The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-10-28
FAIR PLAY FOR
UNITED STATES
Government viii Demand Equal
Terms With Other Nations.
OPERATION OF TARIFF LAW
Maximum and Minimum Rates Are the
Observation-Disclosures Causes
Many Desertions From
Regular Army.
Omitted Press Servce.)

washington, ID. C., Oct. 2T.-Wheth-
er the United States is going to get
into a tariff war with the rest OF the
world remains to be seen.
The weapons for such a war are
already in position, guns are now
being trained and ammunition Is be-
ing collected. The outcome will de-
pend upon the degree of acquiescence
With which foreign nations are Will
ing to regard our new tariff law, and
upon the Indulgence, or rigidity. with
which the United States officials en-
force it.
For there is no doubt that the
United States Is determined to enforce
its rights to an equal opportunity in
the markets of the world. IL there are
to be any nations specially favored
in the matter of customs rates the
United States must be one of them.
This country is not asking any ia
vors that are not accorded to others,
but it does hold for instance, that it
shall received for it's merchants from
France the same customs treatment
that France gives to German mer-
chants on the same class of articles,
ard congress has provided the means
by which, it is believed, that may be
assured.
Should a tariff war be inaugurated
between any one of the big European
countries and the United States there
IS no doubt that ii would be, at least
temporarily, disastrous TO many indus
tries in both countries. But as the
United States produces one-third OF
the worlds supply of food products,
II has the other countries handicapped
III such commercial warfare anu
the increased cost of living in any
country that preeipitate1 fight
would, it is thought soon produce
such condition of affairs at home as
to enforce equalization to the United
States terms.
AS is we'll known, the means by
which this country hopes to be able
10 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
bIief, this simply means that those
LatiOns 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 producets, sent to
the United States. taxed 25 per cent
more than the same class or goods
coming from other countries that have
hren found to treat the United States
fairly.
In order to carry this policy into
effect 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
n yored treatment to me products OF
other nations. That BOARD consists
OF Prof. Henry e.. Emery formerly OF
Ga'e University; James b. heynClds
formerly assistant secretary of the
Treasury in charge of customs; and
4 win II. Sanders, an expert IN agr
cultural products and values. Quar-
ters are being prepared for them i'll
III" treasury building Immediately
orer those occupied by the secretary
OF the treasury himself They call
themselves The tariff board.
The first real meeting of this board
for the transaction OF business will
be on November |. But. IN the mean
time. a lot OF preliminary work is
ing done. Prof. Emery, who is in
! charge, has collected together practi
cally 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 language. A study OF ali
Of these is to be made for the pur-
pose of asCertaining whether, and IN
what particulars, they discriminate
against the United States.
In further calculation OF this ques.
ton it has been deemed advisable to
.inteTogate individual merchants and
Importing firms IN the Unitcu States
Four thousand letters nave been sent
out asking such firms whether they
have been subjected % special dis
examinations in the expectation o.
goods to foreign countries. Most OF
these have replied that they had no
complaint to make, brit, in few spe-
cial cases, answers have come in in
dirating that there was good reason
TO. the action OF congress In pass
ing the retaliatory law
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
. Emgnts.
! The purpose and effect OF the max
iEum feature OF the new larif Law