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liberal than that of the Chinese; but, at the same time, no one would seriously say that Europeans are really on a footing with Japanese in their country, that is, in such a way that absolute equality from other nations can be fairly claimed in return-80 that, even with respect to the Japanese, some qualification as to their rights in other countries may not be unreasonable. The problem as to Asiatic immigration in various parts of the world is no doubt one of con- siderable complexity, but, at the same time, it is not one which is incapable of solution, if it be approached upon the right principle -which is absolutely that of reciprocity. It is against the ideas of liberal nations, aud more especially of Great Britain, to do anything that can be considered to come within the line of class distinctions. The principle is no doubt sound, but, like all principles, it has its limits; and it is not applicable to people who diverge so widely as the average European and the
There is average Asiatic.
a manifest difference between a class distinction and a complete difference of race-and it is the latter that has to be dealt with in the solu- tion of this problem. If the plain facts be taken as the basis of action, in place of general theories, there should be little difficulty in coming to a reasonable under- standing on the subject. Of late this has become more recognised by both European and Asiatic nations, and the matter has been dealt with on both sides with much more temperance and common-sense than had been previously manifested. No one who considers the subject upon the actual facta can doubt that the immigration of A siatics into America or European countries must be regulated in some way that will be fair to both sides, and cannot otherwise proceed without raising unnecessary and possibly even serious complications.
THE NEW AMERICAN TARIFF.
(Daily Press, August 20th.) We cannot attempt to predict what effect the new United States Tariff will have on the export trade of China. We have not, to start with, a complete copy of the new tariff, but the lengthy digest published in a Special Supplement of the London Times showing the percentage of increase or de- crease in the tariff on the principal imports enables us to see that while some of the most important lines of export from China will besubject apparently to increased duties under the new measure, others benefit by the revision. The chief export from China to the United States is silk, which represents a value of something like twelve million taels a year, and we gather from the digest alluded to that the increase on spun silk ranges from 15 per cent up to 94 per cent for sewing silk, according to quality. Tea, which represents another big item in the list of American imports from China, remains unaffected, and skins and hides, of which America takes a supply valued at something like five million taels a year, will be admitted on a duty which shows 25 per cent reduction on the previous figure. Wool, which is another large export from China, representing in value about three million taels per annum, is not appreciably affected, but straw braid and matting, which presumably come under the heading of "manufactures of straw, grass, &c.," will bear a duty increased by 16 per cent. On the whole the influence of the tariff on the trade of China does not seem
likely to be highly detrimental. The fundamental idea of the measure has been based on the essential principle of reducing import duties on the necessaries of life, and
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
fostering American manufactures ty increasing the duties on articles of luxury and on products more economically manu- factured elsewhere than in the United
States. Imports from China being largely of
the nature of raw material and goods that cannot be produced in the United States therefore escape lightly.
[August 21, 1909. from that quarter undoubtedly influenced Evidently, the whole work of revision." American politicians and business refuse to believe in the early_success of the Tariff Reform movement in England.
RANDOM REFLECTIONS,
men
Wasn't it good to see the sun again on Saturday? With old Sol smiling on our week- end recreation we forgot all about the depress. ing days we had had during the week.
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A matter of importance to importers generally is the drastic provision of the new measure relating to invoices, methods of valuation, especially in relation to con- signed merchandise, and the increased
If I were to sum up the chief local eventa of the week, should simply say ice and liquor. powers of the boards of appraisers. This
I don't wish to suggest that there was nothing an.endment occupies fifty pages in the Bill, and one of the writers who contribute to doing beyond an indulgence in these, but the Times Supplement says: "Those who rather that these two matters occupied the are familiar with consular invoices will find most space in the local newspapers, with per- the new forms contain clauses which are in.haps the Scotch oath as a good third tended to check almost every discovered method of avoiding the. payment of just duties that long experience with tariffs has evolved."A good deal of anxiety seems to have been created abroad, and it may be shared even in Hongkong and China, by the following provision which defines the actual market value of an article:-
The actual market value or wholesale price, as defined by law, of any imported merchandise which is consigned for sale in the United States, or which is sold for exportation to the United States, and which is not actually sold or freely offered for sale in usual wholesale quantities in the open market of the country of exportation to all purchasers, shall not in any case be ap- praised at less than the wholesale price at which such or similar imported merchandise is actually sold or freely offered for sale in usual wholesale quantities in the United States in the open market, due allowance by deduction being made for estimated duties thereon, cost of transporta tion, insurance, and other necessary expenses from the place of shipment to the place of delivery, and a commission not exceeding 6 per centum, if any, has been paid or contracted to be paid.
To these
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It is claimed for the Scotch form of oath
administered in courts of justice that it is more sanitary than that in use in English courts, and any one who has seen the filthy Bibles-beg pardon, I mean filthy copies of Bibles-handed to witnesses in courts of justice will agree that it is much safer from a health point of view to hold up the right arm than to kiss a book which has been touched by all sorts and conditions of people in varying states of cleanliness and in varying stages of health. Even in England certain justices and others who preside over courts prefer to have witnesses brought before them sworn in the Scotch fashion, and our lawmakers in their wisdom have given witnesses the choice of being sworn in the Scotch fashion or of simply declaring if their religious beliefs, or unbeliefs, make them look askance on the English oath or on the kissing of the book.
*
What suggested the above remarks to me was the paragraph in the Press the other day recording the incident in the Marine Court, where a witness was supposed to be sworn in oath was administered to the witness, who nodded the Scotch fashion. Apparently the English
his head as the court official uttered the words and who, instead of kissing the book, held up his right hand. The idea was all right, but it was not the Scotch oath, and, even though the solici tor had another try at it, the result was still the same, with this difference that it satisfied the
solicitor. But it was not the Scotch oath. The
phraseology of the northern form is quite differ eut from the English form, but apparently that fact was not within the cognisance of the court nor the solicitor,
The ice case is perhaps remarkable for the enlightenment it has given the public as to the manufacture of that commodity much prized at the present time, but the difference between clearness and transparency is not so readily grasped by the lay mind. In fact the discussion does not tend to either the one on the other, for, as has been well said, in the multiplicity of words there is confusion of thought.
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This provision would seem to bear, for instauce, on the matting import from China, which has notoriously given the Customs authorities in the United States a good.den' of trouble in this connection, because of at- tempts being made to evade payment of the proper duties on the most expensive grades. This provision gets over the difficulty and will serve to effect a prompt settlement of such disputes. The President is authorized to appoint a board of nine general appraisers of merchandise, the salary of each to be 89,000 (£1,800) per annum, who shall possess all the powers of a Circuit Court of the United States. general appraisers all cases of dissatisfaction with the amount and rates of duties levied by the appraisers and assistant appraisers at the various ports will be referred. This The Thespiaus doing business in the Theatre bcard will exercise both judicial and it Royal at present have realised the stage value The other night one man quisitorial functions. Appeal must be made of the ice case. by the importers to this board within 15 appeared on the scene enveloped in a huge coat and giving all the indications of being cold. On days, or the original duties and charges will stand. Then there will be a new Court for his companion demanding to know the reason for his wearing the great coat he shivered more Why Customs Appeals only, and after its organisa-than ever, which suggested the remark, tion no appeal will be taken or allowed to
you must have been listening to the Ice Case." any other Court, and the decision of the United States Court of Customs Appeal- Woe is me!
y favourite tipple is threatened. The price of whisky is likely to be increased. will be final,
and another inducement for our remaining in exile in this outpost of Empire has been removed Really, it is too bad. The one thing that gives fe in the East its flavour is the facility for raising a thirst and the satisfaction of being able to quench it cheaply and with all sorts of variations, and this attempt on the part of the Government to derive revenue out of our necessities will not be appreciated by those who find their chits already too costly at the end of the month. The popular whisky and soda will probably go up
in price, but what about the milk and soda, the ginger beer, the tonic and the tansan which are just as much Thruries as the other; but forsooth, because they are "soft drinks they go untaxed. Doesn't this look like
The new tariff is very unpopular op the continent of Europe, notably in France and Germany, and there are many who predict a tariff war with these countries. The New correspondent of the York
Times. referring to these predictions, remarks: Doubtless the United States is better equipped in such a war than either. More. over, she can always fall back on her greatest market, the British. If Great Britain possessed some means of defence, Congress might have been more careful in dealing with foreign countries. The under- lying thought that no trouble can come
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