Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-01
TRADE WITH GERMANY
Effect of End of the Existing
Agreement.
COMMERCEWILLSUFFER
QUESTION TO BE PUT sQUARELY
BEFORE THE SENATE.
Responsibility for Results Will Be
Thrown Upon That Body-White
House Conferences.
BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS,


Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald
The President is going to put the reci-
procty question sduarely before the Senate
shortly after Congress assemblies and
throw upon that body the responsibility OF
dealing with our trade with Germ any.
tariff war, which would be very injurious
to many important interests in the United
States, is not improbable; at least our
commerce with that empire, which, next to
England, is our best customer is in i'm
minent peril. Unless something is done in
the way of reciprocity arrangement Ameri-
can goods will be compelled to pay the
highest rates Of duty imposed by the Ger
man tariff, while the same articles from
competing nations will pay much lower
rates. Such discrimination will destroy
the results of the work of years by Ameri-
can manufacturers who have been very
successful in the Introduction of their
goods among the Germans.
Since July 10 1900, Germany has been ad-
hitting American products at the minimum
rate of duty, under the most favored ma
ton" clause, and has made very important
concessions in our favor, without receiving
much in return. Our present relations are
based upon an agreement made under sec
ton of the Dingley tariff law which
amounts to practically nothing. and author
lies the President TO concede reduction of
duty upon only crude tartar brandies vines
paintings and statuary imported from Ger
many into the United States. We take
very little of any Of those articles and
Germany was very generous in conceding
to us the same minimum tariff rates that
are given to Great Britain which admits
all German goods free, and other Euro
pean countries, which have reduced their
duties far more than the United States.
Tho Gar,,o,, n,,+;as
The German tariff consists of a double
set of duties-two schedules, high and low
and the lower rates are applied only to
imports from countries which make equiva-
lent concessions in favor of German goods
During the past year Germany has nego-
tiat ted a series of new commercial treaties
with Russia, Austria, Hungary, Belgium
Italy, Switzerland Roumania. Servia and
other countries, under which they make
substantial concessions In exchange for the
minimum rates of the German tariff. The
minister OF foreign relations al Berlin has
notified Ambassador Tower and Ambassa-
dor Sternburg has notified Secretary Root
that the government of the United States
must make equivalent concessions in order
to enjoy the same privileges. This brings
matters to a crisis. Secretary Root has
asked Baron Sternburg to explain to his
government the situation in the United
States. He knows as well as any one the
attitude of Congress toward reciprocity
treaties. He is familiar with the experience
of Secretary Hay with the Senate in that
line of business. He also remembers the
abrupt and insolent manner in which the
German government was treated by our
Congress in 1894 when the reciprocity
treaty made by Mr.. Blame with Baron Won
Mumm, the German ambassador, was re-
voked by the Wilson tariff law. 1t was a
most fragrant violation of the usual formal
tiles. Germany made an earnest protest
but no attention was paid to it.