The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-12-26

by act of congress, with advantage to
our foreign trade and without disturb
ance TO domestic business prosperity.
The attitude of Speaker Cannon and of
those who, with him, control the con-
duct of legislation in the house, is at
present such that there is no possibil-
ity of the Curtis bill being taken up in
this congress, unless an issue is pre-
scented that would force it's considera-
ton. The German situation. when laid
before congress in special message,
would present such an issue
President Is Timid.
It is prediction, almost superfluous,
that the executive would not request
such an extension of his authority,
even within the prescribed scope and
limited time, as the Curtis bill, preVid-
ing for commercial agreements, pro-
poses. Yet it is conceivable that the
president might be willing to receive an
authority and responsibility which he
would not ask. But the asking would
not be necessary, if the situation pre-
scented by our commercial relations
with Germany is such as of itself to
push the Curtis bill into consideration
That measure, it must be explained,
would authorize the president to enter
into commercial agreements with any
country concerning the admission
therein of products of the United
States; and in consideration of the adj
vantages accruing to the United States,
would provide for the reduction during
specified period. not exceeding five
years, of the Dingley duties, to the ex-
tent of not more than 20 per cent upon
such goods as may be designated of the
| cn wit
agreement is made.
Radical innovation.
The proposal to delegate such author
| ity strikes many members of the house,
at first impression. as almost radical.
| But Mr.. Curtis points out that his
measure is really conservative. 1T is
a proposition wholly constitutional. +"
! ne said, because the house exercises
| its prerogative in originating revenue
| legislation by specifying just how far
the executive may go in negotiating for
| larger foreign markets for our products
| in return for lower duties upon some
| of our imports. 1t also limits the time
within which such agreements may be
valid. 1t does not require the ratifica-
/ ton by the senate or the approval by
| congress of such agreements. That re-
| quirement in section OF the Dingley
act proved fatal TO all the reciprocity
| treaties l can say to the house, when
my bill comes up, Here is your only
alternative to general tariff revision,
which must come if you postpone the
! question. Here is a chance to amend
the tariff where it needs amendment,
to have il done by its friends and at
the same time to obtain a return by
freer entrance for our own products
into foreign markets. These proposed
commercial agreements combine all
the advantages of reciprocity advO-
Gated by Blaine, Harrison, Mckinley
and Dingley, with adherence TO the
principle and practice of protection to
American industries. 1t is. of course
not conceivable that the executive
would negotiate commercial agree
ments whose concessions on the part
of this country would injure a single
domestic industry
Congressional Opinion.
There are found the most widely di-
vergent opinions among members OF
congress as to the German tariff. One
| Republican member of the first rank
in leadership and influence, declared
| Germany buys of us only what she
has to buy, such as copper, cotton
lard and petroleum. These are not
manufactured goods, yet Germany
wants to sell us her manufactured
goods in competition with our own man
ufactures. AS Germany cannot posi-
bly, get along. to specify one material
alone, without our cotton, il looks &C
me as if the United States could stand
pat, until Germany is willing to admit
our meat and meat products" But an
other Republican, also prominent in th'
affairs of the house, said: L was IL
Berlin lasL summer and met scores o.
American merchants who were plunged
into the deepest gloom. They told m,
they faced ruin unless this government
should do something before next july
to hold off the enforcement of the max
imum German tariff One American
| dealer in dried fruits, whose sale
amounted to many hundreds of thou
sands of dollars a year, is but an eX
ample. Then there are the dealers il
American agricultural implements
American machinery, American type
writer's and other mechanical devices
who have prospered greatly, but Sc
an end to their business in the German
market within six months
The principle of commercial agree
ments, to be negotiated by the execu
tive within range prescribed by con
gress, is involved also in the plan of |
maximum and minimum tariff. Tha
plan would be contingent upon an alto
gether new tariff law.
|