The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-14
IN
 TARIFF RATE Proposal for Maximum and Minimum. A CONFERENCE IS HELD Measure More Likely to Be Passed
 by Senate. Application by Germany of Higher Du- ties on American Products Causes Revival of scheme for
 Retaliation.

Washington. Jan. 13.--The revival of sentiment in favor of the enactment of maximum and minimum tariff to meet discrimination as practiced by foreign governments against the pro- ducts of the United States resulted in conference between Senate and House leaders today to determine where such lgfslation should originate.
 This becomes an important question at this time for the reason that ad- vocates of such measure are desirous of having 1t considered first in the body most likely to accept 1t. Several members of the House believe the Sem ate would be the more likely to pass such a measure and that favorable ac- ton by that body would have q salu- tary effect upon opposition in the House
 A tariff of this character ordinarily would be construed as a measure af- fecting revenues and therefore entitled to originate in the House. It has been precedent for it's introduction in the Senate. The precedent brought for ward Is the meat inspection act of 1900, which authorized the President to suspend importations of products of other countries making discrimina- tions against those of the United States. The purpose of that act is all
  lation now proposed although the pur- pose is attained by different means.
 DinEiey Rates Minimum.
 The maximum and minimum tariff bill as introduced by Representative McCleary. of Minnesota. provides that the minimum tariff shall be the pres ,ent schedules as fixed by the Dingley act and that the maximum shall be 25 per cent in addition to these rates. The maximum, it is believed. will pro- hibit any foreign country from com petsng with countries receiving the minimum rates and only differs from the act of 1890 in this, that one pro- vides for exclusion absolutely and the other through the enforcement of pro- hibitive schedules against diserimina- ting foreign states.
 Whatever strength there is in Con- gress demanding a revision of the tar if will naturally be opposed to a meas ure making it possible to increase ex- isting schedules even though the in- crease is for the purpose of retaliating against countries discriminating against the United States. It Is be- Iieved generally that the stand pat" forces are more securely intrenched in the Senate than in the House and that the prospect of passing the bill is bet ter in the higher body.
 It is not intended to make the leg islation retaliatory. especially against Germany, but 1t is asserted that the need for such a measure is pressing as regards our trade relations with that country.
 Agreement Expires in March.
 The present trade agreement expires in March next and advocates of the that date to promote their plans for early consideration.
 Baron Sternburg, the Gereman Am bassador called upon Secretary Root at the State Department today and af- ter short conference the Secretary escorted his visitor to the White House to talk to the President.
 It may now be stated that the ad- ministration feels that it has exhaust ed every effort legitimately within it's power to avert the application in March next of the new German tariff to American goods and that if any re- lief Is to be had 1t must come from Con- gress. Even the effort to postpone the date of application of the German act through an arrangement in the nature of a modus vivendi ameliorating the irksome customs regulations complain ed of by Germany has failed
 Secretary Shaw is still with his ex- perts considering some plan of relief in that matter. but 1t is admitted that 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 account can be post poned
 Already some of tho large American producers and exporting interests have addressed themselves to the State De- partment in the matter.