Arizona republican., 1909-03-22

would raise the duty fourfold. It is proposed to increase the minimum rate on hops from 30 to 40 francs and the general from 45 to GO francs per 100 kilos.
 Far more numerous are the tariff ! changes on articles which are not af- fected by the commercial agreement at present in force between France and this country. In proposing the many changes, the French commission was guided by the object of making the difference between the general and the minimum rates about 50 per cent on the average, being considerably higher than the difference in the present tar if. the purpose being to make 1t worth
 while for foreign countries to negotiate reciprocity treaties for the application
 of the minimum rates.
 As all the important commercial
 countries except the United States en-
 joy the benefit of the entire minimum
 tariff in France. the changes already
 mentioned would affect injuriously i'm
 ports from the United States only. and
 would still further aggrava:e the dis
 advantages under which American
 products must compete with products
 from other countries in the French
 market. Among the more important
 of these changes the following may be
 mentioned. the rate being given in
 francs per loo kilos: Meat extracts.
 general rate increased from 40 to 45
 francs; cotton seed, now admitted free.
 to be subject to a duty of 1.5O francs;
 peanuts, now admitted free. to be sub
 ject to a duty of 2.5O francs and pra-
 served vegetables, duty increased from
 20 to 24 francs.
 Even more disadvantageous to American trade are the proposed
 changes, which, while increasing the
 general rates to which American goods are subject. contemplate reduction
 of the minimum rates which are ap-
 plicable to imports from favored coun-
 tries. As instances of such changes the following may be mentioned:
 Heavy agricultural machinery weigh ing over 400 kilos. for which it is pro- posed to increase the general rate from
 15 to Is francs per 100 kilos. while re- ducing the minimum from 9 to &: de
 tached parts of copper and brass.
 N'tEIlli6 At " MUS dDltte. Tor which it is proposed to raise the pres ent general rate of 5O francs to 5O5O. while reducing the minimum rate of 40 to 35
 IL is proposed. however, in a large number of cases to reduce the general rates. while leaving the minimum un- changed. The effect of this would be to lessen to some extent the disadvan- tages under which American manufac- turers have to compete at present with other foreign goods in France Among the more important changes of this kind may be mentioned electric ap- paratus of various kinds and refriger- ators, etc, the reductions ranging from 20 to 40 per cent, according to weight Among the changes affecting both the general and the minimum rates. the following are the most important: Hams, present general rate 30 francs. proposed, 60; minimum 30, proposed 40: cotton seed oil, linseed oil. and peanut oil present general rate francs, proposed 25; minimum 6. pro- posed IA; pig iron. proposed increase in general rates of 50 per cent and over; increase in minimum rates of B per cent and over; iron and steel in gets, blooms, bars. and billets. increas- ing under the general tariff ranging from 25 per cent to 600 per cent and in 1 the minimum tariff up to 500 per cent l and over. Similar increases are pro posed for sheet and hoop iron and | steel; locomotives. sewing machines. | machine tools. iron and steel cables | etc, increases ranging from 15 per cent | to 200 per cent under the general and | as high as 150 per cent under the min | mum; motor boats, pneumatic tires. | scientific instruments and apparatus | and photographic apparatus. which are | free under the present tariff. are to be l dutiable at 15 per cent ad valorem | under the minimum. Typewriters. at | present dutiable as toys at the rate of | "a francs under the general and So | francs under the minimum per 100 | kilos, 1t IS proposed to tax at the rate Of 70 francs under the general and 50 | francs under the minimum per ma chine, which amounts to an increase of 300 per cent and over. according to the weight of the machine. There are a number of similar changes on leather and leather goods. In a number of in stances. it is proposed to reduce the rates. among the more important re-