The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-06-04
RAILROAD TARIFF INCREASED
Kate Bill Works Injustice to Many
Shippers-Growing Tobacco
and It's Best Market
BY James S. Mccarthy.

washington, ID. c., juno 3.-Th'
United States Consul located a
Havrc, France, reports to the gov
ernment that it is quite probable
France, following in the example Of
Germany, Switzerland, and Spain
will, in the near future revise he,
customs tariffs. lie states that the
question has been carefully studied
by the customs committee of the
French Chamber Of Deputies and the
committee, after having consulted
the different chambers Of commerce
and professional syndicates Of the
country, announces that it favors a
general ovcrhauling of tho existing
rates and will soon draft q bill en-
bodying its views on the subject. The
committee has already unanimously
voted to recommend the maintenance
OF the maximum and minimlm sys-
TEN, but with a provision allowing
the concluding Of special commercial
treaties under certain stated condi-
tions. Tho committee will also rec
ommend that the maximum rates be
made, on the whole, fifty per cent
higher than the present minimum
rates. All the articles entering into
the various schedules will be minute
~ described, in accordance with the
German method, so as to designate
as clearly rs may be possible the
spcclolties Of the different coun-
tries without formally mentioning
those countries.
The bill will be submitted TO the
French Parliament in the course of
the present or next session and, be-
ing given tho strength Of the protec-
tive spirit in France today, it would
not be surprising if it we're, in, sub
stance, eventually enacted into law.
That material increase in the rates
Of the general tariff is at hand seems
most likely. Tt is certain, at all
events, that the proposed legislation,
if adopted, would result in serious
injury to American export trade so
long as our products rcmain handi-
capped by having to pay duties fifty
per cent higher than those applicable
to our competitors. The present ar
rangemcnt under which, except for
a few privileged articles, we pay
much higher duties than nearly every
other nation has proved to be, in
many eases, absolutely prohibitivc.
In its recent summary Of the in
ternal commerce Of the United States
the Bureau Of Statistics of the De-
partmcnt Of Commerce and Labor,
announces that the new all-rail
freight rates submitted to the Inter-
state Commerce Commission by the
railroads since the passage Of the
law regulating rail freight and pas
scngcr rates arc higher than those in
effect prior to The enactment of the
statute. Thus, it will be seen that
The shipper is injured rather than
benefited by political rate making.
Under the old regime The railroads
made rates with an eye singular to
moving the traffic, but since congress
and the legislatures OF several states
have passed laws radically reducing
the revenues Of tho carriers, they
have been compelled, in sclf-dcfence,
in filing their new schedules of rates
with the commission, to materially
increase their charges in order to
avoid deficits.
In as much as the commission has
permitted the carriers to put the
rates into effect without protest, it is
presumed that body considers them
just mmd reasonable. The fact re-
mains, however, that shippers are
not faring as we'll in the matter of
railroad rates as they did when the
railroads were given free rein in the
transportation business.
Official information discloses the
important fact that the United
Kingdom is the worlds best market
for tobacco. It's consumption has in
creased thirty per cent IN the past
fifteen years, or at the rate of two
per cent year. Tt is used in all
known forms. Laborcrs consume
large quantities of chewing tobacco
during tho hours when smoking is
not permitted on account of the
character Of their work or other
causes. The pipe is seen everywhere,
in the home, on the street, and the