The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-07-10
THE NECESSITY FOR A SETTLED
TARIFF POLICY

The necessity for a settled Ameri-
can tariff policy was emphasized We'd
nesday in an address before the Ma
ton Gas Engine Association at Chi
cago by DR.. Frank h. Rutter, assistant
chief of the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce, Department OF
Commerce. IL the country is to hold
+ its own in the bitter competition for
trade that will follow the war, the
Government must be given the oppor-
tunity to make favorable commercial
treaties with foreign countries. IT
should be borne in mind, said DR.
Rutter, that concessions can not be
obtained in the tariffs of other coun-
tries il we are not willing to make
concessions ourselves"
"a fixed commercial policy is par
ticularly necessary at the present
time" said the speaker, with rumors
of trade agreements that will give pre-
ferential rates of duty between the
allies, and with rumors of a customs
union to cover Germany and Austria
Hungary, we must be in position tC
know definitely the effect on our in
dustries of any proposed foreign ac'
ton. Can we not, If we know the sit.
uation well enough to make representa-.
tions, obtain rates of duty that will al
least put our products on an equality
with those of other countries { priv.
ilege which we do not now enjoy in
France) and possibly in a position Of
even greater advantage"
The proposed tariff commission was
referred to as a step in the right di.
rection, as it would serve the excel
lent purpose of taking the tariff out OF
politics. The commission is also au-
thorized to study commercial condi'
tions and to advise regarding CONNER.
cial policies and commercial treaties
and in this way will be of the greatest
possible assistance in establishing a
settled tariff policy.
The speaker pointed out a number
OF instances where the manufactures
of gasoline engines in this country
were at disadvantage in certain for.
eign markets because certain tariff
rates amounted to discrimination. In
Russia, for instance, a low rate oil
duty on tractors is interpreted to ap-
ply only to steam tractors, and a
much higher rate is applied to gaso.
line tractors. II would be most ad
vantageous If an agreement could be
reached whereby the low rate of duty
could be applied the gasoline tractors
In Austria there are different rates Of
duty for traction engines and for au
tomobile engines, the higher rate o.
course being applied to the latter. The
customs authorities have ruled tina
when a gasoline tractor is equipped
with a light engine which might b.
used to drive an automobile the higl
rate of duty should be applied to 1t
This is a decided disadvantage L
American manufacturers, for it handi
caps our light tractor motors in com
petition with the heavy engines made
in Europe.
In spite of the fact that the war ha!
interferred with the foreign trade IL
gasoline engines, there has been con
siderable Improvement of late, saiC
DR.. Rutter and the prospects for thu
future are very bright. During 1913
the last normal year before the war
the total value of internal-combustio
engines exported from the United
States was over 100000, of which
traction engines were the most i'm
portant item, being valued at $1,000,
600. Canada has been the chief pur
chaser of gasoline engines, in spite O
the fact that England enjoys a prefer
entail tariff. Argentina and Austrli
are the next customers in Importance
although not nearly so important al
Canada. Over half the engines i'm
ported by Argentina come from thii
country, but in Australia the advant
age lies with Great Britain.