The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-12-03
Of vital importance 10 ...s


the fact that lack Of capital is prevci
ing development of tile nntion's az
cultural resources and an adequate
crease of the land under cultiyaties
that agricultural production is fast e
ing behind the increase in popuiat
and that, In fact, although these
established farmers are maintained
Increasing prosperity because OF
natural increase in population. we
not developing the industry Of agri
ture.
Advantage Of Maximum and Mininu
Tariff Provision.
The importance which our manEta
lures have assumed In the CONNER
of the world in competition with tis
manufactures ofsother countries agai.
draws attention to the duty of this
government to use its utmost endeav
ors to secure impartial treatment for
American products in 81, markets
Healthy commercial rivalry In interna
Honal intercourse is best assured BY
the possession of proper means fot
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. IL in some instances the meas
ures taken by them to meet it are not
entirely equitable 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 nave contin-
ued during the last year. and some adj
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 consdtut-
ing undue discrimination in the sense
Of section 2, are nevertheless excep-
lions 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 opin-
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 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 Aneri
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. 10. 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 not on the
free list from country which discrim-
mates against the United States, a
graduated scale of duties up TO the
maximum of % 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 a
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 SUBJ
stantfally confined to articles on the
free list as well as Of the countries
which find 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 econom-
ic conditions in order that we may at
all times be in position to gain not
only technically Just but actually equit.
able treatment for our trade and also
for American enterprises and vested in
terests abroad.
euoiness Secured to Our Country by
Direct Official Effort.
AS illustrating the commercial bene-
fits to the nation derived from the new
diplomacy and it's effectiveness upon
| the material as well as the more idea
side, 1t may be remarked that through
direct official efforts alone there have
been obtained In the course of thi.
administration contracts from foreiSl
governments involving an expenditurs
If S50.000.000 in the factories of II
u Ill