The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-02-22
MUST ACT
POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO Sc.
CURE TARIFF REFORM.
n the President Calls Extra Session
Of Congress to Deal with the Mat
ter, Put Pressure on Your
Representatives.

The extraordinary proposition OF
the German government which, IL is
said, will be contained In the report
of the tariff commission which has
nearly concluded its Investigations
and agreements with the German tar
In experts at Berlin, that the export
price OF products from that country
shall be fixed by the German govern
ment. will hardly be ratified by con
gress. This ultimatum TO Offset our
high tariff rates as compensation TO
Germany for acceding 10 us her mini
mum rates of duty for our products is
unlocked for and unparalleled, for IL
virtually nullifes section 80, which
amends sections 7 and IL OF the act
Of 1890. which provides the manner
of determining the true value OF goods
In the exporting country at the time OF
export. There has been constant fric-
ton between German exporters and
our customs officials on the question
OF value. and II is claimed that many
invoices of German goods are purpose
~ undervalued so as 10 escape part
of the ad valorem rates Of duty. Hun
dreds of such cases occur every month
and the beard of appraisers are con
stsatly increasing the valuation OF
goods. which thus increases the duty
paid.
Such increase in valuation is what
the German government wants TO
avoid by hating this country agree 10
receive her products at the special val
uation the German government un-
dertakes to provide. Such an agree
ment cannot be made without con.
gressional action modifying the sec
tons of the present tariff act above
referred TO. 1t will be impossible for
the present congress TO amend the
law before II adjourns on March 4,
for the whole question of tariff revi-
sion would naturally arise. IL Is pos
sible under a special rule 70 force such
bill through the house of represen-
tatives virtually without debate. for
doubtless the subservient Republican
majority would agree TO IL. yet Il will
be impossible for such a measure to
pass the senate, where there is no
such gag rule.
AS the present arrangement with
Germany TO admit our produsts al The
minimum tariff rates expires on July
l, and it cannot be expected that an
extension of time will be granted,
especially as congress has made no
move towards tariff revision. IL would
seem probable that the president will
feel constrained to call an extra SEES
sion OF congress Immediately upon
the expiration Of the term OF the pres
ent congress on March 4.
AS all the trusts and other inter
ests protected by the tariff will in the
event of special session be represent
ed before congress by attorneys and
lobbyists, Ii is advisable for anyone
who feels the pinch OF high trust
prices TO inform their representatives
and senator's that they will expect re-
relief by a reasonable reduction OF the
rates of duty on trust products. Even
those representatives and senators re-
puted to be controlled by the trusts
and corporations are not entirely OBJ
livious TO public opinion. If it is freely
expressed. The solid Democratic
membership Of both houses OF con
gress OF congress can be relied upon
TO stand for bill that will make a
reasonable reduction in tariff rates
As the Sixtieth congress has a Repub
lican majority Of 81 it will only require
2S Republican members to act with
the Democrats TO pass bill that will
produce real reform of the present
rates that allow the industrial corpor-
atoms to plumber the people by pres
ent high prices. What is TO be feared
is a bogus reform bill whcich will
patch up our differences with Germany
and Canada but still leave the trusts
protected, so that there will be no re-
lief to the people from the present
high cost of living.