The Indianapolis journal., 1890-10-30
CONGRESS AND THE FARMER.
Laws Made by Republicans Which Will Result
in Benefit to Agriculturists.

be denOminated agricultural, that has re-
ceived the consideration of Congress dur
ing the session just closed, that which un-
questionably holds the most prominent
place in the minds of people generally is
the tariff legislation, by which direct pro-
lection to the farmer has been substituted
for indirect protection.
The total amount of agricultural products
imported into the United States for the
fiscal year 1SSS-S9 amounted to the enormous
sum of 1856, $4,000 OF the articles so i'm
ported. almost all, with the exception of
tea. coffee and spices, can be and
should be produced In our own
country. The exports of our own
agricultural products for the same
period amounted to $529, ,747, 1896. Both i'm
ports and exports are given at the prices
at the port of shipment Hence, to ascer-
tain the amount paid to our farmers for the
products of the farm which We export it is
necessary to deduct froui this latter sum
all the expense for transportation, han
ding, middlemen's charges ETC., while, to
arrive at the sum paid by American con-
sumers in American markets for agricult-
ural products imported, 1T is necessary to
portation from port of shipment to Onr own
markets, together with the costs of ham
ding and dealers profits. When this is
done it will be found that practically the
amount paid by American consumers for
foreign agricultural products about offsets
the amount paid to American farmers for
farm products exported. On the articles
imported the duties were merely nominal,
and most of them were admitted free.
few illustrations may be given OF the
effect of the new tariff bill upon agricult-
ural imports: OF CATTLE ,551 were inn
ported in 1889, at an appraised value OF
$3.50. .SS7; the old duty was 20 per cent. ad
yaloreni, amounting on the total import to
S1l0,177.40. The new tariff bill places the
duty. at 80 per head. which. on the same
number of ANIMALS, would be S575,51O. On
sheep of which the total number imported
the same year was $685. .s91. the old rate was
per head We imported in 1889 II 1868. Ala
bushels of barley. The old duty was 10
cents per bushel, the new is 30 cents. The
same year we imported 1895 tons of hay.
The old duty was ~, the new duty Is "a per
ton. We imported 6,2O7,027 pounds of
cheese The old duty was cents per
\ pound. the new is q cents. We imported
l59lSs09 dozens of eggs. The old law ad-
united them free, the new tariff places Oh
them a duty of 8 cents per dozen. So We
upon all farmers products the new law
has endeavored to throw the mantle of pro-
lection.
A second bill of Importance to the farm
is what is known as the Sherman Edmunds
bill for the inspection of salted pork or
bacon exported from the United States, to
prevent the importation of adulterated ar
ticles of food or drink, to cause inspection
of all animals exported frem the United
States to foreign countries, Ito cause in
spectiOn and quarantine of all animals i'm
ported into the United States, in order to
prevent the introduction of contagious dis
eases among our domestic ANIMALS. The
lovy furf bar To rha a n ~
er or authority to suspend the importation
into this country of any article or articles
exported from a foreign country when he
is satisfied that said country is imposing
against the admission of the products of
the United States into said country. 1t
was editorially considered In the American
Agriculturist for October.
The bill transferring the Weather Bureau
from the War Department to the Depart
ment of Agriculture has become law.
This bill is In the interest of agriculture,
and has placed the Weather Bureau in the
department. dedicated to that industry, SO
that farmers may be promptly notified of
all weather predictions. The transfer will
take place July 1, 1891.
The bill to increase the endowment of
agricultural colleges mas also become law,
granting annually to each State and Terri
tory, out of the money arising from sales of
public lands, the sum of $4,000 and an an
nual increase of this amount for ten years
of 81 900 additional until the annual appro-
priation shall have become SIS, 1000. This
fund is to be applied only to instruction in
agriculture the mechanic arts. the English
language and the various branches of
mathematical, physical. natural and ecos
nomicscience, with special reference to their
application in the industries of life
Congress also provided for tho printing
of the Agricultural Department reports for
the year $780, and for the reports of the Bu-
reau of Animal Industry for the years 1889
and 1890.
The following bills passed the Senate,
and are now either on the House calendar
or before a committee of the House await
ing further action, which will probably be
taken at the next session: The Vest inspec-
tiOn bill, which provides for the inspection
OF all meat prodqcts'or live stock to be ex;
ported from the United, States; 1t passed
the Senate, was referred to the House CON-
mittee on commerce, and favorably report
ed by that committee, and is now on the
House calendar. A bill for the inspection
of all CATTLE sheep and swine, and their
products, which are the subjects of inter
state and foreign commerce. passed the
Senate, was referred to the House commit
tee on commerce, and is awaiting action by
that committee This is the bill so strong
his last report to the President.
A bill for the protection of trees
and other growths upon the public
domains from destruction by fire passed
on public lands of the House. The House
passed the bill SO we'll known as the Con-
ger lard bill, and that bill is now before the
Senate committee on agriculture awaiting
action.
The House committee on agriculture have
reported favOrably to the House. and the
same are now on the calendar of the House,
the following bills: The Butterworth Op-
tiOns and futures bill. which prohibits deal
ing in options and futures in farm products.
BY a special rule of the House it was given
two days consideration, but it lost its time.
owing to the tilibustering tactics of oppO-
nents of the Conger lard bill, who crowded
the Butterworth bill off the floor of the
House; bill providing for a laboratory
building for the Departments of Agriculture;
bill amending the act organizing the Bu-
reau of Animal Industry; a bill fixing
grain standard.
The Senate committee on agriculture, In
addition to the bills passed by that body,
reported favorably what is known as the
Paddock pure food bill, which provides
against the adulteration of articles of food
or drink. The same committee also re-
ported favorably a pill to make the Com
missioner of Fish and Fisheries an officer
of the Department of Agriculture. The
bill. however. was subsequently, referred
to the Senate committee OH fish cries. where
it now is The same committee reported
favorably bill for the encourag ement
OF the cultivation of the sugar beet aud
the manufacture Of sugar therefrom. aud