Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-04
TARIFF WALL WOULD Be
RAISED BY JONES ACT
Merchant Marine Legislation Would
Abrogatc Thirty-Two Treaties
and Make Higher Duties.
10 PER CENT TAN ON IMPORTS
President Refuses to Dcnouncc
Commercial Pncts as Directed by
Congress on the Ground That
Action Is Unconstitutional.
ny J. FI,EDEItlck EssAnY.

WASHINGTON oct. S.-ll t h c
thirty-two commercial treaties which
the President is ordered 10 aSroSate.
IN the Jones Merchant Marine act, SO
into the discard u tar!f wall VIII nc
automatically raised around thiS
country higher than any ever dream
ga OF by tine most radical protection
list IN American politics.
y horizontal 10 per cent duty VIII
he placed upon every commodity that
eaters the lnited states In Foreign
ship and the freight rates upon every
commodity that IL imported in an
.-Ineric:tn ship viii increase to tHc
same extent. There wlli bc no free
list except upon SUCH articles AS may
Canada or Mexico.
This is one OF the mos; important
phases OF the situation created by
Congress when in passing the Jones
act. IL directed the president TO de-
nouncc those sections OF the trade
treaties wnich restrict the right OF
the United states 10 impose d!strimi-
mating customs duties Ola imports en-
ter;ng the UniteG States III foreign
Eesseis and in vessels OF tnis coun-
try
Duties Would he PrOhIbIIory.
Although the fTcs!don; has refused
to denounce these treaties on the
ground taat Congress aid an uncon-
stitut:onal thing IN ordering II uone.
many hiSh officials here. VINO have ia
innate knowledge of the effect such
action would nave upon the tar!f, ieel
tnat he would have been equally JUS
titled in his refusal. on the ground
that an almost proh!b!tory system OF
duties would so into effect the mo-
meat the treaties ceased 10 operate.
In every tar.n act PASSED by Con-
Sress for . century, II vas shown to-
cay, including ihe wilson. Dnr:ey.
Mckinley Payne and Underwood
laws, il = proN!Gcd that 10 per cent
al Ea!orem DUTY, IN addition 10 all
existing duties, shall be collected on
merchandise which snail bc imported
in foreign SHIPS OF all countries with
which tine Unite! states has no trade
The inclusion of this provision in
tariff laws long ago ceased 10 excite
any debate o.: interest for the reason
tina; treaties were in effect with Al!
gagged in the American trade and,
therefore, the provision had no prac-
teal effect whatever.
Tariff Rate Might &c $50 Fer Cent.
Eat If those treaties, which IL took
loo years 10 consumnaie, should be
denounced as Il step toward building
III the American Merchant Marine
and that was the purpose Sf the Jones
ac;--wha; WAS merely piece OF dead
leg tSlatiOn, FIRST written into law back
in 1889, would bc rcsurrcctcd. and
II carried out. rs provided for as late
as the enactment OF the Underwood
act, gross increase in the tariff rates
of approximately $50 per cent would
20 into effect.
The total imports OF the last fiscal
year were approximately $4,000, GOO
600. By far the greater part of these
goods came TO this country from
overseas. more than $4,000, 900 in
fact. And II the imports for the next
year should be as great and the 10
be levied. the country would pay
sdo6.e0O.o00, IL is declared, more for
the goods II buys abroad than in the
past. Such :, tax, OF course. would hc
f,sl ., - G,.h nl f,N I h.. l. sal