Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-01
TARIFF QUESTION.
Experts That Went to Germany ar,
 Ready to Rennrt

Experts That Went to Germany are
 Ready to Report.
 Washington, D. C., Feb LA most
 important question will be submitted
 to President Roosevelt in a few days
 and, by him, will be referred, in all
 probability to the congress, together
 with special message containing the
 presidents recommendations.
 1 The subject will be the report of the special tariff commission which
 was sent to Germany to discuss with
 the tariff experts of that country an adjustment of the tariff relations
 between America and Germany.
 Tentative consideration of the sub 1ect has been in progress for long time. Finally. Germany indicated by the adoption of her maximum and minimum tariff laws, that it was about to take the initiative in a tariff war with the United States unless something were done by this country to avert 1t.
 The enforcement of the maximum German tariffs against American l, products, 1t was realized, practically would put many American industries out of business, so far as German trade Is concerned. In order to avert so serious a situation as that would be, Secretary Root induced the German government to postpone for year or more the enforcement of its maximum tariffs against this country, as he realized that such en- forcement would mean the virtual exclusion of American products from Germany. Meantime, Secretary Root suggested that commissions of the two governments get together and discuss the situation with view to reaching an amicable settlement of the prospective difficulty.
 This suggestion was agreed to by Germany and an American commits sion, headed by Dr S. N D. North, di- rector of the census, one of the best equipped tariff experts in this coun- try, was named to confer with like commission of German tariff experts. The two commissions held their con- ferences in Berlin. They were in session many weeks and the negOtia- tions only recently were concluded. Just what has been accomplished is not known definitely in detail, but information from the American mem- bers indicates that Germany is ready to meet the United States on any rea- sonable ground Dr North is expect ed. in his report, to offer a means of adjusting the pending trouble, but it is anticipated that the recommenda- tion he may offer will require the ac- tion of congress.
 By the arrangement which Secre- tary Root effected with the German government. the time limit of that governments inaction as to the en- forcement of its maximum tariffs against this country will expire the first of next July. Something will have to be done by the United States before that time, if tariff war be- tween the two governments is to be averted. It is possible that, at the present session of congress, legisla- ton satisfactory to both governments may be enacted, but the time is pretty short between now and the 4th of March for such an arrangement to be made. This situation has aroused gossip of an extraordinary session of the incoming congress to be called for the purpose of passing the neces- sary legislation. but thus far 1t is no more than gossip.
 It is realized fully that the situa- tion Is fraught with many difficulties, but the opinion is general that sat- isfactory solution of the matter will | be found. |