The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-08-11
Pertinent Questions Answered.

Question No. sO.-yf it is the object of The
thrift to protect labor, could the tariff be great 3
reduced and still afford protection?
In some instances, yes. But what benefit
Take wire nails, for instance. The duty on
them is cents a pound. 1t is obviously
higher than need be at present, because the
nails are actually selling for 81 cents pound.
What harm does the duty do? II abolished
probably not nnil would be imported. Why
not abolish it Probably because no one ever
thought it worth while to ask for its abolition.
Congress did not act without a reason in
framing the present tariff. Every change of
any importance WAS made at the suggestion
OF some person or persons, after arguments
l pro and con had been heard. No one asked
for the removal of the duty on wire nails, for
the same reason, perhaps, that no one asked
for law against spos on the sun. No good
could possibly result in either case Any one
has the privilege OF appearing before the Ways
duty on any article should be changed. II any
one believes the duty on wire nails Is OPP
pressve, while higher than need be for pro-
tective purposes, let him state the case 10 Con-
gress, ask for reduction. and the request
will ndoubtededly be granted.
Question No. 27.-Why is it that american
shipping interests hare declined during the pc
Rod of Protective Tariff?
| OF course the question refers to shipping in
the foreign trade. 1t has declined b. cause it
has been he single one among all our varied
industries which has received no protection
The branch of our shipping which has been
protected, that employed in the coasting
trade. has fourished and fourishes to-day
equally with our other protected industries.
| Question No. 2s.-Why the Abandonment OF
Eastern farms 1ith protected labor in the neigh.
boring factories
Because there is so much b tier and chea per
land out West. Eastern farmers prospered
llafOra WaStarn p
THAT event the Eastern farmers found it to
their advantage to go Wesi," where they
could get any quantity OF the hest land for the
asking. But, as matter of fact, the deserted
not be FORGOTTEN that many OF the rocky hills
Of New England are more profitable to the
cultIvator than the fertile fields Of the West
Why? Because of those same factories with
their protected army OF consumers within
easy reach.
Question No. 80 With a bounty of too cents
a pound on sugar. achich mast be paid out of the
United States Treasury ,chere does the Saving to
the consumer come IN through free sugar.
1t comes In this way: Tine revenue from the
duty on sugar and molasses amounted to
about S55, 100000 a year, which was all paid by
the consumer o The bounty paid on sugar
S4S. 1000. is the saving to the consumer.
| Question No. SO. Has the Mckinney tariff
caused the price Of cotton to be lo,o?
! No. No more than it has caused the price
| OF Shakespeare's autographs to be high
There are very few OF the autographs of
shakespeare in existence; hence they cost
gr at deal There is more cotton in the
United States than there ia a demand for
Throughout the whole world; consequently
the price Of cotton is low. The Mckinley
law had no more to do with that than it had
wi b the color OF the moon.
Question No. IS. What has been the direct
benefit TO the american farmer by the placing of
the duty on eggs? What ,oould be the result If
The duty mere abolished?
In 1880 We imported IL ,962, 752 dozen eggs,
valued at 81, 5S4. O89; in 1891 W" import. d
1858 375 dozen eggs, valued at s533, 497. The
difference between the amounts imported in
these two years., 69a .377 dozen - measures
the larger market for eggs which has been
/ furnished to the American farmer; and the
difference between the values of the eggs i'm
por cd in these two years-$1 050, 592-meas-
ures roughly the value of that market to him.
The direct result OF the Mckinley duty on eggs
has thus been to put 81, 050, 500 more into the
lpoca cts OF the farmer than he received the
preceding year. If the duty were abolished
by that sum at least would be be the loser. I