The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-01-02
FAVOR SLIDING DUTIES
Members of Tariff Committee Con.
slider New Law,

Washington, Jan. 2-The work of
preparing the revised tariff bill was
resumed yesterday by tho sub-com-
mittee of the ways and means COM
mittee. Two meetings were held, and
there il; every likelihood that the
tariff-framing committee, which con-
sists of the Republican membe' of
the full committee, will ccntin. 10
meet daily until the time !,
report the bill to congress pe-
cial session in March. -
Hundreds of letters a. briefs are
being received bv,, committee
and changes requested are varied.
Judge E. H. Gary mas returned the
printed copy of his testimony with
the corrections he desires made in
the final report of the hearings. He
does not change the substance of his
testimony, but has made several cor
recticns in the figures he gave while
on the stand.
The tariff trainers are giving much
consideration to the maximum and
minimum duty problem in connection
with the new tariff. Although the
United States was the first to apply
this method Of securing favorable re-
lations with other countries, It never
las appied the principle to more
than few articles, while several for
eign countries have adopted the sys-
tenn to cover everything.
Would Exchange Benefits.
If maximum and minimum tariff
bill become law it will be possible
for the president to extend the bene-
fit of the minimum tariff to those
countries which give to this country
the benefit Of their differential rates
of duty. Great Britain would secure
the benefit OF our minimum rates, be-
cause it levies no duties on importa-
tions. Germany and France. each of
, which has a maximum and minimum
tariff law, probably would offer to
grant to this country their low sched-
ule of duties ii the same privilege
is attended to their exporters.
The United States has trade treat
les with France, Germany, Italy,
Portugal, Spain and Switzerland,
granting a reduction in the duties on
certain articles only, and while it is
probable that these reciprocity
treaties will be provided for in the
tariff bill now being prepared, it is
likely that those countries will en-
deavor to get the benefit of all mini
mum rates from the United States in
exchange for similar concessions,
Nething definite has been decided by
the ways and means committee as to
the basis for the maximum and mini
mum rates. but it is said that the dit
ferential will be about twenty Der
cent.
Is Equipped to Act.
There are indications that Germany
will be among the first of the Euro
pean countries to seek advantage of
All arrangement with America to Sc
cure minimum tariff rates under the
terms of the new tariff act. Count
Won Bernstorff, the newly arrived
German ambassador, who Yesterday
arranged with Secretary Root for his
presentation tomorrow to President
Roosevelt. is believed to have been
thoroughly equipped by consultation
with the German foreign Office and
customs officials before his departure
from Germany to undertake this task.
Indications are that the new tariff
act will be framed to take effect i'm
nlediately on its approval by the
president.
Democrats Should Draft Bill.
The Democrats should frame a
tariff bill OF their own. covering
every schedule and go before the ccm-
mittee OF the whole house with it,,
declared Representative Clayton of
Alabama, chairman of the democratic
caucus of the house, yesterday. 1T
Is net sufficient. III my opinion, for
the Democrats to assume an attitude
OF simple negation and merely oppose
What tie Republicans offer.
Il have great confidence in Champ
Clark as the leader OF the house
Democrats. and also as lealer OF the
Democrats on the ways and means
committee. and am merely giving this
opinion as suggestion for action on
the part CT the. minority