The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-04-10
An Interesting Treatise Just out on
the Subject.
II Gives the Methods OF Collecting Tariffs
In Vogue ia Many
Places.
ISSUED BY THE TREASURY BUREAU.


title of a monograph just issued by thu
treasury bureau of statistics. L
presents in concise form statement
of the three distinct tariff systems now
applied in the principal commercial
countries of the world, and is of espe'
cial interest at this time in view Of
the tariff discussions and pending tar
i'll legislation in certain European
countries. The tariff systems now in
use among thessprominent commercial
countries of the world may be classed
under three heads: 1. The general
tariff system; 2, the general and con-
ventional tariff system, and 8, the
minimum and minimum tariff system.
The system Of general tariff is the
simplest Of those enumerated, and
consists in having a single schedule of
import duties, which is applied to the
goods Of all countries without distinc-
ton Such tariff is altogether an
act Of the legislative branch of the
government. 1t takes account only of
the needs Of the home country, and
recognizes foreign commercial rela-
tions only in SO far as the latter are in
harmony with home interests.
The system Of general and conven-
tional tariffs, however, makes o dis
tinction between goods which come
from different countries. The fact
that nations which make use of
general tariff often find themselves
compelled to change this tariff when
they later make commercial treaties
is evidence of how difficult II lis to
maintain such q tariff intact. But
since modern nations are practically
compelled to have more or less COM
mercial relations with each other
some way Of regulating these relations
must be found, and must be found,
and the usual method of securing this
end is by means of q mutual under
standing between the countries in
question. Generally one nation de-
clares itself ready to grant some con-
cession or reduction in its tariff If a |
corresponding concession is offered in
return. If an agreement is reached,
aStreaty is then made, and as q rule
the willingness is expressed to max
further treaties with other countries
under similar conditions. Such a
treaty will usually introduce new
tariff rate. II the state substitutes
these rates for those in the general
tariff, then no change in the system
takes place. The usual course, how
ever, is for the state to now maintain
two columns in its tariff schedule;
the first for those countries enjoying
the most favored nation" treatment,
which is called the treaty or oonven-
tional tariff, and the second contain |
ing the original rates, for those coun-
tries not receiving this treatment, and
termed the general treatment
The rates of the conventional tariff
are. of course, never higher than those
of the general schedule, and are usu-
ally lower. 1t may be. however, that
one nation regards it of Importance
that a certain rate, reduction of
which is refused by the other power,
should not be increased during the
period for which the treaty is made.
The making of an agreement that rates
shall not be changed is termed "bind-
ing" sucn rates. That is, the conven-
tional tariff schedule isscomposed OF
reduced and bound" or fixed rates.
The general cchedule may be changed
at any time without breaking any of
the conditions of the treaty, but, the
conventional schedule can only be
changed by the consent of both par
ties.
The general tariff is framed with
the acknowledged purpose Of being the
basis for the negotiations Of CONNER
ical treaties. A conventional sched-
ule is drawn up in these treaties, and,
by the action of the most favored ma
tion clause, the conventional tariff