Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-05-19
JAPAA'S NEW TARIFF LAW
VIII Follow in Footsteps Of Uncle
Sam on Protective Policy.
Will ut OUR EXPORTS HARD
Many Things Now Bought in This
Country Will Be Excluded
Some Provisions Of the Law.

Som Provisions of the Law.
Washington. d. G. May IA. Japan
has entered upon a strong protective
policy following the United States.
She is preparinu herself to meet the
requirements of the oriental market
and at the same time protect her in.
dustries. BY way of illustration, par
affin is entered fee. This is to foster
the manufacture OF candies and
matches for China trade. On tho other
hand, candies are advanced in duty,
alcohol Is raised 70 4 p~rohibitive rate.
while molasses with which the jap
anese manufacture alcohol. is mater.
tally reduced. japan hopes by such
plans and the exploitation of Korea
and China to control the commercial
destinies OF Asia.
Consul General Henry b. Miller. of
Eokohoma, furnishs a report TO the
bureau of manufactures on the tariff
bill pending before the parliament OF
japan, which measure has been Passed
with slight notifications at the pres.
ent session. The first and foremost
plan of Japan is shown BY this bill to
be the building up of the country as a
manufacturing and commercial power.
Coal is placed ON the free list. as we'll
AS ships stores transferred IN harbors.
Japan prepares for retsliatory tariffs
against countries discriminating
against her vessels and products, aud
proposes also to prevent i~mportations
OF bonnty-made products Of other
countries. The new measure is esti-
mated to increase the revenue several
million dollars, and extends specific
for advalorem duties. This il agree
able to American merchants. Other
features are-natsso favorable.
The raise in the tariff on wheaT
flour to 70 cents 1873 pounds will make
this feed too expensive for the masses,
and reduce the consumption Of Amer
lean flour. checking a growing export
to Japan. The wheat rate is also
slightly advanced. the object being TO
tap the great wheat supply of Man
ehuria, and Mongolia, using japanese
owned railroads and ships to carry ii
to Japanese mills, where the food sup
ply for the Japanese millions will be
produced at home.
Sailed fish will pay a higher rate Of
duty. bat fish gathered by a japanese
vessels shall be admitted free. This
will exclude American ships bringing
sailed salmon to japan, confine the
Shipping of salmon from Alaska to
japanese sailing vessels, and will
operate as a discrimination again.t
american shipping.
While raw and gin. . cotton remnin
on the free list there is a general ad-
vance in cotton yarns and cotton
goods OF every nature, and the new
bill changes them from adyalorem to
specific duties, but as cottoEs OF al
most every kind are specified in the
conventional tariff this part OF the
law will not take effect until after
1910.
In metals aud machinery there is a
general advane but railroads in the
empire, the tariff on rails and all ma
terials for railways will come in prac.
tically free. or otherwise at the dis
cretion of the government.
Locomotive engines and electric
motors, of which the imports from the
United States exceed half a million
dollars annually, are to pay 10 instead
of 10 per cent. Boilers meet with
same advance, while telegraph and
telephone equipment 60 from 10 TO 20
per cent.
Watches, which now pay rs to 80
per cent, are TO be charged 40 and 80
per cent. This will work injury to
the American trade. as it will put
high class goods ont of the reach OF q
great majority OF purchasers and com.
pei them to buy the cheaper European
article. Photographs are advanced
from 30 to so Q cent The American
trade in these machines was DEVELOPED
quite extensively. Cheap metal jew
elry is raised from 10 to so per tent
much of this merchandise heretofore
came from the United States.