The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-01-20
POTASH TAX HITS
THE FARMERS HARD
Looking 10 Washington For no.
Ggf From German ExactiOnS.

efforts continue to secure relief from
tbe enormous tax imposed by Germany
on exports on potash to the United
GATES. w these efforts all agricul-
uraI interests are deeply concerned
Sor the reason that potash IL an essen
Hsi element or all commercial fertili-
zers.
r, liking the seriousness or the bur
den 50 imposed, President Taft and
M state department have made vigor-
ous protest to Germany, and the mat
ter Is still pending. "A representative
Of the state department who visited
Berlin in an effort to secure redress
srom the German government has Just
returned TO Washington, and further
action by the administration is ex-
pected without great delay.
Oalcial efforts 10 bring about a fa'
yorable settlement have from the start
been actively aided by the nonsyndi-
cate potash mines which made the
American low price contracts.
Did Germany Break PromiSes2
Il IS understood that the state de-
Dartment had assurances from the Ger
man government when the tax law
was fryt talked OF that nothing would
be dome which would impair existing
trade arrangements. These assurances
proved to be worthless, and after Ger
many had secured the benefits Of the
minimum rates Of our new tariff law
the potash tax was put into force.
President Taft In his message To con-
sress may have had this fact in mind
when be said, referring Co the success
ful working out of cine maximum and
minimum provision, There are, how
ever, unfortunately, instances where
foreign governments deal arbitrarily
with American interests within their
Jurisdiction I'm a manner injurious and
inequitable."
It was when the German potash syn
dictate found that independent mines
had got almost all OF the American
business by making prices about 30
per cent lower than the syndicate
prices that the law now complained Of
by American consumers was demand
cd by the potash trust and enacted by
the reichstag with the avowed pur-
pose to deprive Americans OF the bene-
fits Of their advantageous agreements,
running In some cases until 1916.
The amount OF the tax imposed by
Germany il more than the entire cost
at the mines under the American con-
tracts with nongyndicata producers and
makes the price ON deliveries tn the
United States much greater than the
old exorbitant syndicate prinea- A.
the American contracts provide that
the buyer shall pay all government
charges, the tax falls heaviest upon the
consumers OF potash For the making
Oh fertilizers.
Tax Levied 20 RaigS Prices.
the tax law was passed, IL is assert
Cd. with no other purpose than to de-
Struy existing contracts, to coerce all
potash mines into the syndicate and
So to bring about a return to high
prices and take away the market made
here BY nonsyndicate producers.
Until this controversy arose 1t was
not generally known that potash In
workable quantities was found only I'm
Germany. The production LIN and has
been for twenty years controlled by
syndicate, which also nxeS the price
that the world shall pay for this ne
cessity. In this syndicate. which IS
strictly regulated by law, several Ger
man governments participate ~ own
err OF potash mines. II was during
temporary lapse In the syndicate, leav-
Ing every one free to make his own
figures, that the low prices now caus-
tDD trNUhln yuarn rpada