Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-03-06
NEW GERMAN TARIFF.
Will Seriously injure American Trade
1t Is Feared.

Washington, March 5.--The recent
action of the German Reichstag in rat
flying the new commercial treaties with
Russia, Austria Hungary, Italy, Swift
Zerland, Belgium Romania and Servia
completes the work of preparation of
new German tariff on which the gov
ernment of the empire has been en-
gagged since 1897. The new tariff law
will go into effect some time between
January and July 1. 1906. and will re-
main in force at least until the end of
1917. The German tariff consists of a
double set of duties: the general
rates. which received the sanction of
law on December 25. 1902 though they
have not been put into force as yeti.
and the conventional or those ar
rived at by means of bargaining with
foreign countries. and embodied in
treaties or conventions such as the
ones described below. Not all the rates
in the general tariff are reduced in
the "cOnventional:" those that are
made in consideration of equivalent
concessions by other countries. While
the different countries are each trying
to secure, through their negotiations.
lower rates of import duties on those
articles in which their industries excel.
the combined conventional" rates
agreed upon with the different parties
to the treaties are made applicable
alike to all the countries enjoying the
benefits of the most favored nation"
treatment. BY that is meant in Eu-
rope that the nation enjoying such
ny ~ ha cub fnI i,rhn
import duties on it's products than
those levied on similar products COM
ing from other countries.
The new German tariff may there
fore be regarded now as completed, but
by the terms of the agreements with
the different governments the new
rates will take effect only some time
between January | and July !. 1906.
They are to remain in force until De-
cember 81, 1917. except in the case of
Austria Hungary, the treaty with
which may be abrogated as early as
December 81. 1915, if notice to that ef-
feet be given one year in advance.
Should the treaties with the other
countries not be denounced before the
end of the year 1917. one years prcvi-
Gus notice of their termination may be
given by either party to the agreement
at any time thereafter.
The old conventional tariff which
is still in force in Germany was the re-
suit OF similar commercial treaties con-
Guided by Chancellor CapriVi in the
years 1891 and 1894 for Il period of ten
to twelve years. Although made up of
rates reduced from the general" tariff
adopted by Prince Bismarck in 1879.
they were left sufficiently high to afford
what was considered a necessary de-
gree OF protection to the German in
dustrleS, to which stable conditions
were assured by binding" the rates
lor period of ten years or more.
The new tariff has been framed with
the aVowed purpose Of furnishing
greater protection to the agricultural
interests of the empire. Hence the du-
ties on grain. meat and other agricul-
tural products have been greatly ad-
Vdnced-in some cases as high as 100
per cent and in a few instances even
higher The duties on manufactured
goods are substantially unchanged.
While few rates have been advanced,
'' as vi SlOeS, certain Minus VI lhd-
chlnery. motors. vehicles. etc. there
nave been made, on the other hand.
number of reductions wherever it was
deemed best in the interests of German
manufacturers or exporters.
Under the old tariff imports from the
United States have been subject to the
lower or conventional set OF duties,
at first under the "mOst favored ma
ton clause of the treaty concluded
between the United States and russia
III 1873. and later by virtue OF the COM
merc1al agreement between the United
States and Germany of July TO- 1900, by
which this country secured the con-
ventional' tariff in exchange for con-
cessions to Germany authorized In Sec