Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-10-18
Salt Ii Down.

The Overland Monthly for October has
most savory article on salt, from the
pen of Mr.. W. A. Beatty. Mr.. Beatty
says that salt is not product of the skill
or of the ingenuity of the human mind.
1t is the product of nature, and is one of
the prime necessaries of life. But there
have grown up about it's production giant
monopolies, which are protected and en-
couraged by the tariff. The people are
using annually about 10000, 900 barrels
of salt, and there has been a steady in.
crease per capita for the last decade. OF
this, more than 1000, GOO barrels are pro-
duced in Michigan against $500, 900 bar
rels produced elsewhere in the country.
and 100000 barrels imported. The
value of the imported article is 81 ,455,-
3S5, with duty of $675, ,S66, or an ad
ualorem rate of 1892 on hundred dol
lars. Cheap salt is necessity, and will
work no hardship upon its producers.
1t is needed in our great packing estab-
lishments for pork and beef. for our fish
men, and for those who cure pork, either
for their own use or for the market; and
for our butter-makers, who are exporting
butter largely. Mr.. Beatty goes on to
say that it is the testimony OF experts
that salt produced in the United States
cannot be successfully used in the dairy
business - there are certain chemical
properties in foreign salt that make the
latter necessary article. In support OF
the writer's general position, Mr.. Whit
ney, of Michigan, who voted for the
| Mills Bill, and who is great salt manu-
facturer, testifes that he now success
fully competes Nth English salt in all
the cities of the Atlantic seaboard, and
can continue to do so without the pres
ent tariff. Mr.. Blaine, Mr.. Reed, and
half dozen other prominent Re-
publicans now opposing this pro-
vision Of the Mills bill, wanted
to put salt on the free list twelve or
fifteen years ago. In debate on the
subject in 1871, Mr.. Hale said: "I be-
lieve this matter (salt should 60 upon
the free list; that the monopoly which
has obtained heretofore for the Onondaga
salt works-as great and complete as any
monopoly ever granted by the Tudors in
England's most despotic times-ought to
cease" All of which shows the infu-
ence of politics upon the consideration OF
question which ought to be determined
solely by the needs and in the interests
of the great mass of consumers.
In this connection it is worth while to
mention the fact that the existing tariff
tax on salt is remitted in favor of the
fish-curers OF Maine and Massachusetts.
But why the fish curers of the Eastern
coast should have the remission more
than the farmers of the country who use
vast quantities Of salt in their industry,
it is impossible to say; unless it be that
the New England fishermen had to be
placated by douceur, as they are a
political power in the States from which
monopoly tariffs originate. In the mean
time the Republicans are determined
that the farmers of California, who have
already paid 81, 100000 in duties for jute
sacks to carry their wheat to market, and
which are tared when the wheat is sold,
shall continue to pay this enormous tax.
The Mills bill places jute on the free list.
Think of that, farmers, when you come
| tn vote