, 1890-12-02
HARRISOE'S MESSAGE


The report Of the secretary Of aEricul
ture deserves especial attention in view OF
the fact that the year has been marked
in a very unusual degree by agitation and
organization among the farmers, looking
to an increase Of the profits OF their bust,
ness. 1t will be found that the efforts OF
the department have been intelligently
aud ~Eealously devoted to the promotion Of
the interests intrusted to its care. a very
substantial improvement in the market
prices Of the leading farm products dur
ing the year Is noticed. The price OF
wheat advanced from Sic In October,
1889, to Sl.O0i 10 October, 1893; corn
from Sic to Sole: oats from 29fc 10 43c;
and barley from G3c TO 7Sc. Meats
showed a substantial but not so large an
increase. The export trade in live an
finals and fowls shows a very large III
crease. The total value Of such exports
Tor the year ending June 30, 1890, was
S33,lOO. 900. and the increase over the
preceding year was $4,000, 600, Nearly
200, 900 cattle and over 5000 more hogs
were exported than in the preceding year.
The increase in the article Of butter was
from Is. 5O497S pounds 70 90, 74S,O42
pounds. and the totai increase in the
NhAuE VI mthN huu AaAAg IlN4uAA1 "a
ported was s. 1000, 600.
The information gwen by the secretary
of the progress aud the prospects Of the
beet sugar industry Is full of interest IL
has already passed the experimental
stage snd rs a commercial success. The
area over which the sugar beet can be
cultivated Is very large. and another field
crop of great value is offered to the choice
OF the farmer.
The Taun.
The apprehension that our tariff may
again and at once be subjected to impor
tant general changes would add a depres
sing influence Of the most serious charac-
ter. The general tariff act has only par
italy gone into operation, some of its i'm
portsnt provisions being limited TO take
effect dates vet in the future. The gen
eral provisions OF the law have been in
force less than sixty days. 1t is curious
to note that the advance in tho prices OF
articles wholly unaffected by the tariff net
was by many hastily ascribsd to that act.
Notice was not taken of the tact hat the
general tendency Of the markets was up
ward from influences wholly apart lron
the recent tariff legislation. The enlarge.
ment Of our currency by the silver bill I'M
doubtedly gave an upward tendency TO
trade and had a marked effect on prices
But this natural and desired effect of the
silver legislation was by many enormously
attributed to the tariff act There is
neither wisdom nor Justice in the sugges-
ton that the subject of tariff r%evl5ion shall
be opened before this law has n fair trial.
IL Is quite as true that every tariff sched-
ule is subject to objections. no bill was
ever framed, l suppose. that in all OF it,
rates and clsssiications had the full ap-
proval even OF a party caucus, Such
legislation is always and necessarily the
product of compromise as to details. But
in general scope aud effect | think it Will
justify the support Of those who believe
that American legislation should conserve
and defend American trade and the wages
OF American workmen.
Reciprocity.
| do not doubt that a very largely in
creased foreign trade is accessible to us
without bartering for it either our home
market for such products of the farm and
shop as our own people can supply or the
wages of our working people. In macy
of the products of wood and iron and in
meats and breadstuffs we have advantages
that only need better facilities of inter
course and transportation. To secure for
them large foreign markets the reciprocity
clause of the tariff act wisely opens the
way TO secure a large reciprocal trade in
exchange for the free admission 20 our
ports of certain products. The state Of
revenues was such that we could dispose
with any import duties upon coffee, tea,
hides and the lower grades OF sugar aud
molasses. That the large advantages re-
sulinG to the countries producing and ex
porting these articles W placing them on
the free list entitled US to expect a fair
return in the way of custom concessions
upon articles exported by US to them was
so obvious that TO have gratuitously
Abandoned this opportunity to enlarge our
trade would nave been an unpardonAble
error. There were but two methods of
maintaining control of this question open
TO conRress-to place all Of these articles
upon the dutabie list, subject to such
treaty agreements as could be secured, or
place them all presently upon the free lis
but subject to the reimposition of specified
duties II tie countries from which we re
ceived them should refuse to give us suit
able reciprocal benefits. This latter
method possesses great advantages. 1t
expressed In ADVANCE the consent OF
congress to reciprocity arrangements
Affe,tinR those products which must other
wise have been delayed and unasoertained
until each treaty was ratified by the
senate and the necessary legislation en-
acted by congress. Experience has
shown that some treaties looking to re-
ciprOcal trade have failed to secure a two
third vote in the senate for ratification.
and others having passed that stage have
for years awaited the concurrence of the
house and senate in such modification of
our revenue laws as we're necessary to give
effect to their provisions. We now have
the concurrence OF both houses ia advance
IN a distinct aud definite offer OF free entry
TO our ports Of specific articles. The exc
utive is not required to deal in conjectures
as TO what congress will accept Indeed,
this reciprocity provision is more than
an offer Our part of the bargain is com
plete, delivery has been made. and when
the countries from which we receive
sugar. coffee, tea and hides have placed
on their free lists such OF our products as
shall be agreed upon as an equivalent for
u concession. a proclamation OF that fact
completes the transaction.
a scrap OF Paper saves Her Life.