Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-21
1AR|FF |DEA
Introduces Resolution to In
vestigate Maximum and
Minimum Schedule
OTHER PROBLEMS ARE INCLUDED
Investigation Will Extend to Question
of Discrimination Against American
Goods by Foreign Countries, Thus
Giving the Reciprocity League
Chance to Work.

.S0SN
Chance to Work.
Washington, Jan. 21.-Many con-
gressmen are jubilant over the intro
duction in the senate by Senator Lodga
OF a resolution providing for the inves-
tigation of the maximum m minimum
tariff idea and Of the question of dis
elimination against American goods by
foreign countries.
The maximum and minimum idea has
been advocated by the Minnesota dele
cation for the past three years, most
loudly by Representative Tawney. but
by every member of the delegation, as
a remedy for many of the evils now
bound up with the present tariff law. 1t
is believed the Lodge resolution will
pass.
Mr.. Lodge does not usually attach his
name to losing measures, nor AXE a
positive stand without being assured of
Liz SuPPOl VI Aho IOPuoAASrA -
leagues. 1t is assumed the senate
finance committee under the Lodge
resolution will sit during h summer
in order to have a thorough report
ready for congress next winter.
This means a wide open door of OPP
portunity for practical work by the
Reciprocity City League recently or
ganized in the twin cities and Duluth,
with j. c.. Eliel at its head. This league
can help the good work along nightly
by collecting data and submitting 1t to
the finance committee during its ses-
sion next summer, and the Minnesota
delegation hopes 1t VIII do this, begin
ming its work of collecting Information
at once. It's members will also be inn
portant witnesses before the committee.
The Lodge resolution is held down
here to call attention to the inffieciency
OF the present house leadership-Payne,
Dalzell, Grosvenor, Henderson, ct al. An
inquiry such as Mr.. Lodge proposes
should properly be made by he ways
and means committee and the fact that
Lodge proposes it be made by the SEN
ate committee on fn1iice indicates that
the house leadership is unequal to 1t. 1t
is believed here by the northwestern
members of both houses that the Lodge
resolution will be the most direct and
quickest road to reciprocity with all
countries, Canada aInong them. and
that the northwest can not do better
than to place itself enthusiastically and
solidly back Of it with all the evidence
and facts of all kinds bearing upon the
Canadian question.
A brief statement of what is back of
the Lodge resolution in the way of New
England sentiment will be interesting
in this connection. For some months
there has been growing in that section
a belief that the maximum and mini-
mum tariff system is a better system
for the United States than reciprocity,
and it has been well understood that the
New England senators who have OPP
posed the Kasson treaties of reciprocity
have been trying to devise a scheme for
putting this system into effect In this
country.
The Lodge resolution was. off hand.
supposed to be directed at discrimina-
tions against the Unite Estates by the
governments Of Russia and Germany
for a couple of years past, and these
observation-disclosures 1ihNS OCSAi co io
that the supposition that Mr.. Lodge
was directing his proposed invesuga-
ton against them was entirely natural.
But it is understood that Mr.. Lodge is
aiming at the American system that
permits such determinations to be
made by foreign countries With impun-
ity rather than at the individual cases
Of discrimination. In addition to get
ting around the difficult reciprocity
question which Senator Dolliver ex-
plotted in the senate last week, the
system of maximum and minimum tar
IFS suggested in the Lodge resolution
would effectively solve the problem of
a direct revision of the tariff. In the
system proposed the United States
would give to the countries favoring us
in tariff matters the benefit of the mini
mum tariff, whereas countries discrim-
mating against the United States would
be met by the barrier of the maximum
tariff against their goods.
1t is understood that the Special in
terests" hat have stood in the way
of the ratification of the Kasson recip-
rocity treaties will gladly accept a solu-
ton Of the problem of freer trade If
brought about thru the maximum and
minimum idea. This will be welcome
news to the western states II 1t should
prove reliable.
It is argued by New E%nglanders fav
oring this system that this is a plan of
reciprocity that will work automati-
cally; that it will cause no unnecessary
bitterness toward the United States,
and that 1t will leave the American
trade doors fairly open to all countries
leaving their doors open to the mer-
chants Of the United States, and this
without special treaties of reciprocity.
1t is argued, also. that the system could
be put in operation without a disturb
ing overhauling of the Dingley tariff
schedules, that thru it might be effected
the modification of the tariff demanded
by some of the western states, and that
the trade of the United States may be
immeasurably increased with European
countries and immensely increased with
the South and Central American re-
publics and with Canada.
AS an illustration under the system as
proposed by some of its friends, coffee,
now admitted duty free into the United
States, would continue TO be admitted
duty free from Brazil as long as Brazil
gives to the United States equitable
trade advantages, and upon the termin-
alton of tina condition by Brazil coffee
from that country would be assessed a
maximum duty.