The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-01
Thew Want Concessions.

Every now and then, the American
Protective Tariff Leagues "crate moral
idee," as Hans Breitman would call it, re-
ceives a severe JOLT That "idee" bios
SONS in the theory that a continuous one
sided trade, is the thing to be aimed at by
a. progressive nation. To be sure, tina t
great statesman and author of the tariff
Of $780, William Mckinley, in the last
speech he made, declared emphatically
against this "idee" and insisted that the
great American nation should not lose
any time adopting g. liberal give and
take policy. Even he, however, was I'M
able to unsettle the delusion which led
a majority Of the senate to shelve the
wholesome reciprocity treaties negotiated
| by Commissioner Kasson, who acted I'M
der instructions from President Mckinley,
and under the republican tariff of 1897.
| A reminder of these pigeon-holed treat
ties is found in the intimation Of the
French government that there will be no
concessions made to the United States on
the higher scale Of duties levied on our
meats by the French parliament, recently,
unless we make some appreciate reduc-
tions of duties on French goods imported
by u.s. The duties on our meats will pre-
sent a serious obstruction to our trade IN
such goods, which has increased largely
in recent years. The French reciprocity
treaty negotiated by Mr.. Kasson has been
} extended several times by France, who is
desirious Of strengthening her trade rela-
lions with us. The treaty gives this
} country reductions in the French tariff
avera cling from &c to 4S per cent Of her
! present duties on all possible exports OF
l the United States now dutiable, except
= nineteen articles, while we gave France
Y in return reductions averaging only s.
Q per cent, applicable to only one-fourth O.
the articles listed in our tariff reservins
: all other articles without conces
y sion including many manufacture
: and wooden goods of every kind
J. It was estimated by Mr.. Kas
:, son that this treaty would yield a gain II
: our exports of between s20.0o0;000 an
e $50, 900 900. This treaty the Home Marke
e club declared to be entirely too liberal
If to France. The liberality seems to hav
been very much on the part Of France
II She now presents us with the alternativ
N Of making more liberal concessions, c
ID Having our meat trade with her impaire
t. by the heavy duties she has laid upon OF
l. meats.
= The scope allowed for reciprocity by tt
w Dingley tariff law is rather small, as
r. lnernnits a maximum remission Of duti'
Id |of only 20 per cent, except as to any q
y. ticle not a natural product Of the Unite
i States, a class Of goods Of diminishir
H. quantity. France would give us h
u minimum tariff rates, If we were willing
offer her more libral reductions, and the
or is a difference Of ISL per cent betwe
as her maximum and minimum rates. exec
It. lin the case Of articles like coffee.
IL which the maximum rate is double t
h minimum rate.
rk It requires no labored demonstration
ad show that the protective feeling In Euro
,e- against this country is growing. G.
,er many's commercial treaties with vario
- countries will expire at the close OF Z
full year, and her new tariff system will
es- into operation. We in this country
BILE interested in this business. for