New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-30
THE GERMAN TARIFF.

The tariff situation in Germany has got into
depIorable and really OminOus state blame
for which may be somewhat distributed. but
must chiefly be placed upon the Agrarians and
Socialists. The Chancellor has made some eX-
Uaordinary concessions to the Agrarans, going
so far even TO bring upon himself sharp crit
icism from his colleagues and supporters. But
these were not sufficient to diSarm Agrarian en-
nifty. while they actually increased the oppOsi-
ton of the Socialists. Accordingly those which
we may call the cartel parties have agreed upon
the heroic measure of ordering vote upon the
bill as a whole. without further consideration
of details Offering of amendments. This is
equivalent TO moving the previous question in
Congress or the closure in the British Parlia-
ment in the midst of the committee stage of a
bill. In the Reichstag 1t is admitted by its pro
posers To be little short OF revolutionary. If not
openly Illegal. The President of the Reichstag
admits that it may be In violation of the rules
of that body, but instead of taking the TespOD-
sbity OF deciding whether it is not he re-
mits the question to the Reichstag itself, where,
of course. the cartel can declare it legal The
prOposer of this extraordinary procedure does
not attempt to Justify it upon any ground other
than that of necessity. You have driven us
to it," is his sole reply to his critics
1t is probable then, that the government will
force the bill through, without further tinker
ing In that case the government will be en-
abed TO proceed with the negotiation of new
commercial treaties with other nations to take
the place of those which about TO expire.
The tariff may not be to its liking and the new
treaties may be not entirely satisfactory, but
it is thought the latter will be preferable to a
continuation of the existing treaties on modus
vivendi basis OF course. much will depend
upon the future tariff policy of other powers
especially of the United States. But that would
be as true in case of the continuation of the
present tariff in Germany in that Of the
adoption of a one. Indeed, there will be
some advantage in having a new one. for in
the negotiation of new treaties some additional
safeguards against bad effects Of tariff changes
in other lands may be secured. In the present
depressed and demoraIzed state of business in
Germany it is emihently desirable to end the
controversy and the uncertainty by the adop-
ton of some positive measure, and it is upon
that ground that the government will find the
best justification Of the arbitrary course upon
which it has entered
We have said the blame must largely be put
upon the Agrarians and Socialists These par
ties have shown themselves unamenable to rea-
son. The former have been unwilling to enter
into a compromise or to consider anything save
their own selfish interests. What is to be ex-
pected Of party that opposes the construction
of canals and roads the ground that these
would facilitate the importation OF foreign
goods into the empire? AS for the Socialists,
they seem TO have been opposed to all the gov
ernment's proposals simply because they were
the governments proposals. They are against
the government" But n party that bounded
Rudolph VirchOw out of public life and strOve
TO destroy all his usefulness to the human race
and which bounded Krupp TO his death with
Unspeakahle libels is not to be expected to
take a high view of any topic When such
parties combine in sheer obstruction spending
whole days i'll dilatory roIlcalls and speeches
for buncombe, serious statesmen may be par
dOned for resOrting TO heroic measures for the
execution Of business