The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-01-14
TARIFF WAR IS
NOW THREATENED
Republican High Protectionists Face
to Face With a Very Trou-
blesome Situation.

washington, Jan. 13.-InS revival OF
sentiment in favor Of the enactment Of
d maximum and minimum tariff to meet
any Determinations practiced by foreign
governments against the products of the
United States resulted in a conference
between senate and house leaders today
to determine where such legislation
should originate This becomes an i'm
portant question at this session for the
reason that the advocates Of such a meas
ure are DESTROYS of having it first cOnsid-
cred in the body most likely to accept
1t. Several members OF the house be-
lieVe the senate would be the more like
ly to pass such measure and that ia
vOrable action by that body would have q
salutary effect upon opposition in the
house. 800.
An Alleged Precedent. aos
A tariff bill of this character ordinarily
would be construed as a measure affect
ing revenues and therefore entitled TO
originate in the house. It has been ar
gued nevertheless than there is a. prece-
dent for its introduction in the senate.
The precedent brought forward is the
meat inspection act OF 1890, which au-
thOr1Zed the president to suspend impor-
tatiOn of products Of other countries,
making Determinations against those OF
the United States. The purpose of that
act is almost identical with the tariff
legislation now proposed, although the
purpose is attained by different means.
McCIeary's Bill.
The maximum and minimum tariff bin.
as introduced by Representative McCIeary
of Minnesota, provides that the minimum
tariff shall be the present schedules as
fixed by the Dingley act and that the
maximum shall be 25 per cent in addition
to these rates. The minimum, il IS be-
lieved, would prohibit any foreign country
from competing with countries receiving
the minimum rates and only differs from
the act of 1890 in this, that one provides
~ =in m a TTpFN 4T,o J,
through the enforcement of DrOhfbitfve
schedules against discriminating foreign
states.
Whatever strength there ia i'm congress
| demanding the revision Of tariff will nat
urally be opposed to a measure making
1t possible to increase existing schedules,
even though the increase is for the pur-
pose of retaliation against countries dis
eliminating against the United States It
is believed generally that the stand pat
forces are more securely intrenched in
the senate than in the house and that the
prospect is better In the higher body.
Means Retaliation.
1t is not proposed to make the IegisIa-
ton retaliatOry, especially against Ger
many, but it is asserted that the need
for such a measure is pressing as re-
CARDS our trade relations with that coun-
try The present trade agreement ex-
pires in March next and advocates If
the bill expect to use the proximity of
mat udlS 70 pioH1Ole Lnelr plans Tor
early consideration.
Baron Sternberg, the German ambassa-
dor, called upon Secretary Root at the
state department today and after a
short conference the secretary escorted
his visitor to the White House to talk
with the president. 1t may now be
stated that the administration feels that
it has exhausted every effort legitimately
within its power to avert the applica-
ton in March of the new German ia
riff to American goods and that if any
relief is TO be had 1t must come from
congress Even the effort to postpone
the date OF application of the German
act, through an ARRANGEMENT in the ma
ture Of modus vivendi ameliorating the
irksome customs regulations complained
of by Germany, has failed.
Shaw Still Studying.
Secretary Shaw is still. with his ex-
perts, considering some plan of relief
in that matter. but 1t is admitted Sthat
what he can do by administrative order
is not OF sufficient Importance from the
German point of view TO warrant the
| hope that the date Of the operation of
the German tariff act can be postponed.
Already some of the large American pro-
ducers and exporting interests have ad-
dressed themselves to the state depart
ment in an appeal to be prepared against