The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-21
FEAR A TARIFF
WAR IF PAYNE
BILL PASSES
Cuban Reciprocity Treaty Sec
ton Cited by Those 0p-
posed to Measure.
OTHER NATIONS WOULD
DEMAND LIKE FAV0RS
DIFFICULTIES IN WAY OF sUc-
cEssFULLY OPERATING MAXI
MUM AND MINIMUM CLAUSE.

Washington, March 20-The Payne
tariff Dill would bring about great in
ternational tariff war. if enacted. be-
cause of the section which continue. in
operation the Cuban reciprocity treaty.
is one Of the arguments that is being
made against the measure
II is urged that foreign countries
which would otherwise agree to give
the United States the benefit of their
most favored nation clause in return
Tor the minimum scale of duties pro-
vided for in the Payne bill will con-
tend that the Cuban reciprocity provi-
sion is the most favored nation clause
OF the American tariff, and Will there
lore refuse TO enter a low tariff agree
ment with this country.
CONSIDERED BY COMMITTEES.
This difficulty regarding the Cuban
reciprocity treaty and its relation to
Inc maximum and minimum tariff pro-
visions OF the Payne bill was not-over-
looked by the trainers of that measure
me subcommittee which drafted the
bill considered the possibility of the
claim being made that the clause con-
tinuing the treaty with Cuba discrimi-
mates against other nations.
After discussing the matter. it was
agreed to allow the provisions to re-
main in the bill upon the assumption
That other countries recognize the un-
usual relations existing between the
United States and Cuha and would not
object to the lower duties which the
Island republic would get.
Furthermore. in support Of this argu-
1nent, it is contended that Cuba ships
to this country articles which do not
compete with our imports with coun-
tries of Europe.
MANY DIFFICUITIES
There are other difficulties i'm the way
of operating successfully a maximum
and minimum tariff. Most European
nations have special trade relations on
certain products with their neighborin2
countries, and it would be inconsistent
for the United States to expect these
nations to abrOgate these agreements
in order TO get the benefit Of our mini
mum duties.
On the other hand. the trainers of the
Payne bill have designed the maximum
tariff provisions in such way that praC-
tlcally every country in Europe viii be
compelled to seek our minimum duties
in time.
France is one of the countries that
Will be most affected by the maximum
schedule of the Payne tariff. The du-
ties imposed by the present law on
wines. liquors and spirits are increased
40 per cent in the maximum provision
Of the new bill. and this advance would
seriously affect the importatiOns from
France of wines. principally on the low
grades. Italy and Spain would also
feel the effects of these duties.
MUST ABROGATE AGREEMENT
Germany now gives the Tn ted States
nearly all the minimum duties of her
tariff under the provisions of the Ger
man trade agreement; but unless she
should offer 10 abrogate the agreement
and give this country all # her favor
able duties. the maximum rates of the
Payne tariff would apply The German
agreement provides that six months
notice of it's discOntinuance must be
given by either country. but It can be
abrogated by mutual consent
The Payne bill places a maximum
duty of 20 per cent addition on the fol-
lowing articles: chemicals, tobacco.
agricultural products. silk and paper
schedules. with the exception of coal
tar dyes and extracts for dyeing in the
chemical schedule, for which there is
no maximum rate of duty. The rates
of the Dingley law are retained as
maximum duties on pig iron. structural
steel. steel billets. iron and steel plates