Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-21

yet produced. The United States draws
tariff bill, discusses it, enacts 1t, and
has 1t become law in one-fifteenth as
much time as the Germans took to pass
their law. Senator Beveridge recently
pointed out that there Is nothing which
is done with such lack OF thorough
ness as the framing of an American
tariff law. He called attention to the
fact that it took two years to investi-
gate just one phase of United States
senator's life-referring to the Smoot
investigation-and yet 1t takes but four
or five months to pass the most impor-
tant law of a decade.
Most of the larger American manu-
facturers are beginning to figure on
the Importance of tariff concessions to
other countries as they find themselves
hampered by the maximum tariffs most
countries are disposed to assess against
American goods. Recently j. Ogden
Armour declared that he found the
sale of meats in foreign countries re-
stricted because of the lack of recip-
rocal tariff concessions. Export Man
ager Coster of the Westinghouse COM
pany declared that he found the same
condition to prevail in the case of cleo
trical goods. Charles Deering of the
International Harvester company gave
figures showing the operations of the
French system. AS the United states
had no minimum tariff to offer, France
applied her maximum rate against
American goods. The American Har-
vester company had to pay $3.50 more
than any German or English exporter
to get binder into France. 1t had to
pay s3.S5 more to get mower past the
customs officer.
With this condition applying in sew
eral countries, President Roosevelt set
to work to adjust things so as to pre-
vent such a discrimination. He could
not, of course, change the rate OF du-
ties, since that was entirely legis-
lative function. He could, however.
change the methods of administering
those duties, and he was successful in
getting the minimum rates from sew
eral countries in exchange for nothing
more than administrative concessions.
There was a considerable outcry among
the extreme protectionists, but the ex-
porters are glad because of what he
did The extreme protectionists pro-
tested In the case OF Germany that
there must have been very great con-
cessons to get the advantage of her
minimum rates. One of the most Inn
portant of these concessions was that
Germany should have her appraise-
ment and certificates of quantity pass
the American customs officer without
question.
Sometimes costly tariff wars have fol-
lowed the application of the maximum
and minimum principle. France has
Dcpn pmDTOlleu III several SuCn Wdtot
and she has lived to regret most OF
them. At one time Switzerland re-
fused to extend France her minimum
in exchange for a similar concession
from the French. She wanted France
to modify her minimum rates In some
few particulars. France insisted that
II was vital to her that she recognize
the right of no country to dictate what
her minimum rates should be. Switzer-
land stood pat on her ultimatum, and
the war was on. French exports 10
Switzerland fell off from $47,000,OO0 a
year to $25. .000.0 900, and there were indt-
cations that even a lower level would
be reached. The result was that after
warning for awhile France set up the
white flag, and Switzerland got the
concessions she demanded.
Austria has the highest tariff which
the United States has to meet. In the
matter of agricultural implements tnat
country levies an import duty or $25.O9
on self binder, $14.34 on reaper.
s1O.s1 on mower and $5.24 on a rake.
Russia has what is perhaps the next
highest tariff in the world. Yet the Ia
Dor of these two countries Is ABOUT as
poorly paid as any in Europe. When
the English free trader and the Eng
lish protectionist meet in debate, the
protectienist points to the United States
as proof of the effect of a high tarin
on the price of labor. He draws his
comparison between the underpald
British workman under free trade and
the high-waged American workman ur-
der protection The free trader an
swers with a comparison of the English
workman under free trade with the
German, French and Russian workman
under a high tariff. From this 1t VIII
be seen that the arguments are largely
the same the world over.
The United States government IS
now systematically studying the tarin
systems of other nations. In the OF
fee of that veteran ex-newspaper man!
John M CARSON chief of the bureau OF
manufactures, there is employed one
of the tariff experts of the world. N. l.
stone 1t is his duty to keep tab on
everv change, and to gather informa-
ton about foreign tariffs and their ad-
ministration as will guide the American
government In framing its policies ana
as will aid the American exporter 10
further his interests abroad. Just now
there is vast demand in congress Tor
n complete comparison between the
American system and that OF other
principal nations, both as relates 10
relative duties and to matters OF ad-
ministration. The preparation of such
work would be monumental task,
hut a most valuable contribution TO the
tariff literature of the world.
Copyright 1909, by Frederic J. Haskin')