Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-11
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

uiLnlCal 10 Cne program. According to
the reports, the changes in the economic
situation in this countrywide to the
enactment of the social security act and
the taxes it imposes and to the advances
which have been made in wages-are
largely responsible. Demands are COM
ing IN for higher tariffs rather than for
lower, in order to protect American
producers and wage earners from foreign
competition. And so the tariff issue NAV
raise its head again in the coming con-
gressional elections
X
1t is argued, for example, that it is
becoming increasingly difficult to nego-
tate reciprocal trade agreements with
Great Britain, with Japan, with Czecho-
Slovakia, with Germany and with Ar
gentina. Great Britain, quite naturally.
would like to ship to this country more
OF textiles; Germany her cutlery and
Argentlnas products corresponds with
those OF Minnesota and other States of
the Northwest and the West.
Secretary Hull and his associates in
the State Department continue to have
every confidence in the reciprocal trade
agreement program. They insist that
already these agreements have done
much to improve the foreign trade of
the United States. They do not admit
that changing conditions in this country
are going to bog down their plans for
removing the barriers to trade. What
they hope is that other nations will fol-
low the lead of the United States and
make more and more agreements among
themselves as well as with the United
States, thereby increasing the volume
OF world trade. Secretary Hull is conf
dent that the United States will be able
to obtain and maintain it's full share
OF such world trade.
X Xxx
The difficulty, however in this co1n-
try lies in the fact that many producers
are concerned over the future. They
are uncertain what their costs are to be
and what the future holds in store for
them in the way of taxation. They
have seen these rising with consider able
rapldlty. That being the case. they are
disturbed over suggestions that conces-
slons may be made to foreign countries
IN the matter of tariff duties. In some
instances they are talking of asking
higher, not lower duties, to cut off in
creased competition from cheaper made
foreign goods
There is no doubt that the reciprocal
trace agreements made by this country
with others have resulted in an increase
IN the foreign commerce of the Nation.
such agreements have been made and
put in effect with the following coun-
tries: Cuba, Brazil. Belgium, Haiti, SWe-
den, Colombia, Canada, Honduras. the
Netherlands and many of her colonies,
Switzerland, Nicaragua and France and
her colonies except Morocco. A trade
agreement with Ell Salvador goes into
effect May 81, and an agreement with
Costa Rlca has been signed but not yet
proclaimed. Negotiations are under way
with Ecuador and there is in contempla-
ton an agreement with Czechoslovakia.
X
The reciprocal trade agreement pro-
gram cannot, it has been well under
stood, bring tremendous changes over
night. The Foreign Policy Association,
IN report issued October Is, 1886, put
it clearly when it said by it's very
nature, tariff bargaining must be slow,
gradual process, especially in a demo-
cratic state. Yet accomplishments under
the program have not been inconsider-
able. 1t is estimated that the United
States has given assurances that it will
retain on the free list roughly one-quar-
ter OF its non -dutiable imports, while it
mas reduced rates on one-fifth or more
OF Its dutlable imports. Approximately
one-slXth of all American exports have
received concessions. For the present.
therefore, a term has been put on the
steady whiting down of the free list
and the general upward trend of duties
IN American postwar tariff and revenue
acts The association called attention
also to the fact that start had been
made in preaching barriers raised against
American agricultural products.
During the political campaign last Fall,
the Republicans criticized the reciprocal
trade agreements, declaring that they
had resulted in much larger imports Of
agricultural products from some OF the
nations. The reports of the Department
OF Commerce on imports and exports
have indicated that the imports have
been on the increase. Under date Of
April 80, the department reported its
statistics for March of this year. I'M
ports for consumption amounted to
S295 $4,000, compared with $277,706 900
in February, 1887, and $194,296 900 in
March, 1886. Exports amounted to $685.
100000, compared with $232, SOB 900 in
February, 1887, and $195, 113, 900 in March,
1886. Compared with March of last
year, the value of imports for consump-
ton of all commodity groups was larger
in March, 1887. The value of imports
OF vegetable food products, for example,
was larger by $4,000, 900, of textile fibers
and manufactures by $2O,OOO,0OO, in
edible vegetable products by $15,0OO,OOO
and metals and manufactures by
$1O,OOOOO0.
The returning foreign trade of the
United States is making itself felt as an
important economic factor. The friends
OF the trade agreement system which
has been in considerable part responsible
for this return of trade with other
nations, therefore, are troubled when
they consider the difficulties which may
be raised by the constantly increasing
costs of production and the higher
prices.
Major George L. Berry yesterday took
the oath of Office as Senator from Ten
nessee, succeeding the late Senator Bach
man. Major Berry, who heads the press
mems union, is the first president of a
labor organization to enter the upper
house Tennesseans take their politics
seriously. Senator Berry will serve until
his successor has been elected next year.
It has been reported that Governor
Browning of Tennessee, who appointed
Senator Berry is anxious himself to come