Charlevoix county herald., 1907-05-18
AN EASY" REVISION
HOW TO LOWER THE TARIFF
WITHOUT LEGISLATION.
The Concessions Sought by Germany
Would, il Granted, Practically Per-
NIT Foreign Producers to Write
American Tariff Rates to Suit
Themselves.

That tariff revision downward Is
distinctly contemplated in connection
with the pending negotiations with
Germany may be accepted as an indis-
putable fact. The end and aim of the
German clamor for a change in our
customs administration methods has
been and is now to obtain the admis-
ports into the American market at
lower tariff rates than those hereto
fore exacted. No matter by what
name it may be called, or in what
manner the real purpose is masked by
those having the matter in hand, the
intention on both sides Is that the
exporters of Germany shall be af-
forded improved opportunities for the
successful invasion of the American
market.
1t is we'll to keep this fact in mind
for it will help to a clearer under
standing of the statements contained
in an article which we reprint from
the New York Journal of Commerce,
of April TO- embodying the details of
the so-called 'provisorium" for the
extension for at least another year of
the existing tariff truce between the
United States and Germany. The
article referred to has all the appear
ance of being based upon exact Of
fetal information. 1t reads as though
Secretary Root had selected the Jour
nal of Commerce as medium for
communicating to the public the truth
regarding the concessions conveyed
by the United States government to
Germany, through Ambassador Won
Sternburg. The accuracy of this pre-
sentiment Is confirmed in Berlin
cablegram of April II and printed in
the New York Herald of April Is, as
follows:
Berlin, Saturday.-It is reported in
commercial and industrial circles that
Baron Speck Won Sternburg, German
ambassador to Washington, who ar
rives in Berlin in a few days, is re-
turning with draft of temporary
agreement with the United States.
This temporary agreement does not
require the sanction of congress, it is
alleged 1t increases the concessions
hitherto made by the United States
government to Germany. The follow
ing are the main points:
1T will no longer be necessary for
exporters to report to American con-
suls. but American appraisers are di-
rected to accept the attestations of
the German chamber of commerce.
The American special treasury agents
will no longer operate in secret, but
will be replaced by agents properly
and officially accredited to the Ger
man government. Hearings by Amer
lean general appraisers will in future
not be confidential, but will be made
public"
II it be true, as both the Herald and
the Journal of Commerce agree in
saying, that Germany has obtained
the concessions set forth above, then
tariff revision downward without leg
islation is near at hand. Taken alto
gether, these concessions practically
permit the foreign exporter to deter
mine what tariff his goods shall pay
on entering the American market. Our
duties being ad valorem, the foreign
exporter fixes the duty when he fixes
the value of invoices for export. Our
government valves the right to dis
pute either the value fixed or the tar
III paid. American consuls abroad no
longer are permitted to call in ques-
ton the values of export invoices.
American special treasury agents will
no longer concern themselves in the
ascertainment either of production
cost or of current wholesale values in
the country of origin. Instead of OPP
Grating secretly, as heretofore, the
treasury agents must now work in the
open, and, moreover, they must be di-
rectly accredited and be acceptable to
the German government, precisely as
our ambassadors and consuls are; and
if, through the performance of their
official duties, they should become
persona non grata to the German gov
eminent they will be promptly called
home.
German chambers of commerce,
small bodies made up of the very per-
sons who have produced the goods,
and are most interested In tariff
evasion, are to fix export values!
American consuls and American treas
ury agents in Germany are to accept
these values without question, and ap-
praising officers at American ports of
f..I e tlxaN
we are now dealing with Germany in
a spirit of concession. will be very
certain to avoid any unpleasant fric
ton with state and treasury depart
ments thoroughly committed to the
policy of tariff concession.
AS a matter of practical operation
we might as we'll altogether dispense
with consuls and special agents
abroad and appraising officers at
oLo 90