Evening star., 1909-02-01

list, constituting the minimum tariff. in
the hands OF the executive with some
instruction from Congress as follows:
Before declaring the new tariff in full
force and effect. the executive Is hereby
directed to inquire at once as to the treat
n1ent accorded American products by the
various foreign countries. and shall ap-
ply the revised or minimum tariff to the
products of all such countries seeking ad-
mission to our markets as rapidly as
satisfactory reciprocal arrangements can
be effected.
"'3 II. after full and fair negotiation,
it shall appear tC the executive that any
country is directly or indirectly discrimi-
mating against Or unfairly treating any
Of the products of the United States, or
is not prepared to offer what he may re-
gard as fair equivalent for our new
rates Of duty. then and in that case he be
authorized to impose additional duty on
all products from such countries seeking
entry to the ports of the United States;
and report this action with reasons there
for to Congress.
81 To the end that these provisions
may be promptly and efficiently carried
tariff commissioners. to consist of five
members. be appointed by the President
with regard to their special fitness and
confirmed by the Senate.
Point at Issue.
The point aimed at is this: 1t would be
Il mistake to offer our new rates at once
in exchange for all existing minimums
elsewhere. for the reason that certain i'm
portant trading nations have purposely
kept their minimums on certain products,
chiefly OF American origin, at a high level.
for the very purpose Of trading them off
to us when opportunity offers. Further
more. in certain other cases. Germany for
example. the exclusion OF important arti-
brought about by the setting up of restric-
tive regulations outside OF the tariff.
Hence the necessity for negotiation prior
to the granting of any concessions to
them. Hence also. it seems to me. the
necessity for commissioners to assist the
President in this important and somewhat
delicate work. involving trade mounting
into the hundreds of millions. These have
always been deemed essential in past
negotiations of this character.
'1n our judgment. IL the schedules shall
be revised in strict accordance with the
Chicago platform, and the new rates
be used as a leverage for opening doors
now closed against us. we shall not only
kets as we'll 1t is conceded that rigid
single tariff effectually protects home
industries. but it provides no means of
protecting the surplus products of these
same industries in foreign ports in the
face Of the many dual tariffs now in
force
''In order to make this policy effective.
however. the condition precedent is that
the new rates of duty shall represent
only what shall appear, on full investi-
cation of the facts. to be fair and reason
able protection. More than this no In
dustry has right to ask: less than this
We would not expect Congress to grant.
"Mr. Taft will use this power wisely
and effectually in the interest of the
community, If it can be obtained,
and as it Is all based on adequate protec-
ton to American industries I cannot
see how anybody can object to it
Duty Of the Voter.
The only way in which the recon-
of the Reciprocity League
can be embodied in the new tariff bill is
for every voter who believes that they
are wise to impress that fact upon his
member OF Congress. There is not the
slightest doubt of the popularity Of the
policy. There is not the
United States believe that Congress and
the executive branch of the government
should use every opportunity to increase
the exports OF our agricultural and me-
chanical products. and that can be done
more effectively by securing the reduc-
ton Of the duties imposed upon them by
other countries than in any other way
And the most effective way. and indeed
the only way. Of securing a reduction of
those duties is by the application of the
golden rule: to do unto others as we
would have them do unto us. In other
words. to reduce the duties upon the Pc
culiar products of the countries we want
TO reach SO far as it can be done with |
out depriving the government OF the
necessary revenues. or the labor and
of the protection they require against