The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-02
TARIFF DEBATE
BOUND TO CONE
Republican Leaders Complete
y at Sea as to Course to
Be Pursued.
Especial to The Herald.1

| l.
poets a tariff debate I'm both branches
of congress after the holiday recess is
over. The discussion viii serve to place
before the country more widely than
has yet been done the sharp distinction
| between changing the tariff in certain
/ schedules so as to enlarge the foreign
| trade Of the United States through
| commercial agreements, and the very
different method of general tariff re-
vision. In anticipation of its relation
/ to the debate, there isl eager interest
/ in Washington as to the nature of the
| forthcoming report of the special COM
| mission sent 10 Berlin to ascertain
what concessions are possible i'm order
to obtain for imports from the United
States into Germany the minimum
rates of that country's new tariff law.
Await the Presidents Message.
There is keen curiosity, also. as to
what the president will say in the
message with which. it is understood.
he will transmit to congress this re-
port upon the commercial relations be-
tween Germany and the United States.
Now that it has become an open secret
that the administration favOrs the pol
icy of utilizing some Of the duties of
the DinSley act for the purpose of eff
fecting commercial agreements, it is
thought probable that the German sit
uation may be made the text for rec
ommending the adoption of that gem
eral policy.
Five Departments interested.
Secretary Root. as head Of the de-
partment Of state, is naturally inter-
ested in that plan of tariff modifica-
ton, as the negotiation of commercial
agreements would fall under his super
vision. The secretary of the treasury
is Interested because of The effect of
such agreements upon customs rev.
enue. The secretary of agriculture is
interested because of the possible en-
largement of exports of American meat I
and meat products. The secretary of |
commerce and labor is interested be- /
cause the agitation will direct more |
than ever before the attention of |
American manufactures to the availa- /
bill of foreign markets, pointed out i'm 1
many consular reports. The present /
postmaster general, in his capacity as /
chairman of the Republican national /
committee. is interested because of the |
political effect of the adoption by the /
party of this distinct substitute for
general tariff revision.
Congress Very Jealous.
Congress il very jealous of it's con
troll over the tariff. and up to this time
much doubt has been expressed whetE-
er the legislative branch of the gov
would consent TO delegate II
the executive the authority to reduce
duties within a limit of 90 per cent, as
proposed In the Curtis bill. i'm return
for reciprocal concessions by other
countries. Two Republican members Of
the house, each of them defeated for
reelection last November because of
his extreme "stand-pat" attitude. are
ready to make speeches upon this sub
iect They are McCleary of Minnesota
and Mr.. Lacey of Iowa. Mr. McCleary
as a member of the ways and means
has pertinaeiously opposed
all suggestions looking to commercial
agreements. Mr.. Lacey's attitude has
been quite as pugnacious. Defeat has
changed their position not a whit.
Wise Policy for the Future.
Some of the Republican anti-revis-
onists, vino also oppose commercial
agreements as an early method of
bringing tariff schedules w to date.
hink that they see in the plan of