The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-03
material relations Of the family should be

of the world in competition with the
manufactures of other countries again
draws attention to the duty of this
government to use it's utmost endeav-
ors to secure impartial treatment for
American products in all markets.
Healthy commercial rivalry in interna-
t1onal intercourse is best assured by
the possession of proper means for
protecting and promoting our foreign
trade. 1t is natural that competitive
countries should view with some con-
Germ this steady expansion of our COM
merce. If in some instances the meas
ures taken by them to meet it are not
entirely equitable a remedy should be
found.
In former messages have described
the negotiations of the department of
state with foreign governments for the
adjustment of the maximum and mini
mum tariff as provided in section 2 of
the tariff law of 1909. The advantages
secured by the adjustment of our trade
relations under this law have contin-
ued during the last year, and some ad-
ditional cases of discriminatory treat
ment of which we had reason to com
plain have been removed. The depart
ment of state has for the first time in
the history of this country obtained
substantial INSTRUMENTATION treat
ment from all the countries of the
world.
There are, however, other instances
which, while apparently not constitut-
ing undue discrimination in the sense
of section 2, are nevertheless excep-
tons to the complete equity of tariff
treatment for American products that
the department of state consistently
has sought to obtain for American
commerce abroad.
Necessity For supplementary Legisla-
ton.
These Developments confirm the opfn-
ion conveyed to you in my annual mes
sage of 1911. that while the maximum
and minimum provision Of the tariff
law of 1909 has been fully justified by
the success achieved in removing pre-
viously existing undue Determinations
against American products, yet expert
ence has shown that this feature of
the law should be amended in such
way as to provide q fully effective
means of meeting the varying degrees
of discriminatory treatment of Ameri-
can commerce in foreign countries still
encountered, as well as to protect
against injurious treatment on the part
Of foreign governments through either
legislative or administrative measures
the financial interests abroad of Ameri-
can citizens whose enterprises enlarge
the market for American commodities.
cannot too strongly recommend to
the congress the passage of some such
enabling measure as the bill which was
recommended by the secretary Of state
in his letter of Dec. Is, 1911. The OBJ
ject Of the proposed legislation is, in
brief, to enable the executive to apply,
as the case may require, to any or all
commodities, whether or net on the
free list from a country which discrim-
mates against the United States, a
graduated scale OF duties up to the
maximum Of 25 per cent ad valorem
provided in the present law.
Flat tariffs are out Of date. Nations
no longer accord equal tariff treatment
to all other nations irrespective Of the
treatment from them received. Such
flexible power at the command of the
executive would serve to moderate any
unfavorable tendencies on the part Of
those countries from which the impor-
tations into the United States are sub
stantially confined to articles en- the
free list as well as of the countries |
which find a lucrative market in the
United States for their products under |
existing custom rates. 1t is very neces |
sary that the American government |
should be equipped with weapons of
negotiation adopted to modern eccnom-
ic conditions in order that we may at |
all times be in a position to gain not |
only technically just but actually equit |
BILE treatment for our trade and also
for American enterprises and vested in
terests abroad.
Direct Official Effort.
As illustrating the commercial bene-
fits to the nation derived from the new
and its effectiveness upon
the material as well as the more ideal !,
side, it may be remarked that through |
direct Official efforts alone there have
been obtained in the course of this
administration contracts from foreign
involving an expenditure
of $50 ,000, 900 in the factories of the
United States.
1t is germane to these observations to
remark that in the two years that have
elapsed since the successful negotia-
ton of our new treaty with Japan.
which at the time seemed to present so
many practical difficulties, our export
trade to that country has increased at
the rate of over S1.OOOoO a month.
Our exports to Japan for the year end
ed June 30. 1910. were $21. $50 $40.
while for the year ended June 80. 1912,
the exports were $53, O46. a net in
crease in the sale of American prod