The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1908-06-18
STIRRED TO ANGER
PRoTEcTIoNlsrs pENouNcE TAR.
IFF AGREEMENT.
Action Shows What Little Idea the
Trusts and Protected interests
Have Of Allowing Any Re
vision After Election.

The protectlonists who manufacture
knitted goods, such as hosiery and
underwear, and who benefit so large
ly by the tariff preventing foreign
competition, have severely denounced
President Roosevelt for the tariff
agreement with Germany. This tariff
agreement with Germany allows the
German manufacturers to reduce the
valuation OF the goods they export to
the United States to the actual cost
In Germany. which is below what the
United States government appraisers
would assess the goods for. and thus
the official value being decreased the
nd valorem rate OF duty is also de-
creased. Before this agreement was
made with Germany the protection
lists. who controlled the appraisal de-
partment OF the custom house in New
York, increased the value of import
ed goods beyond their real value In
the country from which they were
exported. and thus actually increased
the duties paid. The effec, OF the
new agreement is TO allow the values
shown in the consular invoices which
have been certified by the German
chambers OF commerce, and other
commercial bodies. to stand as the APP
praised value on which ad valorem
duty is paid.
Resolutions we're adopted by the
National Association OF Hosiery
Manufacturers at their late meeting
at Philadelphia, which declared:
Whereas, The United States gov
eminent has entered into a tariff trade
agreement with the German empire
which embodies important customs
administrative concessions and i'm
portant amendments TO the customs
administrative act.
Resolved, That the National As
sociation OF Hosiery Manufacturers. in
annual convention assembled. earn.
estly protests against the provisions
OF the German tariff agreement now
extended TO other countries Of Europe
as contrary TO law, contrary to the
policy OF protection. injurious to
American labor, unfair TO the honest
importer. demoralizing to the Gus
toms service and in effect a material
and indIscriminate reduction in the
tariff. which should be made only
after hearings have been granted and
then only by the legislative branch OF
the government; and
Resolved. That the National Asso-
citation OF Hosiery Manufacturers
NhanE hA - ~ Trff al
States for not adopting the recon.
mendations OF the administration as
70 the amendments In our customs
laws"
This derunciation OF President
Roosevelt for making this agreement
with Germany contrary to law" and
contrary 10 the policy OF protection.
indicates what strenuous opposition
all the trusts and protected interests
will put forth 20 prevent tariff re-
vision after election"
The thanks 10 congress "for not
adopting the recommendation OF the
administration as to the amendments
In our customs laws" shows how the
standpat Republican leaders in con-
gress saved the day for the trusts
THE cotton schedule is only one OF
the many In the tariff law that forces
up prices. but every other schedule is
equally protective to the trusts, and
monopolists that have found shelter
under the sotalled protective system.
The whole power OF the organized
trusts and tho tariff protected monop-
olists will be found aiding the re-elec-
tion OF Republican congressman, who
will promise TO again standpat after
election. Perretuating the tariff pro-
lection allows these manufacturers TO
collect their share OF the tariff, which
is a much higher tax on what the peo-
pie buy than is paid In the aggregate
for tariff taxes TO the government.
For whereas but comparatively few
goods are imported upon which the
tariff taxes are collected, all the prod
ucts OF the trusts are likewise in
creased in price in consequence of
the tariff preventing competition, so
that II comes to this, II you are rich
and can buy the finer and more cost
ly imported goods, you pay the tariff
tax TO the government, while II you
are poor and obliged TO buy the
products of our protected trusts, you
pay the tariff tax indirectly 10 the
protected manufacturers in larger
profits.
II the next congress is Republican
the same old standpat crowd will |
and although there may be a |
shifty promise in the Republican plat |
form for tariff revision after cleo
ton" how far, or how deep. the re-
vision will go will never be actually |
stated. In fact. the Republican lead
ers from Secretary Root down to the
standpat congressman have decided |
md announced that the plan is to
revise the tariff higher by adding
rates on the goods imported
rom Germany. France and other
that impose high tariff
On imports from the United States.
rhe present rates TO be the minimum
iarir on imports from England. Hol-
and and other low-tariff countries.
Under such a maximum and mini
mum tariff the trusts would have