Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-28
World Watches u. S.
Tariff Revision Steps
BY HARDEN CoLFAx.

More words will pour out Of Wash
ington by telephone, telegraph, cable
gram and radio this week when the
new tariff bill is introduced in the
House than have marked the appear
ance in the legislative hopper OF any
other legislative measure in recent
years.
Not only has interest in the revision
of the tariff been stirred to fine
froth In this country, but the subject
carries deep concern to all foreign gov
ernments, naturally, but TO some In
particular.
While admitting that the adjustment
OF the United States customs rates and
half dozen foreign governments have
made formal representations as to their
interests in this matter and others have
made their interests known by more in
direct means.
France, Australia, Cuba, Persia and
Bermuda have transmitted to the ways
and means committee, through the
State Department, communications set
ting forth views as to United States Gus
toms duties affecting products Of their
countries, while the British Ambassador
also transmitted . governmental
communication from a group Of cham
Canada Interested Keenly.
In the Argentine Republic and In
the impending revision of the tariff In
this country with the keenest interest
and concern.
Frances note deals with tapestry, an
industry In which that government is
interested financially and artistically,
but beyond the narrow scope Of this
communication laid before the House
committee, there has been for months
an exchange Of notes between the State
Department and the foreign ministry
regarding O much more broad question
OF tariff policy-that affecting regula-
tons, especially the manner Of ascer-
tanning correct value Of imports.
Australia Sends Threat.
The Australian communication deals
with the balance of trade between the
dominion and the United States and
points out that higher rates affecting
imports from Australia might have q
tendency there to force preference for
British products over the American
goods. Cuba's concern, naturally, Is
over sugar and alternative proposals
BIChJCI hlE ECtoA0
Is interested In rugs; Bermuda In prod
uce.
Besides these cases, the Philippines.
neither q foreign country nor United
States territory, was well represented
In the hearings held by the ways and
means committee In regard to limita-
ton Of imports Of duty-free sugar.
In considering this new tariff bill
the Republican members Of the ways
and means committee (the Democratic
members have been excluded during
the actual drafting OF the r1easure)
have much more to consider than what
they should decide to be the proper
protective rates on the thousands of
items In the bill. There Is plenty Of
potential dynamite In this tariff re-
vision in an international sense.
Many Changes Predicted.
II the revision proves to be limited"
as has been indicated 1t may be ex-
pected at the same time that many
changes will have been made in the
agricultural schedule. for the admin
istration stands committed TO farm
relief not only through sterilization
machinery but through the tariff. And
1t Is In the agricultural schedules. in
GLIDING sugar, that many of the inter-
national questions occur
Take Canada, for striking illustration.
The Dominion has gone to ffrst place
within the last year as a customer for
the exports of the United States It's
shipments to this country are mostly
of the agricultural class. II the new
tariff hits Canadian exports to this
country, trade complications may be
foreseen. The latest figures of the De-
partment of Commerce show that the
United. States supplies 64.9 per cent
of Canada's total imports while 1t takes
1913 per cent Of Canada's exports.
Argentina Watches Meat and Corn.
Argentina is especially interested in
meat and corn--again the agricultural
schedule The South American republic
takes 24.7 per cent of its total imports