The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-04


the fact that lack of capital is prevent.
ing development of the nations agli
cultural resources and all 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 well
established farmers are maintained in
increasing prosperity because Of the
natural increase in population. we are
not developing the industry of agricu.
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.
tonal 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. II 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
mum tariff as provided I'm section of
the tariff law Of 1909. The advantages
secured by the adjustment Of our trade
relations under this law have contin-
ucd during the last year, and some adj
dittonal 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 constitut-
ing undue discrimination in the sense
or section 2. are nevertheless eXcep-
tions 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.
tion.
These developments confirm the opn-
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 a fully effective
means OF meeting the varying degrees
OF discriminatory treatment Of Ameri-
can commerce In foreign countries still
encountered. as we'll as to protect
against injurious treatment on the part
or foreign governments through either
legislative or administrative measures
the financial interests abroad Of Ameri-
can citizens whose enterprises enlarge
the market for American commodities.
l cannot too strongly recommend to
the congress the passage Of some such
enabling measure as the bill which was
recommended by the secretary Of sta. te
In his letter OF Dec. 13, 1911. The ob.
1ect 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, q
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 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 sub
stanually confined to articles on 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. II 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
Business Secured to Our Country by
Oire:t Official Effort.