Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30

ing system will be regarded as best to meet
! the exigencies of the situation? In view of
| the apparent disposition in Congress to look
| with disfavor upon reciprocity treaties or
attempts to extend the trade of the coun-
| try by such treaties, what is to be done to
meet situation presented by the apparent
| inclination of Germany to take from the
United States the advantages of reciprocal
| trade relations?
Assertion OF Treasury Officials.
Treasury officials assert that their prov
ince begins and ends with pointing out ac-
| tual conditions. 1t is the duty of the legis-
| lators in Congress assembled to take such
steps as in their wisdom shall be deemed
| desirable to meet situations they arise.
| There is no condition of disquiet in the de-
| partment on account of present financial
| problems. The actuary is engaged In
quiet way and in the ordinary course of af-
fairs, but upon the direction of Secretary
Shaw looking into the exact facts with re-
gard to the probabilities respecting re-
ceipts and expenditures during the coming
year. An attempt will be made to ascer-
tain just how much the government has
lost in the way of revenues which formerly
appeared in the regular cash receipts, but
are now anticipated by standing appropra-
tions of Congress.
Internal Taxes Suggested.
An instance of this is afforded in the rec
lamatlon appropriations, which promise to
absorb all the funds which formerly came
in from sales of public lands Now, if the
cash shall be short, what will the depart
ment favor in the way of means for re-
plenishing? Congress may be glad to have
an opinion from the department, whether
such opinion is accepted or not. 1t would
appear from the comments of officials that
ii will be the desire of the administration
leaders to correct any difficulties which may
arise without an extensive opening up of
the tariff question in Congress. Some of the
oldest and wisest of the officials will favor
the application of internal revenue taxes,
such were abolished at the close of the
Spanish war, notably the beer tax. 1t is
also suggested there Will be pressure for the
coffee tax, whatever may be thought of it
as "a political move. 1t is regarded by the
officials certain that the leaders in Con-
gress will consider every plan that is at all
reasonable rather than invite an overhaul
ing of the revenue system, which involves
tariff revision.
Germany's Policy.
There is dissatisfaction In treasury cir
cles with the situation presented as a re-
suit of the suggestions of Germany's policy
toward our trade. Complaint is made that
we should not be left to the inadequate and
unsatisfactory system of making or at
tempting to make reciprocity treaties-beg-
ging at the doors of foreign countries for
tid-bits of favors striking Illustration
is made by the officials from the cases of
Germany and Great Britain, as shown by
our trade relations with them. Germany
sells us annually s1O9 1Ss,010 worth of
products, while we are selling to- Germany
$214, 0,CO0 worth
Thus the excess of our exports to that
I country is S105, 100000 worth in round num-
bers. At the same time we are selling to
Great Britain $537, ,340, 900 worth and buy
| ing from Great Britain only $165 7S5 goo
worth and the excess of our exports to
the united kingdom is $371, 100000 1t is
remarked by the officials that the British
people are not likely to be long satisfied
with this situation. If the United States is
ready to go long way in granting favors
to Germany in matters of trade.
A Better Way.
1t is pointed out that while the power has
been placed in the hands of the President
by certain provisions of the Dngley tariff
law to retaliate against countries which
discriminate against the trade of the United
States, the burden of responsibility is too
great upon the executive. 1t is suggested
! that a better way would be to provide by
law that where a country does not give to
the United States ground floor" situation
in her markets the tariff rates shall, by
operation of law, be advanced say 30 per
cent against such country. That would be
big thiIE for Great Britain, which does
give US ground floor" considerat ton and IL
would be salutary lesson to Germany or
any other country that is disposed to hag-
gle about terms of trade.
British Lord Dead.