AMERICAN TARIFF

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19986, 22 July 1930, Page 18

AMERICAN TARIFF

LATEST ADVANCES. CANADIAN TRADE PREJUDICED. (jrJtOU OUR COKKESPONDINT.) SAN FRANCISCO, June 25. "Here we have the first and prompt indication that our besotted protectionists are of the kind that cut off their noses to spite their faces." the "New York Times" declared editorially in commenting on Premier Mackenzie King's speech at Brantford, Ontario. The "Times'" added: "Canada has for some time been the best customer of tho United States. Our exports, now admitted by everyone, even by a Protectionist President of the United States, to be vital to our industry and essential to our prosperity, have steadily been going to the Dominion in a larger share than to any other country. American business shrewdness, American shopkeepuig t-ensc must cortainly appear to have fallen into stupidity, thus to alienate neighbours who have been the largest purchasers of our wares. "Prime Minister King is lor the most friendly relations with this countrv, and, as a Liberal and former Free Trader, is himself desirous of putting no check upon the free flow of commodities between the two countries.' From it both stand to gain just as both are likely to lose from any artificial restrictions upon trade. However, the final word of the Canadian Government is that it is unable to consider questions of international commerce except upon a reciprocal basis. *'President Hoover has expressed confidence that through the Tariff Commission he will be able to meet the protests of other nations. He should lose no time in taking up the case with Canada. The Dominion makes no protest, but states its own position in a way to give pause to all at Washington, who made light of the warnings of American economists and manufacturers, to the effect that the higher tariff was certain to cut deeply into oor foreign commerce." Paying Higher Duties. Directly President Hoover signed the American Tariff Bill importers of Canadian products in the U.S.A. began to pay higher duties.- The rates upon cattle, beef, m itton, lamb, poultry, dead and alive, hides, leathers, hams and baeons, lumber, flax seed, nlsike, clover, potatoes, turnips, maple, sugar, eream, milk, cheese, fish, imported from the Dominion, are all raised from 20 to 180 per cent. Simultaneously by countervailing provision the Dominion hag raised the rates against United States products such as cattle, sheep, goats, fresh lamb, eggs, butter, oats, rye, potatoes, and cut flowers to the same level as is provided for in the Hawley-Smoot Bill. After fifteen months of work Congress rests upon the matter contained in an. 84,000 word Bill which represents a general revision of raising the tariff wall of the United States to the greatest height in history. . In the meantime protests have been lodged by France, Russia, and several other countries. Cutting the ocean foam under thepressure of pounding engines, 'he liner • Olympic breasted the tariff tape: off Sandy Hook late one day and saved importers with cargo aboard approximately. 130,000-dollars. Had she passed Ambrose lightship after 4.30 in -the afternoon, her goods would have come under the new tariff Bill, but she beat .the deadline by slightly more than an hour, despite a slow start that had her ; behind schedule for the first part of her raeijj, against time. . . . . ; Morethair adozen smaller craft "also r boat ' tjie new levy by steaming - into ZSfe* York during the day, but at least •four which tad hoped to reach • the •sSaiue American gateway werenot sight'the close of the day, and.their, consignees were- compelled t<s pay the aew-Tates the next morning. These were the Malmyo from Calcutta, the Exeter / City from Bristol, the Soemba . from Batavia, and the Steeloro from Cristobal. , , An Exciting Race. Captain Charles-McGowan, master of ' • th® Inter-Ocean Line freighter- Extravia, overcame obstacles _of land and sea to win in a race against the new tariff. He came through a thick harbour foe and negotiated the heavy traffic of Philadelphia 'a' busiest streets to reach the Customs house two minutes before the closing to file his vessel's mamfeßt and thus save thousands • under the new-tariff schedule which was then coine into effect. : As the chunky but sturdy freighter hosed in indifferently through the swell dS 2 the night, with; its holds cram- • med with-olive oil from Italy, deßt "'-® to embellish countless American salads, little did Captain IVfcCroWan realise what thn dav had in store for him. NSng Philadelphia, the Externa's master received the startling information. The new, tariff rates would be in effect by midnight, he learned, and it iileant higher duties on his cargo. The engine-room' bells clanged. More speed, they demanded." The boilers-flared, and ■the pistons raced faster, but off the coast fog rolled in the vessel s path, and Captain McGowan yhad to slow his ship down. Finally, the Extravia cleaved the" mist just off quarantine and drop- ' ped - anchor.' : A puffy little river tug hove into view. Its siren wheezed a, signal -which the freighter, angered, and: a imomeiit later' the" tiig closed in and tied up. Captain McGowan climbed over - the side of tho Extravia and into the tug, which pulled away and crept through the fog toward land. •On the pier an automobile was waiting. Captain McGowan boarded it, and then began a race against time through the 'hflSvy traffic. Just two minutes before closing time tho machine pulled up .. itv front of tlie Customs House, and Captain' McGowan dashed into the building ■ and'filed his vessel's manifest with but setorids tofspare and thousands of dollars .saved. •