Arizona republican., 1905-03-13
A Further Protection of h.
 dustrieS of the Empire
IA FEW FAVORED NATIONS
The New Tariff Especially Takes Care of the Agricultural Class, the Rate on Heats and Grains Being Almost Doubled-Effect on This Country.

Washington, March I2.--The recent flying the new commercial treaties with Russia, Austria Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Roumania, and Servia completes the work of prep aration of a new German tariff on which the government of the empire has been engaged since 1897. The new tariff law will go into effect sometime between January l and July 1, 1906, and will remain in force at least until the end of 1917.
 The German tariff consists of a dou- ble set of duties; the general rates, which received the sanction of law De- cember 25. 1902 (though it has not been put into force as yet), and the "con- ventionalsS' or those arrived at by means of bargaining with foreign countries and embodied in treaties or "conventiOns' such as the ones de- scribed below. Not all the rates in the general tariff are reduced in the con- ventional: those that are, are made in consideration of equivalent conces- sions by other countries. While the different countries are each trying to secure, through their negotiations. low CT rates of import duties on those ar ticles in which their industries excel, the combined conventional rates agreed upon with the different parties to the treaties are made applicable alike to all the countries enjoying the benefits of the most favored treat ment. By that is meant in Europe that the nation enjoying such privilege can not be subjected to higher import du- ties on it's products than those levied on similar products coming from other countries.
 The new German tariff may there fore be regarded now as completed. but by the terms of the agreements with the different governments the new rates will only take effect some time between January 1 and July 1, 1906. They are to remain in force un- til December 31, 1917. except in the case of Austria Hungary. the treaty with which may be abrogated as early sas December 31, 1915. If notice to that <Rffect be given one year in advance Should the treaties with the other countries not be denounced before the end of the year 1917, one years pre- vious notice of their termination may be given by either party to the agree ment at any time thereafter.
 The old Conventional tariff, which is still in force in Germany, was the result of similar commercial treaties concluded by Chancellor von Caprivi in the years 1S91-1S94 for a period of ten to twelve years. Although made up of rates reduced from the general tariff adopted by Prince Bismarck in 1879, they were left sufficiently high to afford what was considered a neces- sary degree of protection to the Ger man industries, to which stable con ditions were assured by binding" the rates for d period of ten years or more
 The new tariff has been framed with the avowed purpose of furnishing greater protection to the agricultural interests of the empire. Hence the du- ties on grain, meats, and other agri- cultural products have been greatly advanced-in some cases as high as 100 per cent, and in a few instances even higher. The duties on manufac- tured goods are substantially unchang- ed. While a few rates h ave been ad- vanced, such as on shoes, certain kinds of machinery. motors, and vehicles, etc, there have been made, on the other hand, a number of reductions wherever it was deemed best in the in- terests of German manufacturers or exporters.
 Under the old tariff imports from the United States have been subject to the lower or "conventionar' set of du- ties. at first under the most favored nation" clause of the treaty concluded between the United States and Prussia in 1928, and later by virtue of the com mercial agreement between the United States and Germany of July 10, 1900, by which this country was granted the conventional tariff in exchange for the concessions to Germany authorized in section 3 of the Dingley act of 1897. This agreement may be terminated by either country at any time upon giv- ing three months previous notice.
 The German government has so far refused to commit itself as to the course it intends to pursue with refer eRce to this country in the matter of the new tariff, when questioned on the subject in the German reichstag. Un- til the new tariff, however, is put in force, i. e., one year hence, imports from the United States W i'll continue at any rate to pay the minimum rates of duty under the old tariff.