The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-07-23
TELEPHONE TALKS.
SOUTH AMERICA MAKES A FEW RE-
MARKS ON RECIPROCITY.

5. Ayes: what do you want?
U. S.-This is United States. You
know we put a reciprocity clause into
what we call the Mckinley bill, that we
passed here last fall?
s. Ayes, l | heard you did.
U.S.-Well, that clause authorizes the
president to put duties on tea, coffee.
sugar. molasses and hides.
5. A.-Aren't you mistaken? | thought
your constitution gave your congress
full and exclusive power to lay and COL
lect taxes, duties, etc.
u. S.-Yes, so it does; but | haven't
time 10 discuss a constitution now more
than TOO years old. As | was going to
say. the president can put a duty of 3
cents per pound on your coffee, ~ cents
per pound on your hides and 2 cents per
pound on your sugar, if in his opinion
yon unduly tax the goods imported into
your countries from the United States.
1t is to learn what you intend to do in
regard to this matter that | have called
you up.
). Ali your president wishes to put a
tax ON these articles, all of which are now
On your free list, and your people don't
object to paying it, | don't see why we
should. As to what kind of duties we
should have, l think we can decide fer
ourselves without any foreign interfer-
ence.
L. S.--Of course we don't wish to in
terfere. but don't you understand that
II we tax our imports of those articles
from your countries and not from other
countries you will lose some Of your
trade up here:
:. A.-Oh, yes; of course we might
lose a little with you, but we would gai,:
about as much with other countries. If
you tax raw hides and increase their
cost your manufacturers will make
fewer gloves and shoes. but Europe will
make more; so if you tax sugar as Won
nave been doing your Gamers and pre-
servers will do less business and Europe
Will do more in this line. | see clearly
that while such a policy might injure us
a little 1t would harm you much more,
much more that | can't think YOU
be so foolish as to adopt it but
only intend it for a bluff. No. we dom,
care to swap any tariffs this year.
Y. S.-But wait a little; don't talk
quite SO loudly. After l shall have ex.
a few things youn may take quite
a different view.
S. A.-Well. go on.
Z. S.-4ou see we have had a hiyn
protective tariff here for thirty years.
). Ayes, know that's what yor
call 1t. agree, though, that it's high,
C.S.-Well, the Republican party that
made this tariff has been telling the
and laborers that it was to help
hem by giving them home markets, ,
nigh wages, etc.
). A.-Iou didn't have to give reasons
o your manufacturers, | guess. They ,
object to a policy that would give ,
hem exclusive ownership ct Your "home ,
markets" and !
U. s. Please wait until | am through. I
As | was going to say, the farmers who
expected everything Of protection DO. t
IN spendthrifts, ana, because nearly |
lalf OF their farms were m%ortgaged, and {
'ecause farmers east of the Mississippi; {
liver have lost half of their value during
he last fifteen years, they got it into
heir heads that protection was to
for all their extravaganza and
The same kind of an alb =.
urd idea was taking possession of the !
rage earners, who, because they had to I
o more work or see their wages reduced |
early every year, began to think that /
was at fault, though it was I
Explained to them that it was due to g
reproduction, excessive competition. l
tc. Well, anyway, by 1896. when Nc t
llnley was revising the tariff, a few of
saw clearly that the protection sys- |
EN- could not stand much longer unless
was again repaired with a view tc
the farmer. 1t was for this pur- =
ose that THAT is, we-hit upon this .
'heme of reciprocity to open markets 7
! your countries for our farm products. :.
;. Ayes, l see; but you don't ex. y
act to find markets for farm products ~
own here! We are in the farming bust :
ess ourselves, and unless your farmers
ok well to their laurels they will soon
'se some OF their markets in Central :.
.merica and the West Indies, where we Il
already selling -four and other agri- u
lltural products. 1t is implements of L
5riculture ratherthan products of agri- s
allure that We want. q
U. Snow you understand our pre- S
We must make the farmers 6
elieve that we really expect that reci- I
will open up new markets. II
S. A.-But isn't the scheme a sad com s,
entary on your ''home market the @
y? Doesn't it admit that protection /,
mako 'shOma marketSr"
Canada-Hello! Hello! Is this United
y. S.-Yes.
CT called you up to learn what kind II
a reciprocity treaty You intend to make v
it'll us. o
U. S.-We are not considering any a
'ciprocity treaty with you and | am &
ot certain that we shall do SO. We do il
ot care to dicker with you. n
C.-But u 5000, 900 people purchase G
much of you as the other 81 900, 600 p