Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-27

new law is found in section II, which pro-
vides that an additional duty of % per
cent ad valorem shall be imposed upon
all importations into the United States,
unless 1.-The President of the United States
shall be satisfied, in view Of the character
OF the concessions granted by the mimi
mum tariff of the United States, that the
government of any foreign country I'M
poses no restriction. either In the way OF
tariff rates or provisions. trade or other
regulations, charges, exactions, or in any
other manner, directly or indirectly upon
the importation into or the sale in SUCH
foreign country of any agricultural. manu-
featured, or other product of the United
States which unduly discrminates
against the United States. or the prod
ucts thereof, and that such foreign coun-
try pays no export bounty or
imposes no export duty of prohibi-
article to the United States. which
unduly discriminates against the United
States or the products thereof. and that
| such foreign country accords to the agrl-
cultural, manufactured or other products
of the United States treatment which Is
reciprocal and equivalent, thereupon and
thereafter, upon proclamation 10 this Ell
feet by the President of the United
States all articles. when imported into the
United States. or any of its possessions
Except the Philippine Islands and the
Islands Of Guam and Tutuila). from such
foreign country shall, except as other
wise herein provided, be admitted under
the terms of the minimum tariff of the
United States as prescribed by section
of this act.
1.-The proclamation issued by the Presi-
dent under the authority hereby con-
ferred and the application of the mini
mum tariff thereupon may, in accordance
with the facts. rs found by the President,
extend to the whole of any foreign coun-
try. or may be confined to or exclude
from its effect any dependency: colony. or
other political subdivision having author
ity to adopt and enforce tariff legisla-
ton, or to impose restrictions or regula-
tons, or to grant concessions upon the
expectation or importation of articles
which. are. or may be. imported into the
whenever the President Of the United
States shall be satisfied that the condi-
tons which led to the issuance of the
proclamation hereinbefore authorized no
longer exist. he shall issue a proclama-
ion to this effect, and ninety days there
after the provisions of the maximum
tariff shall be applied to the importation
of articles from such country. Whenever
the provisions Of the maximum tariff of
the United States shall be applicable to
articles imported from any foreign coun-
try, they shall be applicable to the prod
ucts OF such country, whether imported
directly from the country of production
or otherwise. To secure information to
assist the President in the discharge of
the duties imposed upon him by this Sec
ton. and the officers of the government
in the administration of the customs laws,
the President is hereby authorized to en-
ploy Such persons as may be required"
Reverse Of Reciprocity.
This long and complicated provision is
the reverse of what Is known as the rec
iprocity policy. 1t is the reverse of the
golden rule. 1t means retaliation rather
than reciprocity. 1t is a big stick
placed in the hands Of the President by
act of Congress. which he is to use to
compel the governments of foreign coun-
tries to reduce the duties they levy upon
our products, and modify the regulations
they have adopted for the guidance of
their customs officers. by threatening to
products 25 per cent of the value of the
articles. 1t Is not an increase of % per
cent OF the regular duties. but % per
! cent Of the value Of the articles imported.
in addition to the regular duties, which
in many cases will be double them.
The reciprocity policy inaugurated by
President Arthur, in contradistinction
from the new law, authorized the Presi-
will reduce or remove the duties on our
products we Will reduce or remove our
duties on yours. 1t was an amiable appli-
cation of the golden rule to international
commerce. Inc new tafln law nXeS Two
schedules of duties (Which is the fashion
In European countries nowadays) called
maximum and minimum, the former
being p per cent higher than the latter.
The minimum is applied to imports from
countries which treat us on the square:
the maximum to those who don't.
The President has appointed Prof. En-
cry of Yale University, Olvin Saunders,
editor OF the Breeders Gazette. in Chica-
go, and president OF the Reciprocity
dc nf
ton, recently assistant secretary of the
treasury, commission to assist him in
deciding whether there Is any unjust "un-
due discrimination" against our products
in the tariff laws and customs regulations
Of other countries.
Commission Organizes.
This commission has organized and has
been given apartments In the Treasury
building, with the necessary clerks and
stenographers. 1t has issued q circular
inviting the cooperation Of the business
interests Of the country, which are asked
for Information as to the actual bearing
OF foreign tariffs and regulations upon
the trade Of American exporters as COM
pared with the exporters of other coun-
tries.
When these gentlemen have completed
their investigations concerning any par
ticular country they will make report to
the President. who will then carry out
the provisions of the new tariff act by
issuing a proclamation imposing the max
imum duties, or will instruct the Secre-
tary of State to make a new treaty or re-
new an old enc to exchange concessions
and the application of minimum rates in
the customs. imports OF both.
France and Germany are the most i'm
portant countries There will not be any
trouble with France. The disposition is
entirely friendly on both sides, and Mr.
Jusserand, the French ambassador, is