New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-25

q discrimination by the government of
France or any other government against
the products of the United States. He
must determine whether that be an I'M
due discrimination or not. because In
doing that IL may be necessary for him
to determine whether under the circum-
stances. in his judgment. the French
government las refused to admit our
products 10 their markets upon the same
terms that they admit the products cf
some other country which gives them
better advantage than we give them.
Suppose. for instance. that England
does not tax the products of France AT
all. Suppose that they have been al
mitted to that country free, while our
high tariff amounts to prohibition upon
the importation of French goods into
this country. Suppose France, recognlZ-
ing that, should say, We will give an
advantage TO England over the UniteG
States 1T is not an undue advantage
they say; lit is not an undue dlscrlIniila
ton" But the President OF the Unlteo
States must determine whether II Is an
undue discrimination or not. 1hat is
delegating to him authority which does
not come within the executive functions
Of the government.
MIR. ALDRICH'S VIEWS.
II is announced in cable advices from
Paris that NJ. Cruppi. former Minister
Of Commerce, has quoted Senator Al
drich as saying that President Tafts IN
terpretation of undue discrimination
will not mean that France must neces-
sarily grant us her minimum rates In or
der to share in the minimum tariff OF the
United States. but only that in her treat
ment of American products France must
be reciprocally just and reasonable
This was the position of Mr.. Aldrich
when the tariff bill was before the SEN
ate and doubtless it accurately renecls
the policy of this government IN us en-
forcement of the maximum and MINI
mum clause Mr.. Aldrich told the sen
ate that as to nine-tenths Of the foreign
countries the maximum duty Wouiu
never go into effect. He said:
The President does not need to go into
an extended examination TO ascer L sil
that Great Britain makes no unjust as
! ordinations against US. In the case Oh
! a large majority OF the countries OF the
/ world there are no unjust dlscTlIIllld =,
! lions imposed against US. II IS d wen
/ known fact that, as to most OF these
/ countries. the President will issue such
proclamations granting minimum rates
as a mere matter of course. But as 10
/ the nature and the extent or ne uIs
! ordinations which do exist as III the
! case of France. for instance. they are
oT.norent and natent to everybody. She
/ compeIs US 80 pay the maximum DUTY on
/ every article she sees fit, with certain
/ exceptions which she has given, as III
! the case of CottonSeed oil ana Few olIleI
/ products The administration OF france
! "a nut a prohibitory duty upon cotlonseeu
! eli and She can put that maximum pro-
/ hibitory duty into effect tomorrow II she
/ sees fit. and we are at present absolutely
! helpless TO prevent 1t.
Rut suppose our administration could
! say to France, That is an UNIQUE us
elimination against the interests or the
/ United States, and you ought to give US
! the benefit of your minimum tarHH INC
! President can say on the 31st OF next
/ March il Ne pass this Legislator" Oh-
! less YOU remove such determinations
/ unless you give TO the Unlted states llle
benefit of your minimum tarln, ana urea :
rs as fairly as you treat the people OIL
ether countries. am powerless 10 pre-
/ vent the general tariff of the Unlted
! states going into effect" The result
would be. as the Senator from limos
! MIR. Cullom) we'll suggests, that the
! president never Viii have to permit the
/ General tariff to go into effect. Negotla-
tions would be begun at once with
! germany and France, for they, after an.
are the two countries most lnVoIVed IN
this question of determinations. Ihey
/ are the countries ABOUT WHICH Cii0 iilOS'
/ fault is found.
When Mr. Aldrich made the predlcuon
4 that under the maximum clause OF the
1 PAYNE law no additional duties would
he imposed upon France or Germany,
Senator Hughes disagreed with him and
pointed out that France had twenty or
more treaties giving to other countries
than the United States minimum rates.
He said 1t would be necessary for France
TO abandon or change these treaties or
become involved in a commercial war
with the United States after March 81.
1910.
In reply. Mr.. Aldrich said he had no
doubt that the Determinations now made
against the United States by France
would be removed long before April
He explained that the mere fact that
France had special treaties with Great
Britain, for instance, under which the
I products of the United Kingdom received
advantages in the French market, would
rot constitute an undue" discrimination
against the United States. That was fo
the President to determine, he said.
Mr.. Shively wanted to know if tn,
maximum rates would De arrested d.
proclamation before March 81, TO which
Mr.. Aldrich replied: Il have no question
about it whatever" He added:
Negotiations will. of course, be a
once entered into between the executive
department and various other govern
ments where determinations are alleget
TO exist. With those countries where II
Determinations exist ard there is n
allegation of discrimination, the mini
mum rates will prevail. and where thel
are alleged to be determinations. nego
tiations will tie at once entered into, an,
l predict that before long, probably lon:
before the LIST day of April next, procla
nations will have been issued as to al
those countries, and the whole thing vii
be settled.
TARIFFS BOARDS WORK.
The Tariff Board, which was appointe
by President Taft shortly before h
started on his Western and Souther
trip. Is now making an investigation a
to what determinations are being mad
against American products in foreig
markets Through the State Depart
ment the board is being advised b
American diplomatic and consular Off
GERS concerning trade regulation:
treaties. charges. exactions, expor
, bounties, etc, Of foreign countries
1t is probable that special agents wi
be sent to Canada, France, German,
and DoSSiblV To one or two other conn