Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-03-01

The enactment OF the w llS0n Dill means
that there will be a renewal of Canadian
importations, and the probable loss to
the American farmer of more than
S7,OOO,000a year. Before the Mckinley
bill went into effect in 1890, there was
S1,143,44 worth of wheat imported in
a single year from Canada. After the
passage of the Mckinley law, the wheat
importations fell off to S445,461.
Other articles in which the farmers
are concerned are poultry and eggs. In
1889, $2,418.000 worth of eggs were
imported. The first year after the Ne
Kinley law went into effect, the impor
tation of eggs amounted in value to only
100000.
The repeal of the reciprocity features
of the Mckinley law will be more
serious in its effects upon the agricul-
tural interests. The reciprocity clauses
were inspired by Mr.. Blaine, and the
result of their operation was to open
very considerable markets south of us
for American farm products.
Before the reciprocity treaties with
Spain and Cuba went into effect we sent
1891 900 worth of flour in round num-
bers to the island of Cuba. Last year
our -four exports to Cuba amounted to
$2,800,000.
In corn, the increase was from
$120,IS7 to $582,050 In pork, the in
crease was from s2,699,00O to S., 100000.
In vegetables, the increase was from
$294, ,00C0 u .sss.7e 1-e 900, making an increase
in the aggregate Of more than $5,600,00
a year for Cuba alone. The total increase
in export to Cuba during two years
under the reciprocity treaty has been
$12,000,000. The reciprocity treaties
provided for the entry of American farm
products, and some other articles at a
very low rate of duty. and the result was,
the consumption of these articles was
greatly increased; and as the rate OF
duty paid on importations from America
was lower than paid on similar articles
from other countries, the market was
practically given to us. All these ad-
vantages are destroyed by the passage
of the Wilson bill.
Under the reciprocity clauses of the
Mckinley bill. commercial treaties were
negotiated with several European conn
tries which provided for the entry OF
American hog products at fair rates OF
duty. Before that time, American pork
had been practically prohibited. The
European markets will be closed as well
by the passage of the Wilson bill
The wheat outlook from a financial
point of view is not encouraging. but
the production of wheat in India and in
the Argentine Republic is increasing
with great rapidity. 1t is estimated
that this year 60,000,000 bushels of wheat
will be sent from the Argentine Re-
public to Europe. Competition is
springing up in various quarters of the
globe, and the price of wheat is falling
daily here.
AS we have pointed out, the Wilson
bill closes the splendid markets in Cen
tral and Southern Europe and Cuba,
which were opened to us by the McKin-
ley bill, and what seems to US the
peculiar weakness of the Wilson bill is
that it opens no new or important
markets for American products.
Mr.. Cochran, Democrat member of
the Ways and Means Committee, says
that under the reduced rates of the
Wilson bill imports will be increased
$3.50, 100000 year. 1t must necessarily
follow that if we buy goods abroad to
the value of $250,000,0O0 there must be
decrease in all kinds of products here.
In other words, our workmen will have
less to do, and have less money to spend
If the farmer expects to reap any con-
siderable advantages from the enactment
of the Wilson bill, we have every reason
to believe that his hope is vain and ill
founded.