The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-12-05

l,scal year 1912 shows that this rate
of advance has been maintained, the
total domestic exports having valu-
alton approximately of $2,200,000,O00,
as compared with fraction over
$2,00O,000,00O the previous year. 1t
is also significant that manufactured
and partly manufactured articles con-
tinue to be the chief commodities form
ing the volume of our augmented eX-
ports, the demands Of our own people
for consumption requiring that an in
creasing proportion of our abundant
agricultural products be kept at home.
In the fiscal year 1911 the exports of
articles in the various stages Of man.
ufacture, not including foodstuffs part
ly or wholly manufactured, amounted
approximately to $9O7,500,000. In the
fiscal year 1912 the total was nearly
$1,022 100000, gain of $114,000,0O0.
Advantage Of Maximum and Minimum
Tariff Provision.
The Importance which our manufac-
lures have assumed in the commerce
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 inter-
national 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 concern this steady
expansion of our commerce. If In
some instances the measure taken by
them to meet it are not entirely equl-
table, a remedy should be found. In
| former messages l have described the
| negotiations Of the department of
state with foreign governments for the
| adjustment of the maximum and min
imum tariff as provided in section 2
of the tariff law of 1909. The adyan-
tages secured by the adjustment of
our trade relations under this law
have continued during the last year,
and some additional cases Of discrim-
inatory treatment of which we had
reason to complain have been re-
moved. The department of state has
for the first time in the history of
this country obtained substantial
Observation-Disclosures treatment from
all the countries of the world. There
| are, however, other instances which,
while apparently not constituting UNI
| due discrimination in the sense of
section g. are nevertheless exceptions
to the complete equity of tariff treat
ment for American products that the
department of state consistently has
sought to obtain for American COM
merce abroad.
Necessity for Supplementary Leigsia-
| Iation.
These developments confirm the
opinion conveyed to you in my annual
message of 1911, that while the max
imum and minimum provision of the
tariff law of 1909 has been fully JUS
titled by the success achieved in re-
moving previously existing undue dis
ordinations against American prod
ucts, yet experience has shown that
this feature of the law should be
amended in such way as to prevent
a fully effective means of meeting
the varying degrees Of discriminatory
treatment of American commerce in
foreign countries still encountered, as
we'll as to protect against injurious
treatment on the part of foreign gov.
ernments, through either Legislative
of administrative measures, the fnan
cial interests abroad of American cit
liens whose enterprises enlarge the
market for American commodities.
I can not too strongly recommend
to congress the passage Of some such
enabling measure as the bill which
was recommended by the secretary
of state in his letter of December IS
1911. The object of the proposed leg
islation is, in brief, to Ell
able the executive to apply
as the case may require, to any
or all commodities, whether or not or
the free list from country which
discriminates against the United
States, a graduated scale of duties
up to the maximum of Is per cent. ao
valorem provided in the present law
Flat tariffs are out of date. W
Special Claims Arbitration With Grea
Britain.
The special agreement entered into
between the United States and Grea
Britain on August IS, 1910, for the ar
bitration of outstanding pecuniar.
claims, schedule of claims and tn
terms Of submission have been agree
upon by the two governments, and to
gether with the special agreemen
were approved by the senate on Jul
10, 1911, but in accordance with tn
terms of the agreement they did no
go into effect until confirmed by tn
two governments by an exchange o
notes, which was done on April 2
last. Negotiations are still in proc
ress for supplemental schedule o
claims to be submitted to arbitration
under this agreement, and meanwhil
the necessary preparations for the a,
bitration Of the claims included in tn