The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-08-15

free trader has won victory over
the protectionist, the issue seeking
politician and those who sincerely
feared German dumping. Never have
the protectionists come so near to
putting up tariff wall without prece-
dent in the British Isles.
The British safeguarding of indus
tries bill, as it was called, has been
hanging fire for months. During most
of this time its fate has appeared hope
less. Not until the Government took
the bill In hand and forced cloture on
the debate was the move for protec-
ton taken seriously. But when the
real danger became apparent the free
traders mustered their forces and
began the onslaught. Special tariffs
were contained in the bill as origi-
nally proposed which imposed rates
beginning at one-third of the value Of
imported goods and running up to
two-thirds and higher.
A number of executives at the
head of the largest banks in the
United Kingdom sent to the Govern
ment a memorial declaring that to de-
part from England's ancient policy
Of free trade meant commercial sui
eide. The Manchester Gnardidn
summed up it's opinion, which was an
epitome of the opinion of the major
ity Of the British press. by saying.
bad though the safeguarding of
industries bill may be. the way in
which 1t Is being driven through the
House of Commons Is a national
scandal. 1t is an affront to the
House. an unprecedented encroach-
ment on the liberties of the subject,
and a menace to representative gov
eminent. The Government has
adopted time table to which the bin
IN its passage through the committee
and report stages of the House of
Commons must conform
But, despite the drastic methods Of
the Government, the free traders did
not abandon the fight. They edged
their arguments In ut every oppor-
tunity. One amendment after another
was put through until now, as the
till emerged from its second reading
In the House of Commons, IL is only a
shadow or its former self. In the
original draft Board of Trade COM
mittee was created to act as arbiter
and was empowered on complaint Of
a British trader to impose stiff duty
on competitive goods from abroad.
| The manufacturer or consumer wtt'
might need such goods for further
processes Of manufacture or for any
other purpose was not to be heard.
The mere assertion that dumping was
taking place would have sufficed as
pretext for high duties.
In it's amended form no duties will
be imposed until the complaining
British subject proves that dumping
is taking place. Dumping is defined
as the sale in England of foreign
goods at prices 5 or more per cent.
less than the selling price in the
original home market. But even then
no duty will be imposed IL the users
of the imported goods object on the
ground that the materials are useful
III manufacturing or in promoting
British trade. The shipbuilders will
be able to prevent a duty on steel
plates which would favor the British
makers of such plates. Paper users
will be able to circumvent a duty in
favor of paper makers. Steel rolling
mills will intervene against duty to
protect the makers of steel ingots.
Thus 1t comes about. through the
vital amendments obtained by the
free traders, the bill practically nulli-
fles itself. Duties will be imposed
only where there is complete agree
ment on all sides that they are neces-
sary. With the free traders more de-
termined than ever 1t may be as
sumed that no application for duty
will go unopposed. Even after the
hearing before the Board of Trade
committee the case will have to be
debated in each individual instance
before the House of Commons, which
will have the power to grant or re-
fuse the application for duty.
AS II stands the bill Is a Joy to
the free traders because IL silences
the protectionists without giving
them even small morsel of nourish-
ment The London Economist, one
OF the stanchest anti-protectionists
remarks that there will no doubt be
many applications but few duties i'm.
posed because the Board OF Trade will
not care to risk its prestige and
make a mockery OF its own bill by
recommending duties only to have
them turned down by the House of
Commons.
/ Rohhod Hair