The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1913-01-03

tue cOuSTeSS the paSSdge OF some SUCH
enabling measure as the bill which was
recommended by the secretary of state
in his letter Of Dec. Is. 1911. The OBJ
ject 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,
graduated scale of duties up to the
maximum of % 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Flat tariffs are out Of date.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
stantially confined to 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 customs rates. 1t is very nee.
essary that the American government
should be equipped with weapons of
negotiation adapted to modern econom.
ic conditions in order that we may at
all times be In a position to gain not
only technically just but actually equit.
able treatment for our trade and also
for American enterprise and vested in
terests abroad.
Business Secured to Our Country by
Direct Official Effort.
As illustrating the commercial bene-
fits to the nation derived from the new
diplomacy and it's effectiveness upon
the material as well as the more ideal
side, it may be remarked that through
direct official efforts alone there have
been obtained in the course of this ad-
ministration contracts from foreign
governments involving an expenditure
Of $5OOO0.0OO in the factories of the
United States. Consideration of this
fact and some reflection upon the nee
essary effects of a scientific tariff sys-
fem and foreign service alert and
equipped to cooperate with the busi-
ness men of America carry the convic-
ton that the gratifying increase in the
export trade Of this country is in sub
stantial amount due to our improved
and stimulating it.
1t is germane to these observations to
remark that in the two years that have
elapsed since the successful negotia-
ton of our new treaty with Japan,
which at the time seemed to present so
many practical difficulties. our export
trade to that country has increased at
the rate of over 100000 a month.
Our exports to Japan for the year end
ed June 30, 1910, were $21 .959,31O.
while for the year ended June 80, 1912.
the exports were $53,47S,O46 a net in.
crease in the sale of American products
Of nearly $50 per cent
Special Claims Arbitration With Great
Britain.
Under the special agreement entered
into between the United States and
Great Britain on Aug. 10, 1910, for the
arbitration of outstanding pecuniary
claims. the schedule of claims and the
terms of submission have been agreed
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 gov
ernments by an exchange of notes,
which was done on April 20 last.
Negotiations are still in progress for
supplemental schedule of claims to
he submitted to arbitration under this
agreement, and meanwhile the neces-
sary preparations for the arbitra ton
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 ar
bitration tribunal, esta blished under
this agreement, to meet at Washington
early next year to proceed with this ar
bitration.
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 7, 1911. between
Great Britain. Japan, Russia and the
United States provided for the sus-
pension of all land killing of seals on
the Pribilof islands for a period of
five years. and an objection has now
been presented to this provision by the
other DartiaS in interest which raiSaS