The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1890-08-21
MIR. BANDS Record.


MAY 10, 1890, (Cong. Record, p. |
1922. Mr.. Bland offered the fol.
lowing amendment to the tariff bill:
"That in all cases where it can be
shown by proof satisfactory to the
secretary of the treasury that any
goods, wares or merchandise import
ed into this country have been pur-
chased abroad by-eXchange of farm
products for such goods, or where
such goods have been purchased with
the proceeds or avails of farm pro-
ducts in foreign countries, such
goods, wares and merchandise shall
be imported free of duty
lie had previously, January 2G,
Up. S0G) introduced a similar amend
ment TO the revenue administration
bill. That this proposition is utterly
impracticable, every school boy
knows, and that for several reasons.
LIST, because commercial affairs are
not conducted on the basis of barter,
but by purchase and sale outright,
while all payments are made through
the banks and clearing houses by the
means Of foreign or inland exchange,
(checks and drafts) and clearing
house balance sheets. No man cver
ships a cargo of wheat and exchanges
it for a cargo of iron, silk or cotton
goods, but the exporter of American
productions sells in the best markets
and gets his drafts on London. For
instance: The importer of European
manufactures buys in the cheapest
market and pays with his draft on
London, and these respective drafts
are settled in the clearing house. So
it is just as impossible to trace the
proceeds of any particular crop or
cargo of wheat or tobacco through
the channels of trade to its return in
manufactured goods as it would be to
trace the individual waters of any
little rivulct emptying into the Gas
conade into the Gulf.
Can it be supposed that Mr.. Bland
is ignorant of this fact Of trade with
which every body else is acquainted?
If not ignorant himself docs he pre-
sumo that his farmer constituents are
/, so ignorant that he can tickle them
with a straw?
: 2. But if the proceeds could be
chased through the channels of trade
, it would not be the farmer who raises
the produce who could reap the bcne
fit, hut the great importer who buys
for all and sells to all, for he alone is
:. the man who could say TO the govern.
mcnt: "Thcsc goods were paid for
with the proceeds of wheat, take of
the tariff"
8. 1t would be giving the import.
er who buys with the proceeds OF
r farm products, a great, unfair and
unjust advantage over the importer
who buys with the proceeds of the
, mine, the forest, the mandatory, or
with the wage of labor.
4. 1t would be a great premium
upon fraud and dishonesty as every
importer would have immense temp.
tation before him 10 make it appear
whether true or not, that lis goods
were paid for with agricultural pro-
ceeds.
). This temptation would be so
great and the means of distinguishing
and detecting so mcagre, that with
> out a doubt it would virtually amount
to absolute free trade.
) 6. And this virtual free trade
would necessarily be followed by
these consequences: LIST. The sup
port of the government by direct tax
alton. 2nd. The shutting down OF
5 all our factories the closing up OF
our mines and furnaces; the throw
ing of factory hands, miners and
, laborers out of employment, and
, thus forcing them on to the farm TO
find work, or to tramp the highways
, begging or stealing to keep body and
soul together. 3D.. The forcing
, down the wages of the laborer. 4Lh,
, The turning of the balance of trade
against Us with the consequent drain