Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-08
NO TARIFF WAR PROBABLE.
Further Revision to Wait on New Tariff Boards Recommendations.

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 1 regret to refer to the fact of the discovery of extensive frauds in the collection of the customs revenue at New York city, in which number of the subordinate employees in the weigh ing and other departments were direct ly concerned and in which the benefi- ciaries were the American Sugar Re fining company and others. The frauds consisted in the payment of duty on underweights of sugar. The govern ment has recovered from the American Sugar Refining company all that it is shown to have been defrauded of The sum was received in full of the amount due which might have been recovered by civil action against the beneficiary of the fraud, but there was an express reservation in the contract of settle ment by which the settlement should not interfere with or prevent the criminal prosecution of every one who was found to be subject to the same.
 Criminal prosecutions are now pro
  ernment officers. The treasury de- pertinent and the department of jus tice are exerting every effort to dis cover all the wrongdoers, including the officers and employees of the compa- nies who may have been privy to the fraud It would seem to me that an investigation of the frauds by con gress at present pending the probing by the treasury department and the department of justice, as proposed, might by giving immunity and other wise prove an embarrassment in se- curing conviction of the guilty parties.
 Two features of the new tariff act call for special reference. By virtue of the clause known as the maximum and minimum clause it is the duty of the executive to consider the laws and practices of other countries with ref erence to the importation into those countries of the products and mer- chandise of the United States, and if the executive finds such laws and prac- tices not to be unduly discriminatory against the United States the mini mum duties provided in the bill are to go into force. Unless the president makes such a finding, then the maxi mum duties provided in the bill--that is, an increase of 25 per cent ad va- lorem over the minimum duties-are to be in force. Fear has been expressed that this power conferred and duty imposed on the executive are likely to lead to tariff war. l beg to express the hope and belief that no such result need be anticipated.
 The discretion granted to the execu- tive by the terms "unduly discrimina- tory" is wide. In order that the maxi mum duty shall be charged against the imports from country it is necessary that he shall find on the part of that country not only determinations in its laws or the practice under them against the trade of the United States, but that the determinations found shall be undue-that is, without good and fair reason. I conceive that this power was reposed in the president with the hope that the maximum du- ties might never be applied in any ease. but that the power to apply them would enable the president and the sstate sdepartment through friendly negotiation to secure the elimination from the laws and the practice under them of any foreign country of that which is unduly discriminatory. No one is seeking a tariff war or a con dition in which the spirit of retaliation shall be aroused.
 Uses of tho New Tariff Board.
 The new tariff law enables me to ap- point tariff board to assist me in con nection with the department of state fin the administration of the minimum and maximum clause of the act and also to