The Washington times., 1907-01-27
Views of Representatives
in American Congress
on ReichStag Results.
Belief That Our Tariff
Schedules Must Ulti-
mately Be Moderated.

IAnAAEdn representative as ne looked
ND from his newspaper.
And what is more, Germany's vote
has done more toward bringing about
conditions in which there is a prospect
OF revision OF the American schedules
Shan anything thar has happened IN this
country since the Dingley law passed"
The Representative was asked TO ex-
plain.
Perfectly simple 10 anybody who has
been following the drift OF German poll
tics and economic conditions was the
reply. Emperor William has been for
long time determined that II Germany
is 10 go on buying the immense quaint
ties OF fOOdstums that she now takes
from the United States. the United
States must give Germany a chance IN
this country's markets. The German
preferential tarin was TO have taken
eject April J. last. IT would have given
several other countries an immense ad-
Vantage over the United States in sell
ing meats and fOodstuns IN the German
empire. A delay OF a year In its en-
Eorcement was secured by the American
Government IN the hope that some ad-
Justment could in that time be reached
which would avoid the necessity OF sub
1ecting American exports 10 this dis
elimination. A tariff commission was
sent 10 Germany and is now there, try
ing 10 agree upon some basis OF mutual
concessions that would avoid a tariff
ayar.
Will Return Empty Handed.
This commission, according TO re-
.DOrts. is likely TO return 10 the United
Estates soon with a discouraging report.
The reason is simple. There has been
n strong protest among the working
classes in Germany against any policy
THAT would deprive them of the cheap
food which they can get best and most
readily from the United States. The
Emperor has carried the election. The
new reiehstag is certain TO sustain his
policies. The protest OF the industrial
classes has been rejected The agrar-
i1ans have won the day. The Won Bue-
low administration Will he strongly sup
ported iu any policy OF retaliation with
the United States. II it wants a tarin
war II viii have one. and viii have the
s1eichstag back Of IT,
This means that there viii be no
weakening In the iusisteAee OF the Ger
man government that American tar!n
schedules must be moderated. 1t means
that unless the United States makes
concessions that VIII give Germany a
AileA+lAt ~ NHalA SUING VI lAEl AllllAuAat-
lures into this market, The food prod
ucts of American farms and packing
houses win be- subjected 70 the practi-
cally prohibilive schedules OF the Ger
man tarim which caused so much con-
Germ 10 this country a yedf ago.
An this means. of course, that the
question Of reciprocity, ia some form
or another. must set attention. Ger
many is the second besE customer OF
the United States, Great Britain being
nrsL IL is not possible TO make any
concession 10 Germany that is not also
igiven to England, because England
gives US an absolutely free market,
land would not permit any other cOun-
Try 10 receive special aud preferential
sduties, calculated TO discriminate against
ther Germany has voted to force Uncle
ISam's hand in this whole tarin mat
tier"
Significance Not Lost Here.
I That this view is entertained by
many thoughtful students Of the taTir
tsituation was made PLATA In the dis
cussiOns among Senators and Repre-
sentatives. The significance OF the Ger
man election has not been lost to Wash
iugtOn. 1t has been realized already at
the White House according 20 report.
and there is noted a decided strengthen
ing OF purpose among those RepuDH-
cans who have been circulating a re
! rition for q caucus 10 consider tariff re-
vision. Representative Cooper Of Wis
cOnsin, who has been one of the lead
ers in that movement. declared that he
felt very hopeful OF getting the caucus;
and ne added that he had many as
surances Of friendly interest in the
movement from men Wl1 would not
sign the call
zone member from 70 staudpat State"
he said. told me that while he was
not IN favor OF general ripping up Of
schedules he believed there were some
schedules that ought TO have attention.
There is a good deal OF feeling or that
kind. The number OF signatures TO the
call Tor caucus viii not nearly gauge
the revision sentiment of the House"
Blow to Standpatters.
The truth is that there is strong
impression that the standpatters have
suffered a severe blow by reason Of
the German election. They realize the
fact The Administration is leaning
strongly toward the idea OF a maxi
mum and minimum tariT, but OF this
there are two widely different notions
Speaker Cannon and the extreme hisH
rarffr people would have a maximum
and minimum tariff constructed on the
theory OF making the present schedules
the minima. and adding 90 or % per
cent for maXima- The other view is
10 retain the present schedules as
slaxima, and grant reductions of 20
or rs per cent To make the miuima:
the lower schedules 10 be granted To
those countries which in turn make
,oncsssions OF equal value 10 Ameri-
can products in their markets.
Between these propositions there is
a wide and deep Chasm. Nowadays IL
is not easy TO make discriminating
agreements, because these involve re-
faliaIion by countries which are hit
nv the discrimination Most CONNER
: cfal treaties contain the favored IA
I tiOn clause. which means that when
. a concession is granted 10 one cOun-
! try IN must be given 10 others. Alto
eether the way 20 sattsfg CtOry tariff
Conditions, which shall allay the Eu-
b ,-,paan disnOsitiOn 10 reIaliate AGAINST