The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-17
The Consumer and the Tariff.

in convention in Chicago to discuss the
tariff. A meeting Of this kind in mid
summer in that city is convincing evil
dence Of interest in the tariff question.
This convention in Chicago is called
by the livestock interests, which have
become alarmed by the menace of the
new German tariff to the export of
provisions and meats, but other inter-
ests arc also represented, and the pro-
fessional tariff smashcr is there, too.
1t was called as a reel procity conven-
tion, but the discussion has favored the
maximum and minimum tariff system,
which provides for the. application of
the minimum tariff against countries
which concede to us their lowest tariff
rates.
The maximum and minimum idea
seems to be much more in favor now
than any form of reciprocity provided
for by treaty. While it seems to place
a large power in the hands of the pres
ident, under whose direction the maxi
mum tariff is withdrawn in favor of
the minimum, the conditions of with
/ drawal may Be so definitely provided
for by legislation that there is not
much room left for the exercise of
discretionary power. The merit of the
dual tariff plan is it's fexibility.
There is, however, on the part of
those who discuss this matter Of tar
/ if reform slight expectation that any
thing will be accomplished, because the
standpatter' is not only intrenched
in congress, but his position, it is as
sumed, has been greatly strengthened
Of late by the wonderful growth of our
export trade in manufactured goods.
| The latest statement of the bureau Of
merce and labor, comparing present
conditions with previous years, shows
that the export trade in manufactures
alone in 1905 was $14O,000,OO0 greater
than the combined export and import
trade of the country at the close of
the civil war. Very remarkable figures
are brought out to show that while
the percentage of iacrea~c ia poDula-
ton since the centennial year, 1876,
has been 81, the pCrt cltagc CT increase
in exports in manufactures has been
AL To take briefer period, the ex-
ports in manufactures have grown from
! $1S3, 595 900 in 1895 to $543, 100000 in
1905. The "standpatter points to
these figures and assumes that the ar
gument is ciosed-that there can be
nothing moro said in favor Of the re-
duction of tariff bcoauze oiE exports
are increasing so rapidly.
These facts do argue strongly against
the reduction of tariff for the purpose
of increasing our exports, but they 90
not touch the interests Of the much
more numerous part of the population
the consumers-who are demanding
tariff revision not in the interest of an
extension of the export trade, but i'll
the name of Justice to the home con-
sumer, who, in 4 great many lines OF
| important manufacture, is obliged to
pay from fifty TO one hundred per cent
more for articles of home manufacture
than tho foreign consumer pays for
goods of the same character from the
, same shop. .@
This is not free trade demand. 1t
does not ask that the tariff shall be
lowered to the extent that the home
market shall be surrendered in any i'm
!; portant degree TO the foreign manufac-
turer. 1t only insists that the tariff
! shall not continue to be protection for
the manufacturers who imposes upon his
home market a price far in excess Of
that which he is willing and glad to &C
cept in the foreign market.
Inasmuch as there appears to be no
way in which to correct this inequality
except by lowering the tariff, it is rea-
sonable to expect that the great mass of
consumers will presently make their in
terests known and their demands felt
at the hands of their representatives
This is the source from which effective
agitation for tariff reform must come
! and from which in all probability it
will come in the near future.
1 James Creelman, Walter Wellman anc
Sam Blythe have gotten into terrible
tangle over the peace terms. At
I o'clock this morning they were almost
ready to leave Russia and Japan to thei,
fate and go back to Washington, the
tariff and Castro