The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-01-12
THE new GERMAN TARIFF

From the Springfield Republican
The fact that the legislative has been passed in pro-
of enactng the German tariff exctes but little
ton in this country although this the country that may be
most affected by the proposed law Several months there
doubt the final character Of the owing the
lukewamness of the government making agraan interests
paramount and opposition of the socialists rad
icas higher prices food has about however, that
bv combination of agrarans and ceca in the Reichsag
agraran hope is substantially realized The government,
wishing antagonize far the parliamentary groups upon
which generally depends for support and being virtually dv
the wall finally suppressed the opposition by rule OF
parliamentary procedure which Prof Mommsen has denounced
aagrany unconstutiona-and the thing done The bill
go through third reading in the Reichsag and be
passed by the Bundes but little difficulty these final stages
anticipated.
new tariff the radical of this should be view
ed in aspects effect upon other countries and its effect
upon Germany SO far the United States is concerned there
be doubt the bills possibilities High protection for
necessarily that the door the German
maj e will be closed to American agricultural products In the
bill there heavy increases of duties meats of all kinds
that prepared meat rising from 75 to $ per 22o pounds
The duty wheat nearly cent higher and those
other grains rise in corresponding manner What this
may be realized by examination OF the figures OF
export trade Germany the fiscal year of I9oI19o2
export wheat amounted about 5OOOOOO while
exports the two years normal crops in vaue
SI0oooooo 100000 respectively American lard exports
Germany during the year ending une 80 attained value OF
6oooooo Much Of this trade will have to be sacrificed
there prospect that be saved by reciprocity treaty
which, for continued entrance of farm products
would open the American market to
responding German manufactures The new German
law will leave the government tree to negotiate treaty 6 IN
neither Germany this there expectation OF such
the country desire nothing than the permanent exclusion
Of American farm products And such situation Americans
complained in view Of their tariff record
The effect OF this tariff upon Germany presents diff
ferent question Agrarian complaints concerning the fall in the
value of farm lands and farm produce have extended long
OF and well based the solid rock OF fact For
agraan sentiment the United States in favor of
bmetalsm order check the fall in prices and this feeling
much encouraged by Bismarck defeat of the silver
the United States the German agriculture interests which
mainly hands of comparatively small landlord ar1so
cracv have demanded relief from foreign competition through
t1at Of
lent system of reciprocity treaties built by Chancellor Won Cap
riv years ago, by which German manufacturing much
benefited The agrarans advance arguments for the pro-
lection OF agriculture urging particularly the necessity for main
tanning in the rural districts submissive population from which
the of the kaiser may draw recruits and providing
native food supply in OF foreign war The decline OF the
rural districts is indeed serious question: Germany well
manufacturing for the foreign market may be extended In Eng
land this question answered in the days OF Peel and Golden
by those celebrated laws providing for free trade in cereals and
the result has been the enormous expansion OF British manuac
turing and foreign trade owing primarily to the cheap food
ed for the aborng class in the manufacturing towns.
The Germans owing the greater comparative political pow
of the landed asocracy have decided seems, upon
different Yet they too, must still sacrifice something
If they are determined to coddle their agriculture their manu-,
suffer the hgherp price of food will hand
German artisans and manufacturers in competing for the
markets of the world Germany faces at this point Stern fact
of exactly England does She does possess stuff
cent territory enable her compete with foreign food prod
her home market without the barrier OF high tariff Thus
limited in her economic she cannot favor either manuac
agriculture without serious sacrifice of the other may
be expected consequently that with the enactment OF the
the manufacturers England United will be given
advantage they had not hitherto possessed.
Aside from the economic effects home, Germany may
look for increased growth OF socialism The tariff plays
right into the socialists hands since the higher Of living will
give to them powerful weapon OF agitation the artisans
and small hopkeeping classes of the and cities The
ciasts have furnished the chief parliamentary opposition the
bill and though defeated they emerge with increased
prestige that the venerable historian Prof Mommsen declares
them be the only party deserving respect The kaiser may
ume against them his speeches. yet the laws enacted in his
reign to make their progress all the rapid
CONGRESSMAN TONGUE.