The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-05-03
ANALYZED BY RUSK.
Causes of the Prevailing Agri.
cultural Depression.
Want of Business-IIike Methods, Lack
of Study of Laws of Supply
and Demand

Thinks the Creates. Evil Is the Absence
of u High Tarin on Imports of Farm
Products.
WASHINGTON, April 23. - Secretary
Rusls, in reply to hundreds of communi-
cations from different sections OF the
country appealing to him for an express
sion of opinion respecting the present
condition of agricultural depression its
causes and remedies, has issued long
address to the farmers of the country.
The present agricultural depression,
universally admitted, and OF which
there can be no doubt, the Secretary
says, can be traced to a combination of
causes-so many that probably no one
man can enumerate them all. The
causes which to the Secretary seem more
directly responsible for this depression
may be divided into two classes: Those
inherent in farmers themselves and for
which they alone can provide possible
remedy, and those over which the farm
or himself has no direct control and the
remedy for which must be provided by
law
In the first class OF causes indicated,
he attributes depreciation of the pro-
ductive power Of land to q variety of
causes: to careless culture, want of busi-
ness-like methods, lack of study of sup
ply and demand and market prices, and
the ownership by many of more land
than they can properly care for. After
alluding briefly to the discouraging ef-
fects of farm mortgages, the difficulties
of the transportation question, gambling
in farm products, controlling comblna-
lions and the depressing effect of the in
crease of middlemen on the results of
the farmers honest toll, Secretary Rusk
advancesan argument in favor of higher
duties on agricultural products. One OF
the gravest causes for the present agrl-
cultural depression, in the opinion OF
the Secretary, is lack of protection for
the farmer.
| Few people. he says, realize that our
imports of agricul ural products-esti-
mated at prices paid by thu consumer
are about equal to our agricultural en-
port, estimated at prices paid to the
farmer, yet such is the case. Our i'm
ports Of products so d in competition
with those actual y produced on ourown
soil, amount to nearly Sl15,OOO 600 an
nually, and as much more could be pro-
duced on our own soil under 'avorable
conditions. Our imports of agricultural
products for the fiscal year ended June
80, 1889, aggregated S266, 900, 900, the far
greater part of which-perhaps S255,-
900, ,OOO--could, the Secretary thinks,
with proper encouragement, be pro-
duced on our own soil.
To protection the Secretary looks for
remedy. Zone glance" he says, lat
the comparative rates of duty levied
upon agricultural as compared with
other products; one glance at the free
list, the greater portion of which con-
sists of agricultural products, either
grown or which could be grown upon
our own soil, and a comparison of these
| figures with the average rate of duty
levied upon manufactured articles,
ought to be sufficient to silence any OPP
position to the demand j have made on
behalf of the American .iarmer in my
annual report-namely, that by wise
application of our protective system, all
the benefits of our home market be Sc
cured to him for every thing he may be
Shle to produce"
OSr system of taxation, the Secretary
thinks, demands Improvement At pres
ent, in many States, tho burden of local
taxation presses heavily upon farm prop
erty, it's very nature rendering it easily
assessablc. Every corporation created
by the State, and to whom special privi-
leges are granted, either by State, coun-
ty or incorporated village or city, should
be taxed in proportion to its earnings.