The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-12-03

government 10 use it's 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. II is natural that competitive
countries should view with some con
Germ this steady expansion Of our com
meroe. II in some instances the meas
ures taken by them tn meet IL are not
entirely equitable a 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 IL 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 adj
ditlonal cases Of discriminatory treat
ment Of which we had reason to com
plain have been removed. The depart
mont of state has for the first time in
the history OF this country obtained
substantial Observation-Disclosures treat.
ment from all the countries OF the
world.
There are, however, other instances
which, while apparently not constitut-
s,,c pf, Inn In in ho
OF section ., are nevertheless cxcep-
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.
Necessity For Supplementary Lesisla-
ton.
These Developments confrm the opin.
ion conveyed 10 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 i'm 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 10 provide fully effective
means Of meeting the varying degrees
OF discriminatory treatment Of Ameri.
can commerce in foreign countries still
encountered. rs well as 10 protect
against injurious treatment on the part
Of foreign governments through either
legislative or administrative measures
the financial interests abroad of Ameri.
can citizens whose enterprises enlarge
the market for American commodities.
1 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 Dee 10. 1911. The OBJ.
iect of the proposed legislation is. In
brief, 10 enable the executive TO apply,
as the case may require. TO any or all
commodities. whether or not on the
mates against the United States. n
graduated scale OF duties up to the
maximum Of % per cent adj valorem
provided in the present law.
Flat tariffs are out of date. Nations
no longer accord equal tariff treatment
10 all other natioGs irrespective Of the
treatment from them received. such a
flexible power at the command OF the
executive would serve To moderate any
unfavorabc Tendencies on the part of
those countries from which the impor.
tations into the United States aressub-
stantially confined 10 articles on the
free list as we'll as OF the countries
which find lucrative market In the
United States for their products under
existing custom rates II is very neces.
sary that the American government
should he equipped with wespons Of
negotiation adopted TO modern econom
ic conditions in order that we may at
all times be in position 10 gain not
only technically just hut actually equit.
able treatment for our trade and also
for American enterprises and vested in
terests abroad.
Business Secured to Our Country by
Direct Official Effort.
As illustrating tue commercial bene-
dts to the nation derived from the new
diplomacy and its effectiveness upon
the material as well as the more ideal
side, il may he remarked that through
direct official efforts alone there have
been obtained in the course Of this
administration contracts from foreign
governments involving an expenditure
of $5O.O0o,000 in the factories of the
United States.
II is germane 10 these observations 10