Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-12-19

the French exposition OF 1900 was
brought to the attention OF the con
gress by President Cleveland in De
cembcr, 1895, and so many are the de.
lays necessary TO such proceedings that
which tfien interviewed before the ex-
position proved none too long for the
proper preparation OF the exhibits.
German Tariff Agreement.
The adoption Of a new tariff by Ger.
many, accompanied by conventions for
reclI Tocal tariff concessions between
that country and most of the other
countries Of continental Europe, led
the. German government TO give the
notice necessary to terminate the re.
ciprocal compercial agreement with
this country proclaimed July 10, 1900,
The notice was TO take effect on the
LIST of March. 1906, and In default Of
some other arrangements this would
have left the exports from the United
States to Germany subject TO the gen
eral German tariff duties, from % to
so per cent higher than the Conven-
tlonal duties imposed upon the goods
of most Of our competitors for German
trade.
Under a special agreement made be
tween the two governments In Febru-
airy, 1906, the German government
postponed the operation of their notice
until the Both of June. 1907. In the
meantime. deemIng It TO be my duty to
make every possible effort TO prevent
n tariff war between the United States
and Germany arising from misunder-
standing by either country of the con.
ditions existing In the other and act
ing upon the invitation OF the German
government. | sent to Berlin com
mission composed Of competent eN-
perts I'm the operation and adminlstra-
tion Of the customs tariff from the de
partments Of the treasury and com.
mercc and labor. This commission was
cnga gcd for several months In confer.
ence with similar commission ap
pointed by the German government
under Instructions So far rs praCtiCn.
hi" to reach common understanding
as to all the facts regarding the tariffs
Of the United states and Germany ma
tcrial ard relevant to the trad" rcla
lions between the two countries. The
commission reported and upon the la
sis of the report n further temporary
commercial agreement was entered In
10 10y the two countries, pursuant 10
which In the exercise Of the authority
conferred upon the president 10y the
third section nr ~" tariff net Of July
81, 1897, extended Nh" reduced tarih
rates provided Tor III mat section 10
champagne ana All "th'r sparkling
wines ana pursuant 10 Whlch inc Ter
man conventional or minimum atlh
rates wer" extended 10 ABOUT '"'9 per
cent ot All IN" exports from the Unit
ed states TO Germany. Thls agree
ment Is to remain IN force until the
5oth OF June lHVS, ana uhtii SIX
mohths attor notice ny either party 10
terminate ~
The agreement and the report OF the
commission on which II Is based VIII
be laid before the congress Tor Its In
formation.
This careful examination Into the tar
-.
and Germany involved an inquiry into
certain Of our methods of admintstrn'
tlon which had been the cause OF much
complaint on the pau OF German OK
porters. In this Inquiry became sat
isficd that certain vicious and unjusn-
fable practices had grown up In our
customs administration, notably the
practice OF determining values of I'M
ports upon de "ctivc reports never dis
closed to the persons whose interests
were affected. The use of detectives.
though often necessary. tends toward
abuse and should lie carefully guard
ed. Under our practice as ! found Il
to exist in the case the abuse had be
come gross and discreditablc. Under
II instead of seeking information as to
the market value of merchandise from
the well known and respected mem
hers of the commercial community In
the country OF its production secret
statements were obtained from inform.
ers and discharged employees and bust