Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-26
NO TARIFF WAR.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

ecutiye departments of the government
at Washington therefore remain open
until 43O every Saturday, the same as
other week days except during the
summer. But at New York and Chi
cago and other cities, Saturday after
noon is a legal holiday and brokerage
and other business houses are general
ly closed.
/ A French transatlantic liner is making
a. race against time in order to get a car
go of goods in under the lower rates pro-
vided by the commercial agreement. The
steamer is scheduled to arrive early Sat-
urday afternoon and today's extension
of the hours probably will permit the
steamer to enter the goods under the ex-
piring agreement.
With the return to washington from
Paris of Ambassador Jusserand the ne
gotiations, so-called, between France and
America regarding application of the new
tariff act to French imports into TINS
country, have crossed the Atlantic and
here in Washington will be wrought out
the terms of the agreement which is as
sumed will regulate for a term of years
the trade relations of the two countries.
in the opinion of the men whose business
it is to deal with the making of COM
mercial treaties Neither country can af-
ford to embark on such a suicidal policy
as wholesale retaliation, nor is there any
necessity for it. 1t is true that france
will have to submit to higher duties on
her exports to the United States as re-
suit of the enactment of the Payne-Al-
drich BILL but so long as it does not dis
crminate against her she cannot find
ground for serious objection.
While M. Jusserand is automatically ST.
| lent as to the course he is under instruc-
tons to follow there is reason to believe
that, having in mind the cOnciliatory
statements made in Paris by Senator Al
drich. his purpose is simply to make the
| best of the situation and to secure the
minimum tariff rates for French products
entering the United States in return for
the smallest possible amount of conces-
sions OF similar reduced rates OF Amerl-
can imports into France.
The ambassador has thus considerable
advantage; that France can shade her
concessions, while the United States must
grant the minimum rates on all or none
of the French products At least that is
| the present view Of the tariff experts in
Washington, though it should be stated
that so far there has been no official dec
laration to that effect. If Senator AL
drich correctly represented the admins
tration it would not be necessary for
| France to accord the minimum rates on
United States imports in order to secure
the remission of the maximum rates on
| all of her imports into the United States.
| All that would be necessary for her to
do would be to satisfy the President that
she is practicing no improper discrimina-
ton against the United States and that
might be done even by the retention of
maximum rates of tariff on a consider
able number of articles which now enter
France from this country. AS matter Of
fact. it is said, in many cases these max
imum duties are regarded by the French
government simply as very necessary
sources of revenue, and there is no dis
crimnatory purpose in levying them
| II the President can be convinced that
such is the fact there is no doubt that
| he would be willing to issue the permits
sion required to American goods and pro-
ducts to the advantages to the minimum
schedules Of our new tariff act and that
| is believed to be the present purpose of
the French ambassador.
| Very few American products now enjoy
the minimum French tariff rates, such as
canned meats, fruits. pork. coal oil and
Porto Rican coffee, so that tie French
government has much to offer for the
concessions she asks and it will be the
business of the ambassador to get the
lmost he can for what he can offer.