Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-01
NEW TARIFF BILL PROMISES
PERPLExlTY TO STATE
DEPARTMENT.
TRADE RELATIONS WITH
OTHER COUNTRIES INVOLVED
Serious Friction Possible If Maximum
Rates Arc imposed-unsasines. oe-
easioned in Germany and France
President Believed to Favor Nesotia-
tions to Avoid Trouble.
Especial Correspondence.1 I

Especial Correspondence
Washington, Sept. 1.--Indications are
not lacking that the state departm ent
Is going to be much perplexed, when
1t comes to endeavoring to get COM
mercial arrangements with various
countries for the purpose Of further
ing trade relations under the new tar
iH law. It seems to be taken for grant
ed that Negotiations will proceed with
other countries.
Under the maximum and minimum
tariff law, there will be a maximum
tariff imposed apparently against Ger
man lmportations and probably against
those of France, unless something is
done In the meantime to bring about
new commercial arrangements. The
imposition of the maximum rates
would in all probability lead to seri-
Gus friction and i'll feeling. 1t might
bring about a disastrous tariff war
with each of the countries named.
Germany and France Uneasy.
According to persistent reports from
France and Germany, there is much
uneasiness and much dissatisfaction
over the new American tariff law.
Germany looks ON the tariff law as
aimed at her and France thinks she
was aimed at. The fear that the maxi
mum tariff rates will be applied after
March 81 is said TO be pronounced.
That the administration this fall
will take up the question of effecting
new commercial arrangements with
those countries, against which there
Is probability of the maximum duties
being levied, Is expected. 1t is taken
Tor granted that the president will not
want the maximum rates to stand
against any country, IL this can be
avoided by negotiations. Secretary
Knox, doubtless, feels the same way
about it. In Germany andasjEfance, 1t
/ is said there is 81 hell'ef that negotia-
tions will be en.srSd il.ao and some
way found to avoid serious tariff trou-
ble
New Difficulty Presented.
1t is here the shoe pinches. The
question that begins to loom up large
is how it is going to be possible for the
secretary of state to enter into nego-
tiations with foreign countries. The
lIe,W etiiI measure is QeVOlQ or the 1ded
of making tariff arrangements based on
reciprocal concessions. About all, ii
appears, that the state department
could say, if approached on the sub
ject by the representative of another
nation, would be that if that other ma
tion did not unduly discriminate
against the Uuited States, the regular
or minimum rates of the American
tariff would be imposed on goods from
that country. Otherwise. the maximum
would be imposed. 1t would not be
possible to undertake to negotiate a
series of trades in the way Of conces-
sions as to rates by each country.
Congress Liable to Criticism.
Under these circumstances, the
opinion is strong in many quarters thai
the state department, when it tackles
this problem, is going to get into a very
difficult field Should tariff war OF
large proportions occur with any lead
ing country, the failure of congress to
entertain the idea of giving the presi-
| dent latitude in making reciprocal
| trade arrangements, would doubtless be
severely criticised and might lead to 8
reopening Of this phase of the tariff
| question.