Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-20
AFTER TARIFF FACTS LAUDS THE JAPANESE
-Adrch Board Will Meet President Taft Welcomes the
Here Soon. Commercial Commission.
PROBABLY WITHIN 10 DAYS TOASTS THE EMPEROR
President Dis There Was Never Cause
ordinations. Fear War.
YALE PROFESSOR CHAIRMAN FRIENDLY RIVALRY FOR TRADE
Advises American
Against This Country Change Ways They
causs Concern. arket in
Payne-AIdrich Board Will Meet
Here Soon.
PROBABLY WITHIN 10 DAYS
To Help President to Know of Dis
ordinations.
YALE PROFESSOR CHAIRMAN
Highest French Rates Are In Force
Against This Country and
Cause Concern.

Inc new tar1n DOaTO, WHICH IceSheA'
was appointed by the President under the
authority of section Of the tariff act OF
August 5, 1900. will probably hold It's
first meeting in this city within the next
ten days for the purpose OF outlining
working plan of operation. The members
of the board are Prof. Henry c. Emery OF
Yale, chairman; James B; Reynolds OF
Massa chusetts and Alvin II. Sanders or
Chicago.
This board Is charged with the duty OF
securing information to assist the Presl-
dent in determining whether or not TINS
country is being Disseminated against oy
foreign governments In the matter OF
tariff rates. charges and exactons. On
the information received from 1t Will
largely depend the action Of the President
in issuing or withholding his proclama-
lions imposing the minimum rates OF duty
provided for in the new act. The act
provides that the maximum rates sLall
De applied to all countries on and AFTER
March 81, 1910, which "unduly dlscr'mi.
nate" against the United States in the
matter Of tariffs, and in this wording the
authority Of the President is recognized
to exercise his judgment as to what con-
stitutes undue" discrimination.
The House bill as submitted to the SEN
whatever, declaring that the maximum
rates should be assessed against impOrta-
tons from any country which did not
admit each and every article from the
United States on as favorable terms as
were given to any other country. 1t is
pointed out. therefore, that under the
law as 1t now stands, the President may
issue a proclamation allowing the mini
mum rates of our tariff act even In the
case of country which may give to some
favorable rate than
is given to the United States on articles
which we do not export, and in which,
therefore, we have no particular interest.
Authority Given President.
The new tariff bill, however, gives the
President no authority whatever in the
matter of negotiating trade treaties,
agreements or conventions of any sort
with foreign countries. The reciprocity
agreements which are now in force have
been denounced by the President. The
agreements with France, Switzerland and
Bulgaria will expire October 81, 1909. only
about forty-five days hence. BY the terms
of our treaty with Germany and Great
Britain the present reciprocal arrange
under section Of the Dingley tariff act
do not terminate until February Z. 1910
The agreements with Spain. Italy. Portu-
gal and the Netherlands will expire
August Z, 1910
The best information obtainable is that
the United States now enjoys the mini
mum rates on over 80 per cent of the
German importations from this country.
AS to the French rates, 1t Is said, the
United States is faring much worse. With
the exception of canned meats. fresh and
dried fruits, common woods. paving
blocks, slaves. hops manufactured and
prepared pork meats and lard. all expor-
tations from the United States into France
l,>{~ III 20 81 1,,fx- nd
there is a decided change in the French
policy with respect to the tariff on Amer
lean goods. that country, beginning March
81 next, will be compelled to pay our max
imum rates on all its expectations into
the United States, which, 1t is said, Is
practically the only country, outside of
Portugal, that does not get the benefit of
the French minimum rates.
A stumbling block to a prompt adjust
ment of tariff conditions between Canada
and the United States is found in the
commercial convention which the Domin-
ion is now negotiating with France. The
question of the removal OF this obstruc-
ton, however, rests with Canada alone.
BY this convention many important con-
cessions in the matter Of rates are grant
ed and received by each country, but in
case of it's ratification Canada would be
compelled to grant the same concessions
France, or else would be compelled to
pay our maximum rates.
Exports to France.
A large percentage of American ex-
portations into France are of raw mate
rial. and in return France sends to the
United States manufactured goods, but
the reverse to this is true as to Canada,
as she sends to the United States raw ma
terial and in return receives our manu-
factured goods
The questions which will come before
the new tariff board are admittedly
many, and in some instances complex,
and in their solution the President, it is
understood, will have the assistance Of
number of our diplomatic representatives
abroad. Ambassador Hill is expected here
from Berlin in short time. and there
is reason to believe that other high Dip
lomatic officials will be asked to con-
tribute to the stock Of information bear
ing on this general subject.