New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-06
COLONEL'S TARIFF RECORD
German Agreement Only Attempt
at Revision, Says Taft Bureau.

Washington. May 5.-Ex- President Roose-
velts only attempt at tariff revision is de-
scrioed in the following statement issueu
by the Taft bureau tonight:
The blow which Theodore Roosevelt
struck at tho manufacturing interests II
the United States, particularly the china,
glass and pottery interests in general, mas
been forgotten by the public at large. This
blow was contained in the German trade
agreement. negotiated and signed on April
o. 1907. by which German manufacturers
We're permitted TO control the valuation on
their products shipped into this country,
thereby i'm some Instances encouraging un,
deryaIUationS which resulted IN total
hreak King down OF the protective principle
as set forth in the Dinglley tarin law.
agreement was initiated on the suggestion
of Baron Won Sternberg. then German AM
lasSador to the United states. Dill was
introduced into Congress having for IT'S op-
icct the changing Of the system Of APP
uraisement OF imports. by which the Gus
toms officials Of III" Inited states NtIs
compelled to accept the appraisemont pIactu
on their manufactured products by lll'
foreign producers The provisions Of the
hin amounted. In fact, to q reduction OF
the Dingley law duties on certain PR duclN
The committees Of Congress refused 10 re-
port out a bill OF this kind, basng th"ir
refusal on the protests made IN open near
iugs bv American manufacturers;
Following that and secretly Wlthont the
knowledge OF NObSTt~S' -
valt negotiated the German trade treaty, or
noreemeut as il * more familiarly called
,rhie agreement was: That this government
accent the valuation placed on imports ny
Toreiou manufacturers. that this govern
rnent could no longer question the value OF
imucrts. that Il must accept th' worn Oh
the manufacturer abroad.
Tbie agreement. made in secret, WES
known and discussed in Germany long be-
fore q became known here. German com
mercial organizations discussed IT, am ~
was taken mp in the Reichstae petnri
Americans knew a new trade treaty va"
haen made The first intimation TINS couh-
trv had OF 1t was through dispatches from
Berlin. .,,e.e,o-, ,.,,,ro
Through the course Of subsequent CORE
enondcnce with American pottery manu-,
facti,rers Mr.. Roosevelt said no good Word
in favor of the German agreement. pat
attempted 10 defend II. Among o;her
cb.roes made at that time was ono thdt
cCcar & StrauS. member or MI. Roo =
veIt's cabinet and related TO the menibei :
~ tho firm Of Straus 4 Sons, in New YORK
large importers of pottery. emma ana tiaSS
,Tarc was interested in the agreement DIV
,hqt charge was denied by NJ. Roosevelt.
Mr. Straus is now closely ained To the
Roosevelt campaign for reorganization.
As soon as President TAFT was lnaugu,
roted the American manu- acluIeTs Idlu
.bej, nrotests before President Taft ana be
tore the committees Of Congress, WIN INC
result that in the PAYNE tariH law Ihe 1ls
fluctuations laid against them and othcr
,,.n,,fa cturere were ctfectually removed.
The German agreement was lheo.ore
Roosevelt's first last and only atteln't Al
tariff revision and II plainly shows that ne
betrayed the interests of American manu-
foctnrers and favored their foreign rivals 10
the limit OF his ability.