The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1894-12-13
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Department of Agriculture.


The secretary of agriculture in his re-
port, reviews the operations of his de-
partment for the last fiscal year, and
makes recommendations for the further
extension of its usefulness. He reports
saving in the expenditure during the
year of 5000, 900, which is covered back
into the treasury. This sum is % per
cent of the entire appropriation. A
special study has been made of the de-
mand for American farm products In
all foreign markets, and especially
Great Britain. That country received
from the United States during the nine
months, ending September 80, 1894,
500, 910 live beef cattle, valued at $685.
100000 as against 1851 cattle valued
at $16,624, 900, during the same
period for 1898. During the first
six months of 1894, the United King
dom took also 112,000,000 pounds of
dressed beef from the United States,
valued at nearly $10,000,000. The re-
port shows that during the nine months
Immediately preceding September 80,
1894, the United States exported to
Great Britain 222,676,000 pounds OF
pork; of apples, 100000, valued at
So. 500 600: and of horses. 2SS1. at an
average value OF S1S9 per head. There
was a falling off in American exports of
wheat of 13,5O0,000 bushels, and the
secretary is inclined to believe that
wheat may not, in the future, be the
staple export cereal product of our
country, but that corn will continue to
advance in Importance as an export on
account OF the new uses to which it is
constantly appropriated.
The exports OF agricultural products
from the United States for the fiscal
year, ending June 80, 1894, amounted to
1928, $50, 03S, being 1928 per cent of the
American exports of every description,
and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain took more than "a per cent of
all farm products finding foreign mar
kets.
The Tariff.
The tariff act passed at the last session
of congress needs important amend
ments if it is to be executed effectively
and with certainty. In addition to such
necessary amendments as will not change
the rates of duty, l am still very decid-
edly in favor of putting coal and iron
upon the free list. So far as the sugar
schedule is concerned, would be glad,
under the existing aggravations, to see
every particle of differential duty in ia
vor of refined sugar stricken out of our
tariff law. If with all the favor accord
ed the sugar-refining interest in our tar
tiff laws it still languishes to the extent
of closing refineries and discharging thou
sands of workmen. it would seem to
present a hopeless case for reasonable
legislation. Whatever else is done
or omitted, earnestly repeat here the
recommendation l have made in an
other portion of this communication,
that the additional duty of 1-1Oth of
cent per pound laid upon sugar i'm
ported from countries paying bounty
on its export be abrogated. 1t seems to
me that exceedingly important con-
siderations point to the propriety of this
amendment with the advent OF a new
tariff policy not only calculated to re-
lieve the consumers of our land in the
cost of their daily life; but to invite
better development of American thrift
and create for US closer and more profit
able commercial relations with the rest
of the world, it follows as logical and
imperative necessity that we should at
once remove the chief, if not the only
obstacle which has so long prevented
our participation in the foreign
carrying trade of the sea. A
tariff built upon the theory that
it is we'll to check imports, and that
home market should bound the indus.
try and effort of American producers,
was fifty supplemented by a refusal to
allow American registry to vessels built
abroad, though owned and navigated by
our own people, thus exhibiting willing
ness to abandon all contest for the adj
vantage of American trans-oceanic car
rage. Our new tariff policy, built upon
the theory that it is we'll to encourage
such importations as our people need,
and that our products and manufactures
should find markets in every part of the
habitable globe, is consistently supple
mented by the greatest possible liberty
to our citizens in the ownership and
navigation of ships in which our prod
ucts and manufacturers may be trans
ported. The millions now paid foreign
ers for carrying American passengers
and products across the sea should be
turned into American hands. Ship
building, which has been protected to
strangulation, should be revived by the
prospect of profitable employment for
ships when built, and the American
sailor should be resurrected and again
take his place, sturdy and industrious
citizen in time of peace and patriotic
and safe defender of American interests
in the days of conflict. The ancient
provision of our law, denying American
registry to ships built abroad and
owned by Americans, appears in the
light of present conditions not only to
be failure for good at every point, but
to be nearer relic of barbarism than
anything that exists under the per-
mission of a statute of the United
States. 1 earnestly recommend its
prompt repeal.
The Strike Investigation.
By virtue of a statute of the United
States. passed in 1883, / appointed in