Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-29
a TARIFF WAR?

According to Wednesdays dispatche;
the State Department has notified thS
government at Berlin that the impo-
sitlon of the proposed German duties
on potash would be regarded as O dis
elimination against American inter-
ests, The German government has
added also a very heavy tax on
| American beef,
AS defined by our latest tariff law,
| the enactment OF this measure would
be sufficient cause for the imposition
of the maximum tariff on all German
| imports received in the United States.
| This would mean an addition OF Is
| per cent to all duties now collected
on imports originating in Germany.
Since a rule OF that sort would prob
ably mean a farther increase IN tho
cost OF living. such rates of duty be-
Ing almost prohibitive of importations,
many chambers of commerce and
boards of trade in American cities arc
sending appeals to Washington urg-
ing that the State Department recede
from Its position that American beef
and cattle must be admitted to Ger
many.
Resolutions presented to the nation
al body maintain that there can be no
advantage in insisting on a German
market for American beef because the
home consumption is increasing at
such a rate as soon to command all
the supply.
1t is pointed out that tho agrarian
party in control OF the reichstag. has
stood for the principle that farmers
OF Germany must supply its beef. and
that the imperial government could
not admit the American product If 1t
would.
Italy, Spain, Russia, Turkey. Swift
zerland and some parts of the British
empire arc favored as trado customers
OF the United States In proclamations
issued under the Payne tariff law by
President Taft few days ago.
Germany and France, the two chief
commercial nations with which We are
having trouble over tariff duties. are
on the outside with Holland. Belgium.
Norway. Sweden. Canada, Australia,
India and all other portions OF the
British empire not described on the
map OF Europe.
In connection with tho Presidents
proclamation the State Department
made public a table showing tho total
trade of the six countries, with the
share of the United States therein, ac-
cnrdtncr 70 ha 10 80
countries for the latest available year
In 1908 the total trade Of the United
Kingdom with the world amounted to
$5.1oS, 272,625. Of which ss11 1.0s7, DAB was
with the United States, and Of which
1904. .227 ,472 camo from this country. or
this $6o4.227.472 that Is exported to
Great Britain from the United States. a
largo part is destined to countries
other than Great Britain, France. Cor
many, Holland, the Indies and even
tho countries of South America
Britain occupies the position of
middleman, and II Germany and
France are excluded from tho list of
our favored nations, she will resell
to them still moro of our products
1t appears that the President has no
option ns to modifying this operation
or tho tariff law. and Is only acting
as the law directs. The effect as to
Germany and France is an added 25
per cont tariff to be levied against two
friendly nations which In the past ten
years have bought from US SO. O66, ,o00 600
worth OF goods. leaving a balance of
trade In our favor of 1850. .0O0.0o
Germany proposes to rotaIiatc. and
on Feb. z. unless some new arrange
mcnt Is reached. full tariff rates will
be applied by that nation against this
country instead OF tho favorable con-
cessionS of the past. IT is quite lkeIv
that the strong agrarian party In that
country would welcome the indireot
protection of a tariff war against
American exports. which are largely
agricultural. Canada, which grants
preferential import rates to Great
Britain, will almost certainly enjoy the
German special rates, and her farm
exports are growing as rapidly as ours
ever grew. Russia has passed us as
q Wncut-prouucinB Us well as q wheat
exporting nation,
Although. at present. the Dominion
Is one of our best customers. the Cana
dian press seems to welcome the Idea
OF a tariff war with this country II
Canada should impose Its max,nuro
rates against us, many American mills
now engaged In the manufacture OF
goods for export to that country might
be transferred to the Canadian side OF
the boundary line.
Congressman Mann has therefore in
troduced q bill to delay the date for
the imposition OF tho maximum tariff
and to exempt pulp wood from its op-
Grafton. OF the provisions of this bin
the Canadian Journal of Commerce
says:
'"rhey aim, no doubt, at averting n
trade war with Canada, which, by the
way, has no great terrors for Cnnadl-
ans
Lumber. hides. pulpwood. copper.
silver and other things are among the
necessities of the United Statos. nnj
we shall experience no trouble In mark
citing them there as usual. So far Il
looks az If the United States consumer
really Is TO pay the increased duties On