The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-09
Reciprocity and Tariffs.
Any General Scheme of Reciprocity
Treaties Is an Empty Dream.

4LSai1eS IS an Empty Dream.
From Dubuque the other day the
Hon. William b. Allison was reported
as questioning the practical value of
reciprocity, and suggesting that it be
dropped as a feature of Republican
policy To enforce his argument he
was represented as citing the Senate's
persistent refusal TO ratify the reel
proeity treaties drawn by John \.
Kasson, and as pointing to the long,
wearsome, and only partially success
fuI struggle to adjust-on a basis of
mutual advantage-the trade reIa-
tions between Cuba and the United
States,
The senior Senator from Iowa now
explains that his suggestions were in
a measure misunderstood. He does
not hold the reciprocity policy
fathered by Blaine and accepted and
enlarged By Dingley to be sterile
and mpractieable failure. On the
contrary, he thinks the reciprocity
idea, as originally applied IN the Al
drich amendment to the Mckinley
tariff act, capable of beneficial use
and logical extension. But he sees
as every intelligent observer Of poll
Ties must see-that the newer method
Of suspending, revising. or abolishins
tariff duties at the caprice of some
irresponsible agent Of the treaty-mak-
ing power has behind If neither Wis
dom nor praeticability,
As Mr.. Allison shows, reciprocity
By direct legislation may be made
useful adjunct to protection. It may
be used 10 open a favorable market
abroad for surplus American prod
uets. At least il can be harmonized
with the protective system as a whole.
Limited, as under the Mckinley act.
to certain specified non-competine i'm
ports, it can disturb no settled condi-
tons and disarrange no delicately adj
justed schedules. Nor can It's appli-
cation conflict with the expressed viii
and purposes OF the lawmaking de-
partment of the Government.
With general commercial treaties
negotiated by the State Department
and submitted 30 the Senate for rati-
ficauon. the ease Is radically differ
eHt. Made by a delegated agent Of
the executive branch they may in no
sense reflect the theories and nten-
tions of the trainers Of the tariff act
of which they are amendatory.
Drawn on d basis Of give ard take.
they follow no rational principle Of
construction. They cannot but dis
criminate between domestic interests,
taking tariff protection from one to
give a special foreign market to an
other. They foster riyalries, autagon-
izms, diseords, They fly directly IN
the face of the true theory of protee-
ton, which is to give a fair and equal
recognition To all interests protected
and 10 seek fayors abroad only at the
cest Of opening the home market to
non-competine imports
Congress has stubbornly fought for
tie right 10 make and alter tariff
laws; and until IT is willing 10 surren-
der that right it Is foolish to think Of
negotiating and putting into opera
ton any general system of reciprocity
treaties Dir. Allison Is entirely jus
titled IN saying that the reciprocity
aimed al IN the Kssson treaties IS i'm
practicable.
Il Is more than that j is, IN the
language Of the late John J. Ingalls,.
barren ideality ana an irideseent
dream.