Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-16
GERMANY'S TURN NOW.
Anxious Not to Lose Any of Her Trade
With the United States.

Washington, Feb. 1J.-An important
conference was held at the White
House this afternoon al which it was
decided that there should not be open
hearings before the board of general
appraisers in cases of contested valua-
tons Of imported goods.
The conference today grew out of Il
request made by certain importing in
tercst5 i'll New York through a commit
tee OF the Merchants Association OF
that city. Importers particularly of
German goods. desired that the hear
ing before the board of general APP
praiserS should be made public. In
their desire they had the support of the
German government. In view of the
fact that the new maximum and mini
llEu'n German tariff goes into effect on
the nrst of March ana of the wish OF
the German government that the hear
inss III contested valuation cases
should be open, the conference as
sumed international Importance.
Among those present at the confer
ence besides the President We're Sec
Root. See. Shaw. Assistant Secretary OF
the Treasury Reynolds, President Dew
ri"s and Messrs. Fischer. Waite and
Shcrrets, members of the board of gen.
er2l appraisers; Mr. BARNARD OF Mar
shall Field q Co. of Chicago: J. f.
| Kemp. counsel of the board of apprais-
| ers, and Thomas W. Downing. w. w
Smith and W. T.. Mead Of the Mcr-
chants Association of New York.
| Tie question OF open hearings was
considered in all of its phases. 1t was
developed that on the part of many
great importing interests. including
large concerns in Chicago and New
York, there was no demand for Opci
| hearings. Mr.. Bernhard said that the
enforcement of the customs laws and
| regulations was the least Of ths
| troubles Of his company and that i,
i had TO more difficulty about such en-
forccment than it had with the en-
forcemcnt of the law against murder.
II vas pointed out by Sec. Shaw that
| the demand for open hearings came
| from import brokers in New York and
to some extent from German mer-
| chants who are exporters to this cOen-
try. He explained that. under the law
and the treaty regulations. the i'm
porter was protected absolutely. as he
| courts clear up 20 the United States
| supreme court.
i WAS decided finally that there
| should be no open hearings and that
the board OF general appraisers should
| continue to handle contested valuation
| cases IS heretofore.
Although the decision against open
hearings is final there We're other Sug-
sestiJns looking to the modification OF
seine CT the more stringent rcgula-
tons of the customs service which
| commended themselves strongly to the
President and See. Root and which
| have been submitted through Baron
| Spcck Won Sternberg. the German am
bassador. to the German government
AT the conclusion Of the conference
at the White House Sec. Root returned
| to the state department where he held
an hours conference with RarOn Stern
berg, during part of which Baron
BuSche. the first secretary of the en-
bassy. was also present. AT this con-
ference the ambassador was informed
practicable to upset the present syS-
tenn OF appraising or to permit the in
PRODUCTION of testimony and cross ex-
animation at tn" hearings. the Wash
ingtOn government was prepared to in
struct the agents in Germany to CO.
operate in every way with the German
Boards of Trade and other similar o.
CARNATIONS as well as with leading
German merchants in the effort to Sc