The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-12-05

o2 the tariff law of 1869. Tne advan-
our trade relations under this law
have continued during the last yeaP,
and some additional cases of discrim-
inatory treatment of which we had
reason to complain have been re-
moved. The department of stata has
for the first time in the history of
this country obtained substantial
INSTRUMENTATION treatment from
1 all the countries of the world. There
| are, however, other instances which.
while apparently not constituting I'M
due discrimination in the sense Of
section 2, are nevertheless exceptions
to the complete equity of tariff treat
ment for American products that the
1 department Of state consistently has
sought to obtain for American COM
merce abroad.
Necessity for Supplementary Leissla-
lation.
These developments confirm the
opinion conveyed to you In my annual
message Of 1911, that while the max
imum and minimum provision Of the
tariff law of 1909 has been fully JUS
/ titled by the success achieved in re-
moving previously existing undue dis
ordinations against American prod
! ucts, yet experience has shown that
this feature of the law should be
4 amended in such way as to prevent
a fully effective means of meeting
the varying degrees Of discriminatory
treatment of American commerce in
foreign countries still encountered, as
well as to protect against injurious
treatment on the part Of foreign gov
ernments, through either legislative
of administrative measures, the finan-
cial interests abroad of American cit
isens whose enterprises enlarge the
market for American commodities.
| can not too strongly recommend
to congress the passage of some such
enabling measure as the bill which
was recommended by the secretary
of state in his letter of December 10,
1911. The object of the proposed leg
islation is, in brief, to en-
able the executive to apply,
as the case may require, TO any
or all commodities, whether or not on
the free list from g country which
dkscriminates against the United
States, a graduated scale OF duties
up to the maximum Of Is per cent. ad
valorem provided in the present law.
Flat tariffs are out Of date. Nj ,
Special Claims Arbitration With Great
Britain.
The special agreement entered into
between the United States and Great
Britain on August 18, 1910, for the ar
bitration of outstanding pecuniary
claims, a schedule of claims and the
upon by the two governments, and to-
gether with the special agreement
were approved by the senate on July
10, 1911, but in accordance with the
terms of the agreement they did not
go into effect until confirmed by the
two governments by an exchange Of
notes, which was done on April 26
last. Negotiations are still in prog
ress for supplemental schedule of
claims to be submitted to arbitration
under this agreement, and meanwhile
the necessary preparations for the ar
bitration Of the claims included in the
first schedule have been undertaken
and are being carried on under the
authority of an appropriation made for
that purpose at the last session Of
congress. 1t Is anticipated that the
two governments will be prepared to
call upon the arbitration tribunal, es-
tablished under this agreement, to
meet at Washington early next year
to proceed with this arbitration.
Fur Seal Treaty and Need for Amend
ment of Our Statute.
The act adopted at the last session
of Congress to give effect to the fur
seal convention of July 1, 1911, be-
tween Great Britain, Japan, Russia
and the United States, provided for
the suspension Of all land killing Of
seals on the Pribilof islands for pc
Rod of five years, and an objection
has now been presented to this pro-
vision by the other parties In inter-
est, which raises the issue as to
whether or not this prohibition of land
killing Is inconsistent with the spirit,
If not the letter, of the treaty stipu-
lations. The justification for estah~
fishing this close season depends. un-
der the terms of the convention, upon
how far, if at all, it is necessary for
protecting and preserving the Ameri-
ami fur-seal herd and for increasing
its number. This is question re-
curing examination of the present
condition of the herd and the treat
ment which 1t needs in the light of
actual experience and scientific inves-
t1gatlon. A careful examination of
the subject is now being made. and
this government will soon be in pos-
session of a considerable amount of
new information about the American
seal herd, which has been secured
during the past season and will be of
great value in determining this ques-
ton; and If 1t should appear that
there is any uncertainty as to the
real necessity for importing a close
season at this time, I shall take
an early opportunity to address
a special message to congress on this
subject, In the belief that this govern
ment should yield on this point rather
than give the slightest ground for the
charge that we have been in any way
remiss In observing our treaty obliga-
tons
Final Settlement Of North Atlantic
/ Fisheries Dispute.
/ On the goth OF July last an agree