The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-16
Farmers and The Tariff.

IL ID dScUlACd Df SsCat mail y
people in this country that agricul
tural products in this country are
not protected. This is a mistake, as
any one can ascertain by reference
to the tariff laws of the United States
Another blunder is to suppose that
the farmers of the great northwest
fearing no competition, boldly send
their grain to Europe and elsewhere
and find outside ofthe limits of theil
own country the great outlet for the
result of their industry. When the
Tariff Commission was receiving
testimony Mr.. Charles S. Hill, Sta.
tistician Department. of State, Wash.
ington, appeared before the Commit
tee in behalf of the Metropolitan In
dustrial League, New York and on
page 1890 of the Report ofthe Tariff
Commission, part 4, will be found
some very interesting facts as to the
aggregate value of our manufactur-
ing and agricultural products, the
small percentage of such products
exported, and the large percentage
consumed at home.
He stated, In examining item by
item, however. of our products, as
given by the Agricultural Depart
ment, the sum of the yearly yield OF
such products amounts to about
81 ,500,000,000. The eminent Com
missioner of Agriculture places
the total value at s9,0000000O0."
These figures, representing the
value of our agricultural products,
are so enormous as to startle us.
Now, where is the market for this
vast production The market is
mainly at home.
Mr.. Hill stated further, "Of our
agricultural products, 81 100000,
exactly 92 per cent, is consumed at
home, and only 5 per cent. is ex-
ported, namely, s600,000,000." rs
these figures were named by a Gov
ernment statistician to the Tariff
Commission engaged in obtaining
evidence to assist them Ill form ula-
ting a new scale of customs duties,
it Is safe to accept them as being
about as nearl Y correct as they can
be obtained. From this We learn
that the farmers sell eight dollars
worth abroad to every ninety-two
dollars worth sold at home. The
value of the home market to the far
mer can surely be understood by
any one from these statistics. The
ability of the people of the United
States to consume this large proper
tion of the agricultural products of
our great country is a subject that
should claim close attention at the
hands of farmers and planters, and
they should be especially careful to
consider how their immediate in
terests are interviewer with the pow
er of consumption of those engaged
in cther industrial pursuits
The Chief Of the Bureau of Stats
tics, in his annual statements on the
commerce and navigation of the
United States for the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1880, gives The val
ne of exports of products of domes-
tic agriculture as s6S3,010,976 Opp.
XIV Mr.. 5. Corning Judd stated
the figures for 1880 as s6S6.000, 900
and for 1881 as s730,000,000 in his
evidence before the Tariff Commits
sion opp. 1890 part3 g. Referring to
the position of the farmer Mr.. Judd
gives figures to show how much is
but omits to tell how i'm
mensely much more is consumed at
home. S600,000000 exported is
large amount; s6,900,000,000 con-
sumed at home is a very much
larger.
The absence of protection to the
farmer is alluded to so frequently
that it is quite likely some people
really believe agricultural products
are on the free list. 1t is quite a
to suppose that the farmers
are not protected. S. Corning Judd
ct al, a sub committee of the Iro-
quois Club, of Chicago, in a state
ment made to the Tariff Commits
sion, said Reports part 2, PIP. 1030):
= In the London and Liverpool
markets the farmer and farm labor
er, for whom we speak, without the
advantage of any tariff protection
enters into competition
with the "fellahs" of Egypt. the
lowest caste of India, and the lately
enfranchised serfs of Russia. He is
obliged to do this with the price of
all his farm machinery, with the
1ecessaries of life, and the transpor-
.ation to the seaboard and across the
ocean enhanced by protective
iuties."
Mr.. Judd referred to the increase
n exports in agricultural products, |
md seemed to regard an increased !
nome market as of but little canSe-
luence. The s per cent. exported |
ooked so large, being hugged up so |
.loseiy, that the 80 per cent. con.
umed at home is hidden from sight.
He remarked: An increased home /
market does not seem, in the light of
his experience in prices and the
.rowth of foreign demand, neces-
Y for the farmer worth his paving
5 per cent. additional on all domes-
ic goods by him purchased" He
eferred to 1.-The prices obtained by
he unprotected farmers ofthe north
rest for great staples" On page
030, part 3, report of Tariff Com
Mr.. Judd gives these fig
res 100000 engaged in manu-
acturing, 100000 engaged in agri-
ulture, 100000 engaged in profes-
ional and personal service, and l.
0O,OO0 engaged in trade and trans
,ortation, and remarks: Under
his most liberal estimate of those
mployed in connection with pro
ected industries. II 100000 workers
re engaged in entirely unprotected
against 100000 who are
mployed in those which are pro-
The laws of the United States show
, the contrary, and from them we
ind that the agricultural classes are