Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-03

concern of vital Importance to this ma
ton.
No evidence of prosperity among well
established farmers should blind US to
the fact that lack Of capital is prevent
ing development Of the nations agri-
cultural resources and an adequate in
crease Of the land under cultivation;
that agricultural production is fast fall
ing behind the increase in population
and that, in fact, although these we'll
Established farmers are maintained in
increasing prosperity because of the
natural increase in population. we are
not developing the industry of agricul-
ture.
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 its utmost endeav-
ors to secure impartial treatment for
American products in all markets.
Healthy commercial rivalry in interna-
! tional 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 I 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 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 mOSt-favored- nation treat
ment from all the countries of the
world.
There are. however, other instances
which. while apparently not constitute
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.
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 discrimination
against American products. yet expert
ence has shown that this feature O.
the law should be amended in sucl
way as TO provide a fully effectiv,
means of meeting the varying degrees
of discriminatory treatment of Ameri
can commerce in foreign countries still
encountered, as we'll as to prOtec
against injurious treatment on the par
of foreign governments through eithe
legislative or administrative measures
the financial interests abroad of ,Ameri
can citizens whose enterprises enlarg
the market for American commodities
l cannot too strongly recommend 4
the congress the passage of some sucl
enabling measure as the bill which wa
recommended by the secretary of stat
in his letter of Dec. 13, 1911. The oh
ject of the proposed legislation is, il
brief, to enable the executive to apply
as the case may require, to any or al
commodities. whether or not on tn
free list from a country which discrim
mates against the United States,
graduated scale Of duties up to tn
maximum Of % per cent ad valOren
: provided in the present law.
Flat tariffs are OCT of date. Nation
. no longer accord equal tariff treatmen
to all other nations irrespective of tn
! treatment from them received. Such
flexible power at the command of tn
} executive would serve to moderate an
! unfavOrable tendencies on the part o
: those countries from which the impoI
) tatiOns into the United States are sui
stantially confined to articles on tn
free list as well as of the countrie
= which find a lucrative market in tn
United States for their products unde
existing custom rates. 1t is very neceS
] sary that the American government
, should be equipped with weapons @
? negotiation adopted to modern econon
&c conditions in order that we may a
5 all times be in a position to gain nc
only technically just but actually equi
able treatment for our trade and ais
: for American enterprises and vested il
r terests abroad
Business Secured to Our Country
Direct Official Effort.
AS illustrating the commercial benz
. fits to the nation derived from the me-
. diplomacy and its effectiveness upO
the material as we'll as the more idei
!, side, it may be remarked that throug
direct official efforts alone there hav
=. been obtained in the course Of TIL
administration contracts from fOreig
. governments involving an expenditul
: Of S50.O0O.OOO in the factories OF til
:, United States.
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