The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-19
THE FARMERS AND THE TARIFF.

The senate has approved the agricul-
tural schedule of the Wilson bill as re-
ported by the finance committee. On all
animals. including horses. mules, cattle,
hogs and sheep, heavy reductions in the
tariff duties have been made. Mckinley
rates on horses ranged from 30 to 90 per
cent; Wilson rates are % per cent Nc
kinley rates on cattle ranged from II to 90
per cent: Wilson rates are 20 per cent.
Duties on sheep have been reduced slightly
to 20 per cent. although wool Is admitted
free of duty by the Wilson bill.
In the case of barley the change is from
65 TO 80 per cent, although barley malt. in
the interest of the maltsters. Is increased
from 50 to 40, and manufactured barley,
pearled or hulled. is also increased from is
TO 30. Buekwheat Is reduced from 81 to 20
per cent: corn from - to 20: corn meal
from IS TO 20; macaroni from 80 Ito %; oats
from 80 to 20; oatmeal from Is to Is.
While the moderate protection of the
Mckinley law on these Northern agricul-
tursl products is thus reduced the enormous
duties on South Carolina and Louisiana
rice, amounting to liz per cent on the
cleaned article, are moderately reduced,
leaving the duty ct s4 per cent. Un-
cleaned rice is reduced from "a to - per
cent, but manufactured rice is left IN
changed.
Rye is left unchanged doubtless through
the WHISKY interests influence, while rye
-four is increased from to % per cent.
Wheat Is practically unchanged, but wheat
-four is reduced from IS to 20 per cent.
All dairy products are cut-butter from
3S to % per cent: cheese from 4S to 25;
condensed milk from 81 to 81
Likewise vegetables are reduced-beans
from IS to Al per cent; prepared peas,
beans and mushrooms from 40 to 80: hay
from 43 to 20; honey from IS to %; hops
from SO 10 %; onions from 81 TO 20; peas.
both dried and split, are slightly In
creased, but potatoes are reduced from 50
to 30; linseed and fiaxseed from % to rs;
all vegetables not especially provided for
from IS to 30.
Wool of all grades, in another schedule,
Is placed upon the free list. In still an
other schedule the duty on flax is cut in
two.
The duty on grapes Is left practically
unchanged, but plums are reduced from A
TO 80 per cent. raisins from SO to 80; apples
from "a to 20; dried apples from AZ to 20;
live poultry from SO to %; dressed poultry
from 81 to 20; dandelion root from 40 to 30;
vinegar from n 10 %.
Taking the entire agricultural schedule
the reduction of duties averages from SO. SO
per cent to 22Ss per cent.
The reductions are not in the interest of
American farmers, but Of their rivals and
competitors in Canada and Australia.
These reductions of duties in the agricul-
tnral schedule mean increased imporsa-
tions of the products Of foreign farms and
lower prices for American farm products,
lower wages for American farm laborers
and smaller profits for American farmers.
In the matter of hops, in which the
state of Washington is interested, the
tariff smashers st Washington City have
reduced the duty on hops from Is cents
pound under the Mckinley law 10 cents a
pound under the Wilson bill. These Dem.
oeratic tariff reformers expect that 2,750.-
COO pounds Of hops will be imported an
naally If the Wilson bill becomes a law.
This same Wilson bin will. by its tariff
duties on sugar, increase the cost OF that
article to the farmer over cent pound.
and puts 50 oO0. COO into the Golfers Of the
sugar trust.
How will the Washington state farmer
like tariff which puts wool on the free
list. cuts the duty on hops nearly SO per
cent, and yet makes him nay over a cent
pound more Tor his sugarf Agriculture
is AT present depressed in all states and
sections. SO that the farmer who is making
both ends meet Is fortunate. Wheat is
selling at q very low price; 80 are corn and
other staple farm commodities, and
yet ~ this moment the Demo-
cratic congressional tariff reformers are
trying TO pass the Wilson bill, which
makes the condition OF the northern
frontier farmer harder than ever
by giving his home market TO
the foreign competitor. In Washing
ton state wool Is placed on the
ktNc AtsAs t3r AAtf On AN8s - GAt % Der
cent; lumber IS 10 De placed on the free
list and coal is to get little or no protsc-
ton. Not only Is the Northern farmers
industries assAiled. bat be is taxed on
sugar, and with lumber on the free list and
coal either on the free list or with grossly
inadequate protection the industries OF
Washington state are practically obliter-
ated, for il the lumber and coal industries
get "a black eye" the farmer must OF
course suffer too in consequence. in sddi-
ton TO what he loses by free ~ool and the
duty on hops cut nearly 50 per cent and
his protection on ether agricultural PRO
ducts severely reduced How does the
ssNts of Washington farmer like the pros
pect Of the passage OF the Wilson tarig
bsiif
John sherman in hts great speech Of
the slst uis. says that the Wilson tara
bili sacrifices the interest Of svert farmer
IN lie uG4.sd States. sIcsrs probably the