Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-03-21
Cuban Reciprocity Provision
Pointed Out as Stumbling
Block in Way of Maximum
and Minimum Schedules,
OTHER COUNTIES MAY
ASK LIKE CONCESSIONS
Many Difficulties Expected to
Attend Enforcement of Mea-
sure as Now Drafted Should
1t Become Law,


IBy Morning journal Special Leased Wirel
Washington, March 20.-Tht
Payne tariff would bring about a great
International tariff war il enacted. be-
cause of the section which continues
in operation the Cuban reciprocity
treaty, is one of the arguments that
is being made against the measure.
1t is urged that foreign countries
which would otherwise agree to give
the United States the benefits of their
most favored nation clause in return
for the minimum scale Of duties pro-
vded for in the Payne bill. Will con-
tend that the Cuban reciprocity pro-
vision is the most favored nation
clause of the American tariff and will
therefore, refuse to enter into low
tariff agreement With eoun'fs
This difficulty re, IDan
reciprocity treaty auu its relation to
the maximum and minimum tariff
provisions Of the Payne bill was not
overlooked by the trainers of that
measure. The sub committee which
drafted the bill considered the pos
sibility Of the claims being made that
the clause continuing the treaty with
Cuba discriminates against other na-
tions and would therefore, not entitle
the United States to the minimum
duties of other nations. After discus
ing the matter 1t was agreed to al
low the provisions to remain in the
bill upon the assumption that other
countries recognize the unusual rela-
tions existing between the United
states ana Cuba and would not OBJ
iect to the lower duties which the
island republic would get Further
more, in support Of this argument, it
is contcndcd that Cuba ships to this
country articles which do not COM
pete with our imports from countries
of Europe
There are other difficulties in the
way Of operating successfully a max
imum and minimum tariff Most
European nations have special trade
relations on certain products with
their neighboring countries and ii
would be inconsistent for the United
States to expect these nations to abb
rogate these agreements in order to
get the benefit of our minimum dut-
les on the other hand the trainers
Of the Payne bill have designed the
maximum tariff provision in such a
way that practically every country in
Europe will be compelled to seek our
minimum duties in time. The prin-
cipal object in making the new bill
a maximum and minimum measure
was to use this provision as "A means |
of forcing other countries to grant to |
American Industries the same oppor- |
tunitics for trade as that they grant |
to other countries
France is one of the countries that |
will be most affected by the maximum |
schedule of the Payne tariff The
duties imposed by the present law on
wines. liquors and spirits are increased |
80 per cent IN the maximum provi- |
sion Of the new bill and this advance
would seriously affect the importa |
tons from France of wines. princi- |
pallv on the low grades. Italy and !
Spain would also feel the effects of |
the duties. Germany now gives the
United States nearly all the minimum 1
duties of her tariff under the provi- /
sions of the German trade agreement. /
but unless She should offer to abro-
gate the agreement and give this
country all of her favorable duties. /
the maximum rates Of the Payne tariff !
would apply
The German agreement provides /
that six months notice of its discon- |
tinuance must be given by either /
country but it can be abrogatcd by !
mutual consent.
The Payne bill places maximum |
duty of 20 per cent additional ON the
articles in the chemical tobacco. su |
gar. agricultural products. cotton, silk
ana papers schedules with the cXcop- |
tion of coal tar dye and extracts for
dyeing in the chemical schedule. for
which there is no maximum rate Of
duty. The rates Of the Dngicy law /
are retained as maximum duties on |
pig iron. structural steel steel billets /
iron and steel plates. steel wires and /
numerous other iron and steel pro- l
ducts The maximum duties Tor the /
pottery schedule are % Der cent more
than .he minimum and for the sum 4
dries schedule the increase is an adj 4
dition OF 25 per centum al Nalorem- 4
The flax and wool schedules have no /
maximum duties prescribed.
The principal articles on the free
list for which 20 per cent ad valor- /
I'm is provided in the maximum
schedule are coffee. crude natural
camphor. drugs for dyeing and tan
ming hides, irons ore. oils, including /