Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-22
SHAW IN CLEVELAND
Secretary of Treasury Gives
 His Views on Tariff.
EXPECT NO FOREIGN DISCRIMINATION
The United States May Be Forced to Favor Those Countries That Favor Her and War on Those That
 Would Hinder Her Trade.


 CLEVELAND, O., May 22.-At the chamber of commerce banquet fol- lowing the ceremony of laying the cor nerstone of the new federal building in Cleveland Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M Shaw spoke as follows:
 'I cannot believe that any country seriously considers putting in operation a revision of tariffs imposing new and severe discriminations against the peo- pie of the United States. Such action would be most unfortunate from every point of view to both countries. Ger tain it is the United States has done nothing and will do nothing to invite such course. If, however, at any time any country should do this-and I wish expressly to say that refer to no par ticular country, for some countries al- ready do it-then there remain for the people of the United States four pos sible policies. Without expressing an opinion as to their relative merits, I will state them as concisely as possi- ble. The responsibility of determina- tion rests alone with congress.
 First.-The United States could con tinue her present policy of reserving to her own people some advantages in her own markets and making no discrimi- nations against others. There are those who advocate this course.
 "Second.-We could yield to the de- mand of those countries which threaten adverse tariff legislation and give to their people material advantages over those which make no such discrimina tions.
 ''Third.-We could materially reduce all our tariff schedules, leaving it to the magnanimity of others to emulate our generosity. There are those--I am told there are many-who advocate this pol icy.
 Fourth. only remaining course possible to be pursued is for the United States to make discrlminations against the countries which discriminate against us. have heard it intimated that an amendment to our present tar if laws is likely to be proposed at the next session (but with what prospect of passage I cannot say), substantially as follows:
 ".Be it enacted that whenever any country grants to the people of any other country privileges within it's mar kets which are withholden from the people of the United States, then and in all such instances the tariff duties on all merchandise coming from those countries showing such preferences shall be = per cent higher than pro- vided in the schedules of existing tar. iii laws
 This would constitute maximum and minimum tariff. the maximum to be enforced only against such coIln- tries as exact maximum rate against us.
 Il understand that those who advo- cate this course meet the charge that it means tariff war, with the sugges ton that the United States will not first declare such war. Being forced to follow the example of other coun- tries is not the equivalent of declara- tion of war. while yielding to the de- mand that the United States shall dis criminate against those who do not dis criminate against her might involve neutral powers in universal tariff war. Such war would necessarily harm us. but it would harm more seri- ously still those who drove us into it. The United States prefers to treat all alike and fully appreciates like treat ment by others"