The Washington herald., 1907-02-13
TARIFF WARAYERTED
Work of Commission in Ger
many Is Successful,
WILL EXTEND MODUS vIvENDI
Treasury Department Expected to
Put Notifications Into Effect When
This Would be First step Toward
Final Settlement OF Differences.


There VIII be no tariff war with Ger
many. That seems posiuvely. assured. as
the result of the discussion Of the differ
ences between the United States and that
country by the joint commission that has
completed its negotiations at Berlin and
the report Of which has been placed In
the hands Of Secretary of state Root by
Or. 5. y. d. North. chairman OF the
American commission.
This report contains what is believed
to be a reasonable basis for a run agree
ment between the two countries on the
tariff.
The details Of the report Of Or. North
are not known, as both the American
and the German commissioners have OBJ
served absolute secrecy regarding them.
II is believed that the President, after he
has read the report. will advise with
the German government and make public
the recommendations Of the commission.
II is believed that it viii then be recog-
nized that. in the exchange proposed. the
United States has secured equal, If not
greater. advantage with Germany. and
that the plan for reciprocal agreement
between the nations will prove popular.
Il IS likely that the President will send
the commission report TO Congress before
adjournment Whether any action can be-
had is an open question. There are some
who believe that the plan Of exchange
VIII appeal so strongly that Congress. By
a simple amendment to the present tariff
law, will put the recommendations of
Z f,a f,rr
Is speculative. however Until the articles
that have been agreed upon as forming
the basis Of reciprocal exchange are
known, the opposition TO the plan cannot
be estimated.
Congress- Probable Action.
1t is believed that whenever Congress
does act. whether at this session or next
year. it will be in the way OF amend
ing section of the present law, rather
than in the way Of a reciprocity treaty
1t is believed that the articles which the
commission has recommended shall Ie-
ceive preferential treatment will be added
to those already enumerated in section 8
This would make the provision general.
and would give every government that
wanted to take advantage of the exchange
the same right as Germany. 1t is pre-
sumed. however, that the articles agreed
upon are those whose admission ia the
United States under preferential rates
would be of greater advantage 70 GER
many than 10 any other country
The great achievement of this comrnis-
sion lies In having reached an agree
ment that Is satisfactory 10 Germany
so satisfactory. at least. that she IS Will
ing to extend the modus vivendi under
which the United States IS enjoying the
minimum rates Of her tariff for another
year in the belief that this government
viii act upon the recommendation Of the
commission. The maximum rates were
20 have been enforced at the end of this
fiscal year, if the United States did not
make some concessions. but Germany will
now extend the time, il is understood
until Congress shall have had chance
to legislate on the report of the commits
sion.
Immediate Action Doubtful.
While there is a remote, possibility that
the report of the commission may ap-
peal so forcibly to the leaders in both
Houses that an agreement can be reached
10 amend the law in conformity with il
at this session, the chances are that the
whole matter viii go over until the I.rxt
Congress.
There is little likelihood that +he OK
change agreed upon by the commission
will be embodied in a reciprocity treaty
and ratified by the Senate in an extra
session, as legislation by both Houses
would be required to put such treaty
into effect.
Customs duties were not the only differ