Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-21

tlce mas been better balanced, SOIL 1er-
ttlity has been maintained and produc-
OF these agents.
There has been q notable develop
ment OF the work among women along
the line of productive activities, such
ing, gardening and canning. and of
household convenience. comfort. econ
.omy and efficiency. The number Of
community clubs organized among
rural women last year in the south in
creased from $50 to 1,042, and 1886. 900
women and girls actually participated
in some form Of emergency work.
Figures at the department show that
the enrolment In the regular boys clubs
In tire south was largely increased, and
mately 100000. In addition, 10000 boys
were enrolled to assist in war emer-
gency activities. These clubs have been
a very important factor in the CAM
paigns for improved farming and in
creased food production, the officials
say. The boys and girls clubs in the
northern and western states, through
their regular membership Of 406,00
and an additional enrolment. for emer-
gency, of 100000. drawn largely from
and efficient agency in the campaigns
for promoting food production and con-
servation, not only through such regu-
lar work as canning, drying. picking,
preserving and the like. but also
through various emergency projects,
such as gardening, poultry raising,
bread making and other activities.
our entrance into the war brought
the problems Of the United States tariff
commission, as those of
War and every other department of
r.:e the government, into an even
closer relation to military
problems and preparation. 1t has been
the endeavor of the officials of the COM
mission to secure whatever information
is available with regard to the disturb
ances as caused by the war and the
conditions likely to ensue at it's close.
Many industries in the United States
are known to have adapted themselves
to the exigencies of the immediate SIT
uation. Goods formerly imported no
longer come in, but are being largely
supplanted by domestic substitutes. For
other goods new sources of supply have
been found in allied or neutral coun-
tries. In some instances plants have
been established in this country which
look to permanent and continuing pro-
auction OIL commodities previously lii
ported. In other cases temporary ar
rangements have been made. with the
expectation that something like the old
state of affairs will be resorted to at
the close OF the war. The commission
is making inquiries concerning these
industrial arrangements. and expects to
have at the disposal of Congress In
formation which will be serviceable
when the business of the country is
once more to be reorganized on a peace
l. r;~ h. ~
petition that occur in foreign countries
have to be faced.
AS a part of this task the commission
Is endeavoring to ascertain also what
stocks of goods now in European coun-
tries are being held for expectation to
the United States on the conclusion Of
peace. 1t is also endeavoring to bring
together whatever information is
available, although it is impossible to
ascertain the situation in hostile coun-
isfactory information about the situa-
ton in neutral or allied countries.
While the United States has been
making trial, in somewhat tentative
and perhaps vacillating manner. of diff
ferent sorts of reciprocity arrange
ments, European countries have dealt
with the problem more systematically
and consistently, the tariff officials be-
lieve. Generally speaking, two systems
are uishable-that of a general
ana conventional tarllI, OF Wnicn the
German example is typical. and that of
maximum and minimum tariff. of
which the French is typical In the
former the general tariff is fixed by the
legislative branch OF the government.
and the conventional rates are fixed by
conventions or treaties with other
countries. The other system, that of a
maximum and minimum tariff, differs
from the general and conventional tariff
in two respects. In the first place. it
has two rates on practically all arti-
cles enumerated in the tariff act; in the
second place, the minimum rates are
fixed not by the executive. but by the
legislative branch Of the government.
X x