New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-20
TIMING IMPORTED FOOD.

The advanced economists on the Democratic
side. who console themselves with the reflection
,ho, the German bill is ut least step in III"
direction of English Free Trade overlook m
essential point Coblon's victory was won when
the corn laws were abolished and imported f"od
was released from taxation. The German hil,
still unsigned. marks a very different 10
parturc from current policy. Raw sugar IL III"
largest article of imported food In The United
States and II is now practically ire" under
reciprocity conditions Under The German Dill
II Will be heavily taxed. and In such way That
the monoposis will BE- enriched at III" expense
Of consumers The people will pay tribute
twice 10 The Treasury and 10 the Trust This
Is something essentially different from the nboi
ton Of the corn laws.
The secondary effects ~ The two policies are
markedly unlike Starting on the basis Of I'M
taxed food for ihc people the Cobdcnites under
took an ani-tarin agitation in foreign countries
negotiated treaty with France and by multi
plving mercantile agencies and cnlarging ship
ping and banking facilities carried English
manufactures into the markets Of the world
The German hill. beginning with taxing III"
largest article Of imported food. closes markets
which are already opened for American exports
lis enactment Will be accompanied by the abro
CATION If twenty reciprocity agreements. by
which the farm products and manufactures OF
the United States are placed on n preferential
basis in Continental Europe and tropical Am"r-
ca II will be followed by The imposition Of
higher duties upon American -four. grain. pork
meat products and manufactures In twenty for
eign markets The German tariif makers. by
their amazing folly In taxing imported food and
rcvoklng reciprocity conventions restore tariff
barriers abroad against American exports and
abrogafe every existing advantage derived from
preferential rates II IL n complete reversal Of
the Golden method.
The parallel is nj fault In another respect
The Cob1cntcs acted upon The assumption that
the English example In chcapcnlng The daily
food Of the masses would be- followed by for
eign countries. and that eventually tho produc-
ton of the main agricultural staples would be-
confined 10 nations and communities having
| superior facilities In soil AMI climate The Cor
man tariff proceeds on another theory. Food Is
10 be taxed for The Joint benefit IT The Treasury
and millionaire monopolists and bv the consc-
qucnt repeal Of the reciprocity agreements food
imported In foreign countries. such rs Germany.
| the West Indies. Brazil and Central America,
from the United States IS 10 he levied upon at
| the custom houses and the cost Of II increased
| TO consumers there Sugar will BE- higher In the
United States. and -four and pork will be more
expensive In foreign countries now affected by
the reciprocity agreements Taxation Of I'M
ported food here will not enable The American
farmer to sell mere flour and pork abroad. II
Will lessen his foreign market and make food
more costly abroad rs well rs NJ home. The
only beDclclaries Of This policy Will be the sugar
monopoliss. who. by limiting production and
raising prices. are hoping TO pay enormous divi-
dends on their watercd stock.
| II Peel Golden and bright instead OF heading
| popular movement for uniaxed food had advo-
| Gated the retention Of the corn laws with higher
schedules In the interest Of monopolists. and II
instead Of opening foreign markets by the nego-
! tiaton Of the treaty with France thcy had re-