The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-11
LODGE BILL ONLY
A TARIFF FEELER
Intended to Pave the Way, Thru
Discussion, to Serious
Action.
BY w. w. Jermane.


Washington, Dec. 1.-THE fact that
Senator Lodge has introduced a bill
providing for setting up the maximum
and minimum tariff principle in this
country should not alarm those timor-
GUS souls who may, at first blush, in
cline to believe that congress is on the
eve of galvanizing that bill into life.
Lodge has In mind only q discussion
of the question at this time, and will
wait for some more convenient season,
for instance, after rate matters are out
of the way, before seeking to bring his
bill to the serious attention OF congress
and the country.
That the United States, in an effort
to free itself from the inelastic opera
in the end come to this maximum and
minimum position, is freely admitted
in Washington. The president himself
feels this way about it, and there is a
general belief that he will bring the
subject before the country in a special
message, once the rate question is out
Of the way.
Whole Question Up.
When the Lodge bill comes up for
consideration, the whole tariff question
will be up. The question will involve
considerably more than whether the
maximum and minimum principle shall
be adopted.
At the very outset the chief difficulty
starting point. Some will argue in IA
| vor Of the retention Of the present gen
| eral rate, which can be applied, on oc-
casion, as a retaliatory measure, and
others will argue from the opposite end
and propose a supplementary rate which
is to be below the general rate and
available for trading purposes to secure
| A number Of schemes can easily be
worked out from these two skeleton
plans.
German Tariff Situation.
The German tariff situation gives the
Lodge bill whatever of interest it may
possess at this time for Americans. AS
| matters stand under our present tariff
law, there is no natural basis for new
agreement with Germany. That coun-
try cannot consistently give us the ben
| eft Of her low rates in return for the
very limited favors which it is now in
| our power to bestow.
! Nearly the whole Of Europe is now
operating under the maximum and mini
mum plan, and obviously, the United
States, if It is to retain It's markets in
that quarter of the world and be in
position to act on the offensive as well
as on the defensive, must adopt SIM
liar scheme, or be forever handicapped
in the race for commerce.
Under the present law Of this country
all Europe may penalize our trade, and
we cannot protect ourselves. t..s..
The Lodge bill would give us the
same weapons they have, and thus make
the, battle equal, and in an equal fight
we will take our chances of winning,
always. .%.3
Obstacle to Principle.
The chief obstacle in the way of the
maximum and minimum principle is It's
newness in this country. The principle
is far-reaching in its possibilities and
Influences, and no man here can posi-
lively say just how it would work. But
l it is recognized that if the principle
works in Europe, it ought to work well
here, and SO Senator Lodge, perhaps
with the knowledge and consent of the
president, has introduced his BILL, in.
tending that this. shall be session fo1
debate and some future session one
for action, if one may apply to the
Lodge bill the Characterization which
the president himself gave, in the last
session Of congress, in connection will
the Esch- Townsend bill Of that time.