The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-10-28
ALL READY FOR
A TARIFF WAR

increased cost of living in any country
chat precipitated a fight would, it is
thought soon produce such condi-
ton of affairs at home as to enforce
capitulation to the United States,
terms.
AS is we'll known, the means by
which this country hopes to be able
to compel ,the entrance of American
commodities into foreign markets on
equal terms with those of any other
country, is the maximum and mini
mum, section of the new tariff law.
In brief this simply means that those
nations that do not allow American
products to enter their ports on equal
terms with similar articles from other
countries will find after March 81
next, their own products, sent to the
United States taxed 25 per cent more
than the regular tariff rates, and more
than the same class of goods coming
from other countries that have been
found to treat the United States fairly.
In order to carry this policy into Eff
feet a board has been appointed by
| President Taft to examine all the tar
ifs OF foreign countries so as to see
Just which ones do discriminate
against the United States and give
favored treatment to the products of
other nations That board consists of
Prof. Henry c. Emery, formerly of
Yale university: James r. Reynolds,
formerly assistant secretary of the
treasury in charge of customs: and
Alvin H. Sanders, an expert in agri-
| cultural products and values. Quar-
tors are being prepared for them in
the treasury building Immediately over
those occupied by the secretary Of
the treasury himself. They call them
selves THE Tariff Board
The first real meeting of this board
| for the transaction Of business will be
on November 1. But, in the meantime,
lot of preliminary work is being
done. Prof. Emery, who is in charge,
has collected together practically all OF
/; the tariff laws of every country in the
world. Some of them have had to be.
| translated, but the most Of them are
already available in the English lang
uage. A study of all of these is to be
made for the purpose of ascertainlng
whether. and in what particulars. they
! discriminate against the United States.
! In further elucidatiOn Of this ques-
! ton it has been deemed advisable Ito
/ interrogate individual merchants and.
! importing firms in the United Sites.
/ Four thousand letters have been sent
! out asking such firms whether they
/ have been subjected to special dscrim
nations in the expectation of goods to
foreign countries Most Of these have
replied that they nadine complaint TO
mo 10 hrrt 81
answers have come in indicating that
/ there was good reason for the action
| of congress in passing the retaliatory
| flaw.
What these exceptions are is, of
| course, not yet officially disclosed. but
they will be made the basis of investi-
| cation and, probably, of subsequent
complaint to the offending govern
/ ments.
The purpose and effect of the maxi
mum and minimum features of the
new tariff law is set forth clearly in
the letters sent out by the tariff board.
They are as previously stated, sent to
/ individual firms and read as follows
| "As you are aware. the new tariff
act of August 5. 1909. provides that
the duties on imports into this coun-
try shall, after March 81. 1910, be
| those prescribed by Section l of the
/ act, plus % per cent ad valorem
/. These maximum rates go into effect
automatically. except where the pres
ident shall by proclamation declare
that country does not, by tariff reg
ulations or in any other way, discrim-
mate unduly against the United States
! of the products thereof. In case the
president decides that any country
! does not maze such discrimination
the duties to be levied on goods i'm
ported from such country will be those
9f the published schedules. which con-
stitute the minimum tariff
"A tariff board has been appointed
By the president, whose duty it is to-
ssist him in determining whether or
not undue discrimination does exist at
the present time under the laws or
regulations OF any country. It is ne
cessary for the proper fulfillment of