The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-12-04


have returned to the island because OF
this action. We are now taking steps to
provide for elections in the island and
our expectation is within the coming
year to be able to turn the island over
again to government chosen by the
people thereof. Cuba is at our doors. 1t
is not possible that this Nation should
permit Cuba again to sink into the
dition from which we rescued it. All
that we ask of the Cuban people is that
they be prosperous, that they govern
themselves so as to bring content. order
and progress to their island, the Queen
OF the Antilles; and our only interference
has been and will be to help them achieve
these results.
Japan to the Government and people of
the United States to participate in
great national exposition to be held at
Tokyo from April ] to October 81, 1912,
and in which the principal countries of
the world are to be invited to take part.
This is an occasion OF special int, TEST to
all the nations of the world. and peculiar
ly so to us; for it is the first instance in
which such a great national exposition
has been held by a great power dwelling
on the Pacific; and all the nations Of
Europe and America will, trust, join in
helping to success this first great EXPOSE
ton ever held by great nation of
1874
and the United States as the possessors
OF such large portions of the coasts of
the Pacific, the intimate trade relations
already existing between the two coun-
tries, the warm friendship which has
been maintained between them without
break since the opening of Japan to in
tercourse with the western nations, and
her increasing wealth and production,
which we regard with hearty goodwill
and wish to make the occasion of mu-
tually beneficial commerce. all unite in
making it eminently desirable that this
invitation should be accepted. l heartily
recommend such legislation as will pro-
vide in generous fashion for the repre-
sentation of this Government and its peo-
pie in the proposed exposition. Action
should be taken now. We are apt to
underestimate the time necessary for
preparation in such cases. The invita-
ton to the French Exposition of 1900 was
brought to the attention of the Congress
by President Cleveland in December,
1885; and so many are the delays neces-
sary to such proceedings that the period
OF four years and half which then in
tervened before the exposition proved
none too long for the proper preparation
of the exhibits.
Reciprocal Tariff Agreement
With the German Empire.
ne dQOpIlOn OF new tariff by Ger
many, accompanied by conventions for re-
ciprocal tariff concessions between that
country and most of the other countries
of continental Europe, led the German
Government to give the notice necessary
to terminate the reciprocal commercial!
agreement with this country proclaimed
July 10, 1900. The notice was to take
effect on the LIST of March, 1906, and In
default of some other arrangements this
would have left the exports from the
United States to Germany subject to the
general German tariff Duties from % to
80 per cent higher than the conventional
duties imposed upon the goods OF most
of our competitors for German trade.
Under special agreement made be-
tween the two Governments in February,
1906, the German Government postponed
the operation of their notice until the
goth of June, 1907. In the meantime,
deeming it to be my duty to make every
possible effort to prevent tariff war
between the United States and Germany
arising from misunderstanding by either
country of the conditions existing in the
other, and acting upon the invitation of
the German Government sent to Berlin
a commission composed of competent ex-
perts in the operation and admnistra-
ton of the customs tariff, from the De-
partments of the Treasury and Com
merce and Labor. This commission was
eil6dSed ScNGTdl IuOUllS III CONFER
ence with similar commission appointed
by the German Government, under in
structions. so far as practicable to reach
common understanding as to all the
facts regarding the tariffs of the United
States and Germany material and rele-
want to the trade relations between the
two countries. The commission reported
and upon the basis of the report, fur
ther temporary commercial agreement
was entered into by the two countries,
pursuant to which, in the exercise of the
authority conferred upon the President by
the third section of the tariff act of July
"a. 1897, / extended the reduced tariff
rates provided for in that section to
champagne and other sparkling wines.
and pursuant to which the German con-
Ventional or minimum tariff rates were
| extended to about s6h per cent of all the
exports from the United States to Ger
| many. This agreement is to remain in
| force until the Goth of June 1905 and
until six months after notice by either
party to terminate it.
The agreement and the report of the
commission on which it is based will be
| laid before the Congress for its informa-
ton.
This careful examination into the tariff
relations between the United States and
Germany involved an inquiry into certain
of our methods of administration which
| had been the cause of much complaint on
the part of German exporters. In this in
| quiry l became satisfied that certain vi
cious and unjustifiable practices had
| grown up in our customs administration.
notably the practice of determining val
ues of imports upon detective reports
| never disclosed to the person whose in
| terests were affected. The use of de-
tectives though often necessary. tends
towards abuse, and should be carefully
| guarded. Under our practice as / found
it to exist in this case. the abuse had be-
come gross and discreditable Under it.
instead of seeking Information as to the
market value of merchandise from the
wel-known and respected members of the
commercial community in the country of
it's production. secret statements were OBJ
tained from informers and discharged EN-.
ployees and business rivals. and upon
this kind of secret evidence the values of
imported goods were frequently raised
and heavy penalties We're frequently i'm
posed upon importers who were never
permitted to know what the evidence was
and who never had an opportunity to
meet It, 1t is quite probable that thi.