The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-11-03

On November /. But. in the meantime,
"a lot OF preliminary work is being
done. Prof. Emery, who is in charge,
has collected together practically al!
of the tariff Isws of every country. IN
the world. Some of them have had
to be translated, but tie most of them
are already available in the English
language. A study of all Of these is
to be made for the purpose of aseer-
tanning whether, and in what partlcu-
lars, they discriminate against the
United States.
In further calculation of this ques-
ton It has been deemed advisable Ia
interrogate Individual merchants and
importing firms in the United States.
-Four thousand letters have been sent
out asking such firms whether they
have been subjected to special alta
elimination in the expectation OF gcndI
to foreign countries. Most of these
nave replied that they had no com.
plant to make, but, in a few speciAt
cases. answer have come in lndicat
ing that there was good reason for the
acton OF, Congress in passing the re.
taliatory law.
What these exceptions are is, Of
course, not yet officially disclosed, but
they Will be made the basis Of inves-
tigation and, probably, of subsequent
complaint to the offending govern.
ments.
The purpose and effect of the max:
mum feature of the new tariff law IS
set forth clearly in the letters sent
out by the Tarif Board. They are
as previously stated, sent to individ
uaI firms and read as follows:
"As you are aware, the lew Tarir
Act OF August 5tn, 1909, provides tnat
the duties on Imports into this coun-
try shall, after March 31st, 1910. NJ
those prescribed by Section 1 of tbs
sct, plus % per cent. ad yalorem.
These maximum rates go into effect
automatically, except where tie Pres!-
dent shall by proclamation declare
that a country does not, by tarIff reg
uIations or in any other way, discrim-
mate unduIy against the United states
or the products thereof. In case the
President decides that any country
does not make such discrimination, tao
duties to be devied on goods import
ed from such country will be those
Of the published schedules, which con
stitute the minimum tariff.
"a tariff board has been appointed
by the President, whose duty it is to
assist him in determining whether or
not undue discrimination does exist
at the present time under the laws or
regulations of any country. 1t is nOV
essary for the proper fulfIl1ment of
this duty that the Tarif Board should
have full information, not only as to
the formal legislation, OF regulations
OF foreign countries in this regard, but
also as to the practical working of any
such laws or regulations in their effect
on American export trade.
I'm carrying out the purposes of this
lct the Board desires and asks for the
cooperation OF the business interests
of the country. We invite communi.
cations containing definite and ex-
plcit statements of fact as to the &C
tual bearing of foreign tariffs or reg.
alations ON the trade OF American X
porters as compared with the export.
ers of other countries. All such com.
munIcations will receive prompt and
careful consideration.
I'VE ask inst you at once lay before
the Tariff Board. any information per,
Etineht to this inquiry, as far as your
own business Is concerned"
From the answers received, and
from the study OF the foreign tariff
laws themselves. the American Tariff
Board expects to-be able to formulate
its. future course o f-actfoh.