The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-09
GIVES NOTICE OF TARIFF WAR.
OUR dGREEMENT WITH GERMANY
TO END NEXT MARCH.
when the New German Tariff and Treaties
With Seven Countries Go Into Erect
Our Industries VIII Then Pay Two or
Three Times More Than treaty Nations

new German tariff and the commercial
treaties which the German Government
has made with Belgium, Rumania, Swift
zerland, serva, Aust a-Hungary and Rus
STA, showing the advantages these count riet
viii gain over the United states when the
treaties 20 into effect next March, has beer
received at the S ate Depart ment from
Frank H. Mason, United States Consul
General at Berlin,
Germany has informed this Govern
ment, in an informal way through Am
-babsador Tower that the present arrange
ment bet ween this country and Germany
which. guarantees American industries as
low a duty as is enjoyed by any, other
country at any time, will terminate next
March with the introduction OF the new
tariff In Germany and the PRONUNCIATION OF
the seven treaties which have just been
concluded.
Government officers here are tremen-
dously interested in the situation. The
state Department has received many m
municatious from manufacturers and pro-
duoers protesting against Germany's pro-
posed action. Germany wants a reel
procitS treaty with this country, but the
xtaba Department has no hope that the
senate will ratify any reciprocal tariff ar
rangenent ....
The Reichstag on Feb. % adopted the
treaty with Russia, the last of the series
neg )tiated. Mr.. Mason says that 'the
conclusion and acceptance OF these con-
vehtions il regarded as the most important
governmental act Of recent years and marks
an. epoch in the history Of German economic
$tislation."
.skIr. Mason transmitted with his report
4 compilation Of figures which shows the
duties to be exacted from the nations oper-
atfng under the new treaties and those
which United States industries will have
% pay. H..
The statistics include forty-siK articles
that constitute a hrge portion Of German
importations from America. The figures
show wherein the favored nations will have
an immense advan tage over American
producers, who will in some cases be re-
quired TO pay two or three times as much
duty as those producers whose nations
will operate under the treaties.
Inasmuch az the exports from the United
States to Germany amounted TO t2l6,s4l 500
during 1904 the losses to American pro-
iucers viii be enormous. as it will lie practi-
cally impossible for them to retain their
markets In Germany when forced to operate
under such high tariffs.
Mr. Mason says that the all important
gu estion Is whether the present amicable
agreement, which contains the most favored
nation clause, will be allowed to stand
inderthe new situation created by Germany
a year hence by the enforcement OF the new
tariff law. He says that one Of the most
absorbing issues now before the Bundles
rath Is whether the arrangement with this
country and with Argentina, which operates
under similar conditions, be denounced.
The public Mr.. Mason adds, Is sharply
divided on the question, On the attitude
Of the German neople. Mr.. Mason has this
'.aOn the one side are the Agrarians and,
IN general, the high protectionists Of all
walks and professions, who insist that
a. Germany buys annually from the United
States more than twice as much merchan-
disc as our country buys from Germany,
tue present arrangement is, in view Of the
high duties imposed by the present United
States tariff, unfair TO Germany and unduly
favorable TO the United States.
They therefore insist that the most
favored nation privilege shall be with
Drawn and the United States compelled to
treaty Of reciprocity with Germany or have
its cereals, shoes, machinery and other
manufactured goods subject to the full
duties Of the full tariff. In that case Amen-
can wheat and rye, for example, would
pay each ~ cents per hundred Kilograms
r77o.l poundsl more duty than similar
grains from Russia, Roumania, Austria
Hungary and Servia.
sOn the other hand, the commercial and
industrial classes generally, the manu-
faDturers who appreciate the Importance
Of cheap goods for their workingmen and
especially the great merchant steamship
companies Of Bremen and Hamburg whose
prosperity hangs upon their direct freight
and passenger traffic with the United
States-tbese, like most Government Off
oials and the maj ority Of educated men
IN the various liberal professions, who
appreciate the value Of close and friendly
relations between the two countries, are
opposed to a drastic policy hat might lead
70 reprisals and, moreover, increase the
cost Of bread"
TO show what the effect OF the treaties
will be and how formidable the competition
q the treaty-favored countries will be II the
United States does not retain her present
privileges Mr.. Mason says:
p As an example Of this may be cited the
schedule relating to dried apples, pears,
PEACHES and apricots, on all Of which there
Is at present a duty OF four marks (ss cents)
Yer 100 kilograms (220.4 pounds), and in
al OF which a very large and important
import trade from the United States has
been built up. Under the new autonomous
scheduls these goods will be dutiable at
10 marks (S2.3Sl, rer 100 kilograms, while
imports from Italy, Rumania, Austria
Hungary and Servia (the European coun-
tries which notably produce surplus OF
NtttHt urea lEutsl VIII NoiIlb uIlIoA ~
Unform duty of-e5 cents per double oentner
I220.4 pounds, an advantage Of SLAB in
favor OF the treaty-faVoned product. Will
the superior dried fruits OF our Pacific
States, with their long journey 10 Bremen
and Hamburg, be able 70 stand this new
COM etidon
TAX fresh apples in barrels, Of which
there we're imported into Germany from the
Epied States 5S35 tons in 1902 1850 tons in
1908 and lA924 tons in 1904 which, under the
present tariff are admitted free Of duty
Under the new tariff all apples in barre g
win be dutiable at 10 marks 90 $50 per 100
blgrama except those coming from Italy
Belgium, Servia, Rumania and Switzer-
land, the duty on which will be 81 l3, OF half
that Imposed by the autonomous tarF.
. Another important and very obvious
feature OF paragraph ~, which fires the duty
90 such fresh fruits, provides that apples
rears and ounces unpacked-that is piled
loosely in bulk or carried in baRs-may be-
imported free from Sept Is 10 Nov. IS, and
turing the remainder Of the year at the
rominal duty Of $50 marks 40 centsl, per
100 Kilograms. This win enable the great car
roes Of fruit that come by canal boat and
tan from Austria, the Tyrol Italy and
Switzerland 20 enjoy a decisive advantage
over apples Of American origin which are
pow import ed uniformly In barrelss