Milford chronicle., 1916-03-31
britain ABANDONING Gree Ei!:-.i'i5 TRADE

The doom of the British free trade
policy and the establishment of Greai
Britain's commerce on a protective
basis are foreshadOwed by proposals
set forth in the white Paper" of the
advisory committee of the British
Board Of Trade, recently made public
For years the free traders of this
country have pointed to Great Britain
as a practical example of a country
operating successfully under free
trade, ignoring the fact that the per
capita customs receipts from such
articles as spirits, sugar, tobacco, tea
and coffee alone, were nearly 30 per
cent greater than the customs re-
ceipts from the entire import list Of
the United States.
Protective rates of duty were sub
mitted to the committee on such in
dustries as paper manufacture, print
ed matter, cutlery, fancy leather goods
all forms of manufactured glass,
china and earthenware, toys, brush
es and brushware. Importations from
Germany and Austria of table and
lighting glassware and mechanical
toys are to be prohibited for specified
periods of time. The proposals not
only contain plans for a commercial
warfare against the Central Powers,
but the duty rates submitted for i'm
position after the war are declared
to be nothing more than approximate
indications OF the amount Of protec-
ion which the British firms thought
in each case" Undoubted-
ly the list will be extended as study
of the subject progresses, and free
trade In England will soon be thing
Of the past.
Some days ago announcement was
received in this country of the unan-
imous adoption of a resolution pre-
sented to the Vienna Chamber Of Com
merce looking to a trade combination
between Austria and Germany for the
protection of their commercial inter
ests. and an alignment against the
Allied Powers. These extensive pre-
DaratiOns for warfare on enemy COM
merce have such deep Significance to
the people Of the United States that
only a return to the Republican pol
Icy of protection will give them a feel
ing of security. If there Is to be a
warfare of tariffs and trade cOmbina-
tons In Europe, a shifting Of the cur
rents of trade must inevitably follow,
and that country which has the low
est tariff wall will be the sountry that
will be submerged with those goods
which are denied European ports of
entry. The Underwood law Is per-
hitting "a per cent Of our imports to |
come in free Of duty today. The pres !
ent average rate of duty on all i'm
ports coming to our shores is less !
than ten per cent.
Republicans are unanimously for a |
protective tariff. Democratic leaders, |
Ike Senators Simmons and Under
wood. Speaker Clark and Chairman |
still cling to the present law |
and believe it to be adequate Other |
Democrats are seeking to delay tariff !
revision by organizing a tariff COM |
mission to make an investigation that |
would require at least five years to |
complete. Five years ago, when we |
lad a tariff board, the Democrats |
dlled it by refusing to appropriate |
or its maintenance. President Will |
son is for Everything by turn and |
long" provided it will catch
yotes.
Considering the temper of the coun-
ry, the lack of cohesion in the Dem
)cratic ranks, and the proved efici- |
,ncy of the Republican protective pol
cy 1t is not difficult to decide which |
,arty Is best suited to handle the sit
latlon and which one will be entrust-
d with that job after March 4, 1917.