Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1891 — RECIPROCITY WITH GERMANY. [ARTICLE]

RECIPROCITY WITH GERMANY.

Reports agree In the statement that a reciprocity treatybeen negotiated between the United States ana Germany, but they dc not agree in regard to the terms of the treaty. According to one report the German government agrees to admit American cereals entirely free of duty. According to another, Germany does not agree to admit anything entirely free, but does agree to make considerable reduction in its tariff taxes on not only cereals, hut animals and animal products as well. The latter is probably correct. The German taxes on imported cereals, and meats are high, aifor ing a good margin for a reciprocity dioker. On wneat, for instance, the tax is about 32 cents per bushel. A reduc on of one half, and a like reduotion on other cereals, cattle and pork, would probably be accepted as a sufficient compensation for what we have to offer under the McKinley act, namely, the free admission of German beet sugar into onr markets. It is worth remarking that neither the German oonsumers of wheat and pork nor the American consumers of sugar will necessarily gain anything by the arrangement. Anerican consumers will certainly gain nothing, in the absence of an agreement the worst that oould happen would be the imposition of half the old rates on German sngar. But as we could still get an abundance of sngar from other sources free of tax the price to American oonsumers woult be about the same, agreement or no agreemeit. As for German consumers, if the reduction is made on American products only, the prices they will have to pay for wheat and pork may be governed by the higher rates which will still be exacted on the like produets of other countries. They will he benefited, however, if they can supply the most of their deficiencies by purchasing fiom this country. The only ones sure to be benefited are the sugar producers of Germany and the frain and pork producers of this country. he latter will gain a market and the former will hold one that they would be likely to lose in the*absence of an agreement. This little approach to free trade will, therefore, be productive of some good.