German customs tariff-Continued. Commodities. Rate of duty. In United In marks. XXXIII.-Stone, stoneware, precious stones. a. Stones, rough and hewn, flint stones, mill-stones, also with iron hoops; grinding and whetstones of all kinds, rough stone masonry, e. g., doorposts and window-ledges, pillars and parts of pillars, gutters, pipes, &c., unpolished, exclusive of marble and alabaster work, taws (playing-marbles).. b. Roofing slate, rough slate slabs and rough table slate. .100 kilos.. c. Precious stones, also imitations, and corals, cut, pearls, all not set; cut semi-precious stones, and manufactures thereof not provided for under No. XX d. Other articles of stone excepting statuary: 1. Not in connection with other materials, or only with wood or iron, ...100 kilos.. 2. In connection with other materials, provided same are not articles XXXIV.-Coals, &c. Coal, brown coal, cokes, peat-turf charcoal... Free. XXXV.-Straw and bast goods. a. Matting and foot-rugs of bast straw, reeds, grass, roots, rushes, &c.; per piece.. 2. Trimmed ..do... NOTE TO d.-Hats of hair or hemp-braid of sparterre or braids of so-called cotton sparterre and straw are treated as straw hats. e. Sparterre goods of all kinds.... .100 kilos.. XXXVI.-Tar, pitch, resins of all kinds, asphalte mineral tar. XXXVII.—Animals and animal products not otherwise enumerated. a. Live animals and animal products, not otherwise enumerated; fresh fish; also bee-hives with live bees.. b. Eggs of fowls XXXVIII.-Earthenware. Free. ......100 kilos.. 71 3.00 Free. a. Common bricks, fire-bricks, tiles, tubes, and pottery, not glazed... ...100 kilos.. c. Other earthenware, exclusive of porcelain and wares of like character as porcelain : 1. Plain colored or white; fancy terra-cotta ware... ..100 kilos.. 2. Two and more colored, bordered, printed, painted, gilded, silvered; also earthenware in connection with other materials, provided the same do not come under No. XX .100 kilos.. d. Porcelain and wares of like character, as porcelain (l'arian jasper, &c.): 1. White. .100 kilos.. 2. Colored, bordered, painted, gilded, silvered, also in connection with other materials, provided the same do not thereby come under No. XX .100 kilos.. XLI.-Wool, inclusive of animals' hair, not otherwise provided for, and manufactures thereof. a. Wool, raw, dyed, painted; also hair, raw, hackled, boiled, dyed, and curled. b. Combed wool.. c. Yarn (pure wool or mixed, not with cotton): 1. Of cattle hair, single or double, of all kinds; wadding....100 kilos.. 2. Nap, mohair alpaca yarn single, dyed or not, double, undyed ..do.... 3. Double dyed, triple or more twist, dyed or not 4. Other yarn: Raw, single.. Raw, double Bleached or dyed, single.. Free. .do.... 100 kilos.. .100 kilos. Bleached or dyed, double, triple, or more twist, raw, bleached, or Manufactures, also mixed with cotton, linen, or metallic thread: 2. Coarse, not printed, not dyed felts.. 3. Rugs, blankets, containing dyed or not dyed yarn of cattle hair do.... 5. Unprinted cloths and stuffs not included under No. VII.....do... 8. Woven shawls of five or more colors.. XLII.-Zinc, also alloyed with lead or tin, and manufactures thereof. c. Coarse articles of zinc; also in connection with wood, iron, lead, or tin, a. Tin in pigs or blocks b. In sheets... thereof. .100 kilos. e. Coarse tinwares, also in connection with wood, iron, lead or zine, not EFFECTS OF THE GERMAN TARIFF. REPORT BY CONSUL WINSER, OF SONNEBERG. The question as to how far the new German tariff has contributed to the more satisfactory state of trade is generally discussed; but it is altogether too early to give an exact opinion upon so weighty a matter. Indeed, both the advocates and the opponents of the new tariff, in the Imperial Parliament and outside of it, concur in the belief that, after so brief an interval since the tariff was put in force, it is impossible to judge at present whether it will work favorably or the reverse upon the S. Doc. 231, pt 5-5 a. Stones, rough and hewn, flint stones, mill-stones, also with iron hoops; grinding and whetstones of all kinds, rough stone masonry, e. g., doorposts and window-ledges, pillars and parts of pillars, gutters, pipes, &c., unpolished, exclusive of marble and alabaster work, taws (play. ing-marbles)... b. Roofing slate, rough slate slabs and rough table slate.. .100 kilos.. c. Precious stones, also imitations, and corals, cut, pearls, all not set; cut semi-precious stones, and manufactures thereof not provided for under No. XX d. Other articles of stone excepting statuary: 1. Not in connection with other materials, or only with wood or iron, 2. In connection with other materials, provided same are not articles XXXIV.-Coals, &c. Coal, brown coal, cokes, peat-turf charcoal.. XXXV.-Straw and bast goods. a. Matting and foot-rugs of bast straw, reeds, grass, roots, rushes, &c.; per piece.. ...do.. 2. Trimmed NOTE TO d.-Hats of hair or hemp-braid of sparterre or braids of so-called cotton sparterre and straw are treated as straw hats. ..100 kilos.. e. Sparterre goods of all kinds... XXXVI.-Tar, pitch, resins of all kinds, asphalte mineral tar. XXXVII.-Animals and animal products not otherwise enumerated. a. Live animals and animal products, not otherwise enumerated; fresh fish; also bee-hives with live bees... b. Eggs of fowls XXXVIII.-Earthenware. Free. Free. a. Common bricks, fire-bricks, tiles, tubes, and pottery, not glazed... c. Other earthenware, exclusive of porcelain and wares of like character 1. Plain colored or white; fancy terra-cotta ware.. 2. Two and more colored, bordered, printed, painted, gilded, silvered; the same do not come under No. XX .100 kilos.. d. Porcelain and wares of like character, as porcelain (l'arian jasper, &c.): XLI.-Wool, inclusive of animals' hair, not otherwise provided for, and manufactures thereof. a. Wool, raw, dyed, painted; also hair, raw, hackled, boiled, dyed, and curled. b. Combed wool.. c. Yarn (pure wool or mixed, not with cotton): 1. Of cattle hair, single or double, of all kinds; wadding....100 kilos.. Free. 4. Other yarn: Raw, single.. Raw, double Bleached or dyed, single. ......do. Bleached or dyed, double, triple, or more twist, raw, bleached, or .100 kilos.. Manufactures, also mixed with cotton, linen, or metallic thread: 1. Cloth selvage .100 kilos.. 2. Coarse, not printed, not dyed felts. 5. Unprinted cloths and stuffs not included under No. VII.....do.... 8. Woven shawls of five or more colors. XLII.-Zinc, also alloyed with lead or tin, and manufactures thereof. a. Zinc in pigs or blocks, old zinc.. c. Coarse articles of zinc; also in connection with wood, iron, lead, or tin, c. Coarse tinwares, also in connection with wood, iron, lead or zine, not EFFECTS OF THE GERMAN TARIFF. REPORT BY CONSUL WINSER, OF SONNEBERG. The question as to how far the new German tariff has contributed to the more satisfactory state of trade is generally discussed; but it is altogether too early to give an exact opinion upon so weighty a matter. Indeed, both the advocates and the opponents of the new tariff, in the Imperial Parliament and outside of it, concur in the belief that, after so brief an interval since the tariff was put in force, it is impossible to judge at present whether it will work favorably or the reverse upon the S. Doc. 231, pt 5—5 business interests of the nation. The necessary experience must first be obtained. It will be remembered that the new tariff went into operation on the 31st of May, 1879, with regard to raw iron of every sort; on the 5th of July, 1879, for groceries and other articles of consumption, as well as for petroleum; and on the 17th of July for tobacco and the manufactures thereof. Before the introduction of the new duties speculation in each of these commodities was quite rife, as the customs statistics show, and large quantities of the merchandise so soon to be affected were brought into Germany before the closing of the door. There were immense stocks of dutiable foreign goods on hand, therefore, when the tariff came into operation, and the speculation was principally carried on in raw, scrap, and bar iron and the manufactures thereof; in tinware, wine, tobacco, lard, tallow, petroleum, cotton, wool, leather, palm oil, and other raw materials. This speculation was continued in those articles upon which the increase of duty was fixed for the first of January, 1880. The inevitable result of the excessive imports of dutiable merchandise during several months was to reduce these imports below the normal quantities subsequently. The result of the speculation of last year, therefore, has been to frustrate the expectations of the protectionists, who counted securely upon an immediate improvement in the condition of home industries, while the anticipated advantage to the exchequer of the Empire, for the same reason, has not been secured. Likely enough the expected favorable results, as well as the feared unfavorable consequences, of the tariff have been overrated. The protection of German industries is only one of the factors which enters into the manysided question of fostering the prosperity of the manufacturing classes, the hoped-for benefits of which policy may be paralyzed if not de stroyed by factitious influences that are constantly arising. But particular value is laid upon the tariff as a well-adapted basis upon which to enter upon future commercial conventions, bringing Germany into a more favorable condition in juxtaposition with foreign countries, and enabling her to seek a quid pro quo where she makes concessions to her neighbors. The existing commercial conventions between Germany and Austria, France, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland are only provisional, and the uncertainty respecting their prolongation and ultimate renewal, with modifications, works harmfully upon the German export trade, exerting a more crippling influence the longer it continues. PROPOSED INCREASE OF DUTY ON FLOUR IN GERMANY. REPORT BY CONSUL-GENERAL KREISMANN, OF BERLIN. I have the honor to report that a bill has just been submitted to the Reichstag by the Imperial Government for so amending the present German tariff act as to impose a duty of 15 marks ($3.57) per 100 kilos (220 pounds avoirdupois) on fresh grapes, and increase the duty on flour, &c., from 2 marks (47.6 cents) to 3 marks (71.4 cents) per 100 kilos from and after the 1st of July next. This latter provision, it is understood, is largely aimed, among other purposes, against the importation of wheat flour from the United States. In support of the proposed measures the Government submits the following considerations: In No. 25, Q. 2, of the customs tariff a duty of 2 marks (47.6 cents) is imposed on mill products of grain and pulse, and especially also on |