Western Kansas world., 1893-07-15
FACTS FOR FARMERS,
WHAT THE TARIFF REFORMERS
PROPOSE TO DO.
Provisions TO BE Made Free Of Duty
Breadstuds Are Mostly to Be Free,
While Potatoes Are Left Subject to q
Duty OF Ten Per Cent.
or Interest to AgriouIturisr..

L
OF Interest to Agriculturisrs.
/! Tariff reform has seen the light of
day in the shape of the draft of a
new bill prepared by the Tariff Com
mittee of the Reform Club. This
committee proposes to make proyis-
ions free Of duty, breadstuffs are
mostly to be made free, while pota-
toes are left subject to a duty of 10
per cent. 1t is of no interest to lock
into this proposal from the farmers
standpoint
A very exhaustive report has just
been published by the Department of
Agriculture, dealing with the prin-
cipal agricultural products of the
| world. From this official source it
appears that wheat, in seasons of
average crops, is imported to any ex-
tent only by the United Kingdom,
Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy,
and practically the wheat markets Of
the} }world, for which all producing
countries are striving, are limited to
the United Kingdom and Belgium,
whose aggregate net imports did not
exceed 125, 100000 bushels of wheat
annually over period of ten years.
Excluding these two countries, the
report shows that Europe is practi-
cally self-supporting, the excess in
the Eastern countries being sufficient
to meet the Deficiencies in the West
ern nations" In order to supply the
European deficiency Of 125, ,O0O,O
bushels Of wheat, the fields of India,
Australia, New Zealand, the Argen-
tine, Canada, Chilli, and the United
States are drawn upon. Last year the
crop Of the United States alone was
SIG, 600, 900 bushels, while our require
ments for consumption and seed are
given in the March report of the De-
partment Of Agriculture at 358 900, 900
bushels, thus leaving a surplus Of
158, 900, 900 bushels alone from our
last years crop, which would
more than supply the European de-
mand of 125, 900, 900 bushels, without
calling upon the surplus of India,
Canada, South America and Austral-
asia. Hitherto our farmers have
been protected against the surplus
wheat crops of other countries, says
the American Economist, but If the
Reform Club committees idea Of
making breadstuffs free be applied to
wheat, then our farmers must COM
pete with the cheap labor surplus
from India and elsewhere, which ex-
ceeds 0,000,0 900 bushels, besides our
own surplus, for all Of which there is
no market available in seasons Of
ordinarily good crops Evidently
American farmers will have to turn
their attention to some other crop
than wheat. The farmers out West
were tired of protection and wanted
change. They will get it.
Take the case Of potatoes, which,
we learn, are to be subject to duty
Of 10 per cent, the present duty
being Is cents per bushel. Our pro-
duction Of potatoes is comparatively
small when the European potato crop
is considered. The United States
grows on an average 17O,00O,000
bushels of potatoes yearly, while
that of all Europe is about 2,700, ,O0O,-
900 bushels, Germany alone growing
1000, 900, 900 bushels in good seasons.
Every year we import more or less
potatoes from Europe, and this sea-
son we have been very heavy i'm
porters, although the duty is Is cents
per bushel. With 10 per cent. |
duty, equal to cents per bushel,
when potatoes are worth only so |
cents, 1t Is easy to imagine |
how our markets would be |
flooded with European and Cana |
dian potatoes. They are now worth |
a dollar in open market, and at this |
price the European shippers net so
cents after deducting freight, duty, |
and other charges. What harvest
they would have with q duty OF 5 |
cents per bushel! The market would |
be in the hands of the foreigners in
such seasons as our last one, the con-
sumner would have to pay q dollar just
the same, the European shippers
would net 10 cents instead Of so |
cents, our revenue would be lessened
by 20 cents on each bushel, and the :
European potato growers and ship
pers would wax fat at the expense OF
American consumers. Potato culture |
would flourish abroad, as the Euro |
pean farmers would receive the
amount that is now given to Ameri-
can farmers by protective tariff.