming of the general tariff. The
course which events in the field Of
commercial policy may take will al
ways exert considerable influence in
the formation OF such tariff sched-
ules, but the main consideration must
always be the needs of the home pro-
ducers.
The most prominent country using
the general and conventional system
is Germany. The general tariff
is practically that of 1879 with the
la$ar op,o,d,,apts THE oo,va,t;o,.l
tariff is made up Of the schedules N
tanned in the commercial treaties with
Austria, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland,
Russia, Rouinanis, Greece and Ser
via. Partially through commercial
treaties and partially through the
action of the administration in making
most favored nation agreements, Ger
many has extended the application Of |
the conventional schedule until ii is
now given tc all European countries
except Portugal. The general tariff,
therefore, has only very limited
scope, and in this case may be regard
ed as penalty tariff. In Austria the
general tariff is based on the laws Of
1882 and 1887. The conventional
tariff is the result of several CONNER
cial treaties and practically applies to
all countries of Importance.
The maximum and minimum tariff
'ystem is distinguished from the above
'ystem, first of all. in Its form. In
'tead of having twos rates for few
articles it has two rates on most asti-
lies on which duties are imposed, and
or this reason Is frequently called the
louble tariff system. In the applica-
on Of these rates the mailman sched-
lie corresponds to the general sched-
lie and the minimum schedule to the
schedule Of the system
ust described, since the minimum
ates are given only to those countries
which receive the most favored nation
The characteristic differ
nee between the two systems, how
yer, arises from the difference in
heir origin. The minimum schedule
J not drawn mp by negotiations be-
iween the executives of the two coun-
ries, hut is framed by the legislative
ody at the same time that the maxi
num schedule is made. That is, the
legislative power fixes two rates of
uty on each article in the tariff. The ,
igher rate is the one which fixes the
Maximum extent to which those ar
icles may be taxed on entering the
ountry; the lower, or minimum rate, ,
the one which fixes the minimum
xtent to which the duty may be low
red. If it is desired to make CONNER
ial treaties at any time, these two
ates show the exact limits between
which the treaty rates are to be fixed.
The countries at present using
multiple or maximum and minimum
ariff system are Spain, France, Rus
ia. Brazil, Greece and Norway.
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