The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-03-22
ATTENTION OF YANKEE MANU-
FAcTURERs WILL BE Fo-
cUsED ON REPUBLIC.
WOULD |NJURE AMERICA
Contrary to Usual Custom, Measure
Has Origin in Committee of Cham
Der Of Deputies, and Governments
Attitude Has Not Vet Been For
mally Oefined-New Custom Rates.

Washington, March 21.-The atten-
tion of American manufacturers will
not for the next few months be en-
tirely focused upon the proposed
| tariff revision in this country France
proposes to revise it's tariff and in
the changes to be made the United
| States is vtally interested. II the
proposed French tariff bill should be
| enacted into law in it's present shape,
American trade would be injuriously
| affected.
Contrary to the usual custom, the
| measure had its origin in the tariff
committee of the French chamber OF
deputies and the attitude of the gov
eminent toward it. therefore. has not
| formally been defined in parliament.
The probabilities are, however, that
the bill will undergo a number of
changes before it finally is enacted
into law. which, it is expected, will
be about the first part of next year.
Interesting Facts.
Some interesting facts in regard to
the new measure are CLEANED from
compilation entitled Proposed New
Customs Tariff of France" prepared
by n. |. Stone, tariff expert of the
department of commerce and labor.
the object of which is to indicate the
proposed changes of tariff rates on
| goods which the United States either
| exports to France or could export
under favorable conditions.
Taking up the articles covered by
the existing Franco American agree
ment it is found that the following
are affected by the proposed changes:
Canned meats-It is proposed to ad-
| vance the general rate of 20 francs
per 100 kilos to 80 francs, an increase
of so per cent, while leaving the
minimum rate of Is francs un-
changed. While the agreement re-
mains in force, the proposed change
would, therefore, not affect American
canned meats.
Apples and Pears.
Fresh apples and pears-Under the
existing agreement these fruits are
admitted at the rate of francs per
100 kilos 1t is proposed to advance
the minimum rate to francs an in
crease of $50 per cent, and to increase
the general rate from to francs.
Should the increase of these and the
| other minimum rates covered by the
existing agreement lead to it's abro-
cation, it would result in an increase
from the present minimum rate Of
francs to the new general rate of 8
francs, which would raise the duty
fourfold. 1t is proposed to increase
the minimum rate on hops from 80
to 40 francs and the general from 45
to so francs per 100 kilos.
Far more numerous are the tariff
changes on articles which are not at
fected by the commercial agreement
at present in force between France
and this country. In proposing the
many changes the French commission
was guided by the object of making
the difference between the general
and the minimum rates about so per
cent on the average, being consider
ably higher than the difference in the
present tariff, the purpose being to
make it worth while for foreign coun-
tries to negotiate reciprocity treaties
for the application of the minimum
rates.
Would Affect United States.
AS all the important commercial
countries except the United States
enjoy the benefit of the entire mini
mum tariff in France, the changes
already mentioned would affect in
juriously imports from the United
} States only. and would still further
aggravate the disadvantages under
2 which American products must COM
: pete with products from other coun-
e tries in the French market. Among
Y the more important of these changes
g the following may be mentioned, the
rate being given in francs per 100
| hilos. Meat extracts, general rate
e increased from 40 to As francs; cotton
t seed, now admitted free, to be SUBJ
3 ject to duty OF 1.50 francs; peanuts,
e now admitted free, to be subject to
e duty of ESQ francs, and preserved
k | vegetables, duty increased from 20 to
"a francs.
Even more disadvantageous to
> | American trade are the proposed
changes which, while increasing the
;, general rates to which American
!, goods are subject, contemplate a re-
duction of the minimum rates which
|, are applicable to imports from IA
:, vored countries. AS instances of such
changes the following may be men,
toned: Heavy agricultural machin-
cry Weighing over 400 kilos, for which
- ii is proposed to increase the general
= rate from Is to 16 francs per 100 kilos,
- while reducing the minimum from
to s; detached parts of copper and
brass, weighing l to 10 kilos apiece,
. for which it is proposed to raise the
present general rate of so francs 20
- | 50. So while reducing the minimum
- rate of 40 to 35.
$. Reduce General Rates.
Is 1t is proposed, however, in large
: number of cases to reduce the general
d rates, while leaving the minimum un-
n changed. The effect of this would be
L "a