, 1921-10-28
ITALY LEARNS LESSON.

Italy is another of the European powers which has
definitely abandoned free trade and declared for pro
lection. The Italian tariff went into effect on July 1
and while the rates have not been made as high as
the protectionists of that country desired to write
into the measure still a stiff customs tax has been
levied on all foreign goods entering the kingdom.
As far back as 1918 a royal commission was ap-
pointed in Italy to bring in proposals for a new tar
i'll to supersede the obsolete customs regime of 1887.
recommendations on the basis of protection mot rev.
enue only to Italian industries. The commission laid
its 30-volume report before the ministry in 1918. Be-
cause it was based on the pre-war economic eondi-
lions of 1918, it was deemed ~expedient, before giving
1t legal sanction, to review the duties proposed by the
commission for the purpose of harmonizing them with
conditions as they had changed since 1918, not only
in Italian industry and agriculture, but also in the
economic life and tariff policy of other nations with
which Italy was likely to trade.
The year in which this commission was appointed
and instructed to formulate a bill on the basis of pro-
year during which the interchangeable Italian tariff
lobby was enjoying the hospitality of the Democratic
members of the ways and means committee co-operat-
ing for free trade or reduced duties on all products
entering the United States. Mr.. Wilson had just is
sued his bull Of accommodation to those representa-
tives of American industries who were seeking vainly
to secure some consideration for their own interests,
and the steam Of his outraged majesty was being ex-
PEELED in Kisses of ''insidious lobby" behind the clouds
of which the demon lobby" was sedulously at work
with the Democrats to put the California and Florida
industry on the hummer.
And what had occasioned the coddling of the
"lemon lobby" Three years later the news broke
which suggested the reason. 1t was announced that
$4,000 had been raised in 1910 to lobby free lemons
through congress, and one William c. Beer was EN-
ployed by Italian interests to put it over. 81 do not
mind saying that beginning with 1910 we accom-
plished some mighty effective work." said Mr.. Beer.
1--WE organized the Italian Democratic League and had
branches all over the country. We did nothing but
preach democracy TO them. All the Italians voted for
the Democrats and the Democrats realized it." Mr..
Beer was suing in 1916 for a $4,000 balance due on
his promotion contract. eve did raise a fund amount
ing in all to about $4,000 to have the duty on
Sicilian lemons reduced" admitted s. s. Amarosa,
vice president of the Italian Importers Union. SIN
the United States the importers by paying 5 cents a
box on lemons imported, raised 100000 and the
Sicilian societies raised $4,000 more"
They did not get lemons as promised, in the tariff
act of 1918 but they did get material reductions in
the duties on lemons and other Italian products, and
az soon as free trade was enacted in this country the
Italians at home initiated their program for p-o.ec-
ton. The truth of the matter is that the lowering of
the duty on lemons was the paying of a campaign
debt. Italy learned her lesson from us. =