The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-02-06
ASK CHANGE IN TARIFF.
Business Interests Demand Revision
of Schedules Free From Politics.

West annually, will be one OF the
first fruits of broad reciprocity treat
les with France and Germany" de-
Alvin II. Sanders, president of
The American Reciprocal Tariff
He added that most OF the
money eventually would find its way
to Chicago, through the great pack
ing industries, the live stock interests
and other of trade.
Mr.. Sanders is one OF the COM
Of thirty or more represent
ing the business, manufacturing and
agricultural interests OF Chicago and
the country in general that leave Chi
cago Sunday for Washington to call
upon the President in the interest OF
tariff revision and reciprocity.
This committee will also call upon
Speaker Cannon, the ways and means
committee of the House and the fl
n committee of the Senate. 1t
will urge the passage of the Bever-
idge bill, providing for a nonpartisan
committee OF FIVE exper-s 10 nvesti-
gate the tariff thoroughly and report
a scientific and equitable revision OF
schedules to the next Congress. This
will take the tariff out Of politics.
at may seem a strong statement,
said Mr.. Sanders, that broad treaties
with Germany and France would
bring SIS, 100000 in gold into the
middle West annually, but it will be
borne out by an Investigation OF the
facts. The bringing OF that amount
INTO the bank accounts OF the farm
ers and stock raisers OF the West
would. as a matter of course, stimuli
late every line of trade and industry.
1t is a stake worth playing for and 1t
is astounding that the senators and
representatives from the West do no;
make the fight"
Section 4 of THE Dingley law, which
authorized reciprocity treaties, IS a
dead letter. Mr.. Sanders pointed out,
bv reason of the expiration OF the
time limit fixed ten years ago. Sec
ton ?, authorizing the President TO
trade off % per cent OF the duty on
a few commodities. he holds OF com
paratively little importance.
What we want" Mr.. Sanders
went on, rs such commercial ella
tons as will enable western farmers
to supply food products to the hun
gry millions OF Europe. Both Ger
many and France are ready TO do
business with us upon this PROPOSE
| ton. Nothing, however. a be done
| until Congress grants the necessary
| authority or enacts tariff legislation
which shall provide some practical
working reform of reciprocity along
the lines of President McKinley's
famous last speech at Buffalo.
Germany is the second largest I'M
| porter of food products in the world
She buys annually around 5000, 900,
| worth of food products from other
nations. The question OF cheap
bread and meat for her people is rap
| idly becoming one of the most i'm.
| portant problems she has to face. o
beef and pork Germany has none ex,
cept at practically prohibitive prices
She proposes, however, to make :
rade which will secure the boon o
cheap food for the masses with suci
countries as will deal most fairly by
her in return.
While we are standing pat on
competitors are busy. Canada ha:
just concluded a broad general treat.
with France, under which she will b.
able to supply that country with live
cattle. meats, dairy products, grain
etc, at a much lower rate than Sec
rotary Root possibly can obtain un
der the limited authority granted b,
existing laws. Furthermore, German,
is dickering with Canada on the sam,
line. The Dominion has beaten II
into Paris and will undoubtedly bea
us into Berlin unless our government
wakes up. When these continenta
countries which operate under tn
dual tariff system, conclude their ar
engagements with Argentina, this en-
ormous European business, whicl
could be had for the American far
mer, if we would lie but half fair il
the matter of tariff on manufacture
products, may be lost.
1T seems almost certain, there
fore, that no progress can be mad
looking toward the acquisition O
these markets except through ney
tariff legislation. Germany, France
Japan and all the principal countrie
operating under the protective tarii
systems have boards of experts t
keep their parliaments thoroughly I'd
vised at all times as to conditions al
fecting domestic and foreign bushes.
While the rest of the. world is movin
forward on to new and better groun
in this matter of tariff-making, tn
United States is sound asleep.
at is amazing that Speaker Can
non and other influential representa-
tives should fail to avail themselve
of the great benefit that would flo,
from the labor OF such a commits
sion"
Wants Scientific Tariff Revision.