The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-11-03
THE Sentinel In commenting upon the

the duty on potatoes, those OF the lake
shore counties on barley, those of Dane,
Rock and Jefferson on leaf tobacco. Ii
it had added to the list many OF the other
agricultural products raised ID this state
on which the duty has been considerably
increased, inquiry might take wider
scope and the farmer learn with more
certainty whether he is protected or not.
II the farmer is not protected then the
tariff is not only Of no benefit to him but
g positive injury. Indeed protective
tariff can only be benefit to some by
discriminating against others. No one
can receive a benefit without its being
conferred at the expense of another.
If the farmer derives any benefit from
the tariff it must be shown in enlarged
prices of the products which he raises.
Let US apply this test to the articles men
1890 before the duty Oh barley was in
creased from 10 cents to 80 cents per
bushel, the price paid per bushel was
$50. Ask the farmer how much more
he receives per bushel for his barley now
than he did then and his answer will de-
termine whether he Is protected by this
tax or not. Barley brings just about the
same price now that it did then, with a
slight shade in favor of 1890. An ex-
animation of the reports of the bureau
of statistics shows that for the year 1891
we exported 2,585,318 bushels of barley.
There i certain kind of barley which is
not raised IN the United States which is
imported, but this in no way enters into
competition with the native product.
To what extent Is the farmer protected
as shown by statistics?
The tax on potatoes has been increas-
ed by the Mckinley law from 15c to 25c.
per bushel.. Let us see what benefit has
resulted to the Waupaca county farmer
which should make him strenuous for
the retention OF this tax. In 1890 before
the Mckinley law went into effect pota-
toes were quoted in the Manitowoc mar.
ket at 6O-65 cents per bushel, and are
| now quoted at 40 cents per bushel. Truly
the Waupaca farmer must be a queer
bird if he regards this changed condition
blessing in disguise.
! The importatlons OF potatoes for the
| year 1891 are almost IDENTICAL with those
Of 1890. The importations for the three
| months Of 1S90,-October, November and
December-that the Mckinley law was
| in force far exceeded the average of any
| three months during the year. There
| is but slight difference in the exporta-
| tions for the year 1890 and 1891. On the
whole the farmer has suffered heavy loss
on potatoes under the first years oper-
| alton of the Mckinley law as shown by
| figures which are Official
No examination has been made as to
the results to tobacco interests from the
| Mckinley law, as The Pilot has no circu-
| lation in the localities in which tobacco
is staple product.
IL VIC cAecuA uquitleS W OtueT plO-
ducts we shall find that in 1890 wheat
was quoted in the Manltowoc market,
| SIS; In 1892 at 62, The tax on foreign
wheat was increased from 20c. to 25c. per
bushel. But Judging from prices the
"hone market" did not respond very
favor bly, to the appeal of the tax. Pos
EIhIv tho farm
the benefit to him lies, in the increased
tax upon wheat, but IN doing so he must
exercise his imagination, not his reason.
The expectations of wheat for the year
1891 were little over one hundred and
twenty-nine million bushels and still with
that vast surplus, the farmer is told he
would be swamped with foreign wheat If
he was not protected by the tariff. The i'm
portations of wheat IN 1891 were seven
times what they were in 1890, and the
importations during the three months of
that year under the Mckinley law were
over four times what they we're for the
preceding nine months OF the year. What
blessing to the producer of wheat a
tariff tax is,
A big thing was done the farmer in in
creasing the tax on beans and pease from
10 per cent. adgalorem to 40 cents per
bushel. To compare the price paid for
paase in 1890 with that prevailing now,
would be manifestedly unjust as the pea
crop Is failure this year and prices are
high in consequence. But the luw which
was to increase the price OF pease was in
operation In 1891, and comparison of
the prices prevailing in September for
each OF these years is given. For 1890
small green pease 1913; large green
pease 65-6S. In 1891; small green pea.e
20, large green pease, 1913. Has
the 40 cents per bushel tax done much
to enhance the price OF pease? The mar
ket price of beans has not been reported
by The Pilot and hence comparison
cannot be made.
The tax on cheese and butter has been
from four to six cents per
pound, presumably in the interests of
the farmer. 1t would require an expert
to discover any advance IN the price of
cheese. The importations OF cheese for
the year 1890 and 1891 do not vary over
a few thousand pounds. The cheese i'm
ported is kind not manufactured in this
country and its importation does not in !
the. least affect the dairyman. The price of
butter is higher at present than for GER
tain periods bofore the passage OF the
law. But during the. two
years that the law has been in torce there |
have been periods when the price of but |
Ter was much lower than for the CORES |
bonding portions of the year 1890. The