New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-08
THE WAR on AGRICULTURE.
INJUSTICE DONE TO A GREAT INTEREST
BY THE PENDING TARIFF BILL.

INTERESTING LETTER OF JOSEPH NIMMo. JR.
TO REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE SEM
ATE FINANCE coMMITTEE-AN OUT
RAGEoUs DISCRIMINATION.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TnmUsEl
Washington, June THE Importance Of free
and fun discussion by the Senate OF the agrlcui-
tural schedule OF the pending Tariff bill Is einpha-
sized In significant letter addressed by Joseph
N!mmo. jr.. 10 the Republican members OF the FL
nance Committee Mr. Nimmo appeared before the
Ways and Means Committee of the House to de-
fend the agricultural interests of New York while
Mr.. Wilson granting hearings on the first dratt
OF the House Tariff bill. At the request Of the Re-
publican members of the Finance Committee, MI
Nlmmo has now submitted the following observa-
lions the interests affected by the changes pro-
posed and on the injurious effects sure to result
from the new tariff duties Mr.. Ninmo's statement
Is full OF interest and contains information or great
value TO a precise understanding OF the attitude
toward the agricultural interests OF the trainers or
the present bill. The letter Is as follows:
Il was called upon TO defend the agricultural In
terests of the State Of New-York before the Com
m.ttee Of Ways and Means Of the House OF Rep
resentatives. and my defence OF these interests Is
embraced In remarks before that committee and
In answers to inquiries propounded to me by that
committee-all OF which is now In print AT the
present time the stands as follows:
The full force OF Canadian agricultural compe-
t,ton is thrown against the agriculture Of the state
Of New-York from the feet that the fertile prov
inces Of Ontario and Quebec border that state on
the north and west From careful investigation
/ have ascertained the following facts: % Inc
average value Of farming lands in the State or
New-York IS Sc per cent higher than the average
value Of farming lands In Canada. CD The aver
age rate of wages paid to farmhands IN New-hork
80 per higher than The average rate OF wages
paid TO farmhands in Canada (0 The cost of agri-
cultural production in the State of newborn Is "a
per cent higher than in Canada.
Western State and Canadian agricultural COM
petition for many years greatly depressed the ag-
rlculture of New York but after the abrogaton or
the Canadian reciprocity treaty Of 1854 when oc-
CURED in the year 1866. the farmers of New-i orK
turned their attention especially TO the production
of hay potatoes. beans tobacco. hops vegetables
poultry. eggs and other products when coh'ianu
ready sale In their own markets. Besides. the pro-
lection directly afforded to agriculture under our
tariff laws supplemented by the protection eX-
tended TO manufacturers New-York having become
nv far the largest manufacturing State In the Union
THE value of the products OF manufacture In the
State OF New-York under protection Increased from
x37s 900 900 in 1850 to sl.7l1.ooO0 in 1890
"1he farm value OF the products OF agriculture In
the state of New-York during the census year nv"
amounted to sl6l 1900 while the wages OF iaDor
.rnoved in the manufactures OF the State amounted
IN sp6 62 having increased from So 40 15s In l
thus indicating an abundant and rapidly growing
home market.
scpne Of the census OF lsso. the gain was over 80
per cent. How much more important X the home
ers is illustrated by the following figures: During
the census yesT ,ne tG,a, Network City and
Rrookvn amounted to $29jOOc.0o. while the tota
amount paid during the year for salaries ana
wages on account Of foreign imports at the port OF
NeV-York including all expenses OF co.Iecung. me
In a word while the value OF imports az New-N ork
nearly the same as the value OF proIIS St Tt
lvn the ma nufect curing Industries OF these cltes
eforaed o tines as mHc9 ,5s Dort % Ne
York The labor employed IN nome manu- I, ,S
entire marke; for New-York agriculture, There 10
no possibility Of finding foreign market lor more
State OF New-York Almost the sole reliance Of the
New-York farmer Is therefore IN home markets ana
mainly in those of his own state .,., ..
gross sectional discrimination The duty which The The
Democratic majority In the senate has secured Tor
sugar 70 per cent. and for rec about ~ per CEN
TnV-York agriculture in the Existing Mckinley act
is only about per and the bill now PENDING
in the senate reduces this to about ~ per cent The
more clearly apparen; in the light Of the following
The totai value Of the canc-sugar product OF
the United States, a; an outside estimate Is about
the ysiue Of the rice crop Of the country 10000
But the average annual value Of the hay crop OF
slightly in excess Of the value % the cotton crop
Of Texas the largest coton-producing state OF the
Union The average annual value OF the potato
crop Of New-York Is about Sl2cOWo what sense
justice Is there IN imposing duty OF ~ bfr
cent on sugar and OF 50 per cent on rice, while the
duty on hay is pu: at q per cent and the duty on
potatoes at 81 per cent: these al valorems belNS
based on the low import valuation OF 9 ton Tor
hay and 81 cents Il bushel for potatoes?
The agricultural and manufacturing interests
OF the great state OF New-YOrk have developed to-
getber under o tariff policy equitable toward both.
and framed to meet the double purpose or rev
enue and protection. Under this policy the total
wealth OF the State increased from E.H3c1Go In
1850 20 Ss.576.U00rj IN 1890. The wages paid 10
labor in the manufactures OF the state also In
creased from se54f.759 In 1850 TO $C6S6d7 In 1880
and rapidly Increased during the years 1890. 1921
and 1872 The Nation then committed Itself 10
the adoption OF the policy o, lowering wages by
placing them in open cOmprtlt!on with the wages
paid 10 labor IN foreign countries. In 80 far as re-
iates 10 enterprises exposed 20 such competition
This AT once disturbed the existing relation or
values throughout the whole country. The pros
perlty Of 1892 VII! not return until the people OF
his country sinai. emphatically declare that the
conditions which elevate the American laborer
above the labOrers OF all other countries must ana