Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-26
GERMAN TARIFF
MOST SCIENTIFIC
AMBASSADOR aERNsToRF TELLS
NEW Works OF SOME or iTs
ASPECTS.
LIFE IS CHEAPER THERE Be
CAUSE COST CT LIVING rs
GREATLY LESS.

New York, May 20-German Am
hassadOr Count Johann He.nrich Won
Bernstorff speaking at the dinner of
the national association of manufac-
lures last night discussed the German
industrial situation and system.
/ have often heard ii said" he as
serted, lin this country during the
last months that the German tariff is
the most scientifically constructed
one in the world. This mag be so, but
our tariff is in no way prohibitive, and
as you all know. and was amply
proved by our last commercial agree
ment with the United States. as give
very substantial advantages to all
countries desiring to deal with us on
the basis of mutually and fair ex-
change
II, as | sincerely hope, it should
prove possible in the course of next
winter TO come TO a new commercial
agreement between Germany and the
United States the German market with
sixty-five millions of prosperous con
sumers will remain open to you and
the commerce between our two coun-
tries can then be very much increased.
hope the ladies viii excuse me Civ
ing few figures. OF the total inn
ports of Germany 49h per cent are
crude materials for use in manufactur-
ing and manufactured articles for fur
Their use in manufacturing, % per cent
manufacturers for consumption ard
only 2S1a per cent foodstuffs. OF the
whole amount of these imports Is
per cent come from the United States,
and of the whole amount of German
exports only 91a per cent go 10 the
United States. These figures show
that there is much room for develop
ing the commerce between our two
countries. Take for instance our i'm
ports in harvesting. metal working and
sewing machines you will find that 50
per cent, "A per cent and rs per cent
come from the United States, whilst
of the leather goods and shoes we i'm
port, only II per cent come from your
country and of our very large imports
of cotton tissues and cotton yarns
none at all come from the United
States.
Mr.. Berustorff said that he often
heard it said here OF late that in com
peting with Germany we were ham
pered by the fact that wages ia his
country were lower than here. This
again may be So, he said, but very
much doubt whether the standard of
life of the German workman is lower
than ii is here. Our industrial cities
do not give that impression. Life is
cheaper in Germany because the cost
of living is not affected by such high
IMPORT duties as in this country The
fact that immigration from Germany
to the United States has since 20
years been very small seems to prove
that the inducement 10 the workman
to come over here is 10 more SO great.
In most of our industrial establish
ments, wages have risen about 20-30
per CCIhL Jul ilS TIC last ~ JCdt y
Moreover as | mentioned in addresses
which delivered at Columbus, Ohio,
and Milwaukee. the German social
legislation has had a great and very
beneficial influence on the standard of
life Of the German workme1. This
fact often escapes notice, but must be
borne in mind if We wish to pass
fair judgment upon the wages and
standard OF life of the German work
man.
ION the one hand the employer is
heavily taxed by these laws. a tax
which must be added 10 the cost of
production; and on the other hand.
thanks to the insurance laws, the EN-
ployed enjoy benefits such as the
workmen of other countries cannot
count on. The gloom of sickness is
relieved. owing to the fact that the
needs OF the sick workman and his
family are supplied by the insurance
fund. In case of accident. liberal al
lowances come from the same source
When the age of decay and helpless
ness comes, a pension awaits the
weary soldier of Industry