St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-23
OUR MILLING INTERESTS.
JOHN LIND BEFORE THE SENATE
FWAFcE COMMITTEE.
HE PROPOSES AN AMENDMENT
low the President to Impose
Retaliatory Duties on Coun-
tries That May Discriminate
Against Our Wheat and Flour
-Lind's strong arguments.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Eek Repre-
sentative John Lind, of Minnesota. has
been in Washington several days seek
ing a hearing before the senate commit
tee on finance, i'll behalf of the milling
interests. His proposition to the finance
committee was submitted in the form of
an amendment, providing that the pres
ident may impose retaliatory duties on
4 long list of articles manufactured or
produced in countries which impose
prohibitOry or discriminating duties
upon grain. products of grain or agri-
cultural products of the United States.
A long list of articles are enumerated.
which includes a sufficient number to
enable retaliation to be enforced againS
many foreign countries.
In support of his proposition, MIR.
Lind submitted a brief, in which he
points cut the necessity for such a pro-
vision in the new tariff bill.
THE proposed ramendments" he said,
would not. if adopted. introduce any
new principle of fiscal or commercial
legislation III the pending bill. The
section which it is sought to amend
provides for the free eXchang e, reel
procally, of farm products. This our
millers do not object to. They stand
ready 10
COMPETE WITH THE WORLD.
"If they cannot hold theirown against
all the competition they are willing to
be superseded. They do not ask the
imposition of any taxes in aid of their
industries. They do not ask congress
or the executive to entangle or burden
the nation with any reciprocal trade
alliance or commercial treaties for their
benefit. They do ask that after the
committee has formulated the fiscal
policy of the government according to
its conception of the interests as we'll as
the wants of the nation. it add this pro-
posed amendment, by which, as is con-
fidently believed by the millers, the
administration will have the power to
protect this great American industry,
not from the competition, but against the
discriminating and prOhibitOry leglSla-
ton of European countries.
"This proposition" Mr.. Lind's brief
continues, involves nothing new in our
legislative policy. whether viewed from
one parry standpoint or the other. Leg
islation of the same character was en-
acted in the Fifty-first congress. by
hlc European governments were
compelled to throw away the mark of
discrimination and admit our meat and
products on terms of
COMMERCIAL FAIRNESS.
This proposition is identical with that
bill in spirit, and it is deemed only fair
to say that no law passed Ill years has
been productive of more beneficent
direct results to our farmers than the
so-called meat inspection bill. The no.
ton of compensatory rights and duties
underlieS the whole system of interna-
tional law, has been recognized by our
government since its foundation and
its principles recognized in this as it has
been in every preceding tariff bill"
The articles upon which it is proposed
that higher rates may be levied in order
to secure reciprocal advantages, he
says. are luXuries and articles of volun-
tary use. and the increased duties could
be borne without Inconvenience.
Referring TO the countries to be
reached, he said: Germany supplies
us with most of our toys and goods of
that description, as we'll as the manu-
schedule would apply especially tie
France and Italy. If china ornaments,
DiSque ware and b~ric-a-brac were added,
Denmark and Austria could be effect
lively reached"
Nothing could be learned as to how
the finance committee viewed the prop
~oSition, although the members told
MI. Lind that it would receive consider
atiOn.