New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-08
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
MR.. ATKINsONs STATISTICS.

,us r-tcr,pEs on TIE REDUCED PRICE of
WHEAT disputed BY MR.. FREWEN.
To the Editor OF The Tribune. -
CIV. T, THE London Economist OF January D.
which has Just reached me here Is so'ne""a'
ho.,o1 letter from Mr. Edward Atkinson. or Boston
,... >, oil attention to the subject OF this
,.,.- because now that the silver question Is
.oss,rg f,r international solution, the attitude or
your president and his Administration Is OF
sunreme importance and interest 10 inc ou'Siue
world We have at present sitting III honuo"
Roval Commission appointed to inquire INTO the
causes of agricultural depression Inc interest o'
the evidence all centres In the ADMISSION 'hat
rtoos bava all fallen so catas:rophicaly that
generally the view is entertained that there mas
been an alteration in the value OF money III t"e
one thing measuring. not IN al the '"nsS "i'''
urod Mr. Shaw Le;evre. the chairman Oh the COM
mission a member OF the present "o'er""'e''''
e. n .go,dbua'' OF the approved English type, a2d
he onnears TO have discovered IN the Boston gen
,,o,,an tho very witness required; n witness VINO
couid demonstrate with immense volubhity ana
with a plethora OF graphic lines mat the price Vi
wheat had fallen. because OF reduced lre'Bh's' cue.
Mr. Atkinson accordingly over"holmei an afha"ei
committee with statistics OF the prosperity OF the
American farmer and his comparative freedom
from debts and mortgages. which was all very wei
cana ,ntel,eence at least TO our mortgage COM
panies doing business In your country. Ana ne
further referred the commission 10 paper nv
had road before the British Association IN 1885,
"when | was here n commissioner OF the ooV-
ernment president Cleveland's G9v'rnmehU 10
r,nort on blmetasm in Europe" He further add'
"I NOW hold a commission from the United States
Denartment OF Agriculture TO look Into some
matters connected with the supply OF food
Irtle pablc interest would attach TO Mr.. Atk'n-
sons views currency. only mat we may ''"'
II that Mr. Cleveland would no, select him II the
President dlsapproved these views; therefore. "he"
.<k prououucing against an
International agreement TO secure the concurrent
loyal tender Of the two metals. because. as ne
nhrasos IT, duality In a unit - unthlnkape' INC
ouestlon naturally suggests itself, Does the Ii7'
dent share Mr. Atkinson's views. and II so are the
professions OF belief in international free coinage
by both your great parties as insincet' hs 'le
professions OF n Democratic Administrations IL
is important that the point should be cleared up
the professors in England are to-day 10 man
declaring the scientific accuracy o. bime,aSm' anu
mite recently speeches made In LONDON by
" g whitney and General Francis n NaIN'' !"
which these distinguished visitors assured Us '"a'
-, least ~ per cent OF tho American nation D'"cN'
q, International bnctallisn; and yet Mr.. cIeve-
lands select commissioner IN Europe ~ man VINO
considers the system ridiculous as 10 De ac'udy
"unthinkable.' -
And hermit me In conclusion 10 ask y'h II you
would decide between Nj Atkinson ana Ut W t.
n.ar the wcIl-known editor 81 '"The Mark lHn'
ENprc.s" ana myself who have been MT NiN'"7'" .
sor,,vho, persistent critics In the oficla report
~ the unper witch Mr. Atkinson read before inc
nrllsh A~soclatlon IN 81 MS passage occur"
Tho wricr IL giving h.v rooms Tor th' '''"'"'"
~ y fhi.lngs per quart In the prlo' o' W. II
q, tt,.,n.ol in iS3 ms compared WIN IN" price
in 1873 ana ha contention r. rrt mo "h''' %
,,nit,os can be- accounted br hy the reduction
4, ,,,O,,,s osiWron tho American farm hnd ldN'''
mai Mr. Aikinrln writes; ~ ih"n v" nFH"m"
that the charge for moving wheat l,'p W''' h''
been reduced only thtre-q Inri"rH "f cent '''
per mile only - per cent ~ ~" "''"h' "N'''''
,nr, - chicago. We ret a saving when he nF"''
on, - ,,7o per quarter l. u not clear TINT Nr'
,utf,.on s,n'., that the actual average reduction
c,., %, ,.hlcaro IA hauling wheat by rail In IN
.s com,afei with i.T3 - reduction of "a cent ton
Der mile some - ton OF s. - per quarter ana J.
his !. tho case how comes II that tho "'nel"'
ouo,afons %, wheat frcghta from chicago to N"w-
o,h.r Words w. quote Mr.. Atkinson az showns
vnrat for nothing. bat have given your laFni. :
Gonas Si n. cum sans r ali ii these ycsrs ~
during which We hayo poSci sly iun AZ vi
noS,o" TIN lconomist 4 have never made.
ehsr in Engand or any os, o meyng wheat from
chicago to the s,aboird which IL imputed 20 me
l,y Mes.rs. Frewen and Bear II Is an invention o.
~ or own when they had either the folly OF the
nuaacliy 20 impose upon the F1S1' I'''SS, y,
on The depression In agriculture ana Oh '"' p"'''
Int /, vas Mr. Atkinson himself who re'crr' !
N. ROYAL Commission 70 the paper from Nhicn
TAX. m. above quotation. and n he cannot iis-
cover any other reading than mine VIZ, that pc
cause he found an actual reduction OF 'ci - q
Ton ,er mile east OF Chicago 70 IN" sea, therefore
H.. might saf.iv assume reduction 81 lhf'r-
musr,srs q, a cent per ton per mile from Minnesota
10 The sea II ne cannot discover any othcr readlng
~, ,b,s he has certainly justified Mr. Bear and
hers who have analysed his statistical yagarles
seriously and this for cher reason than because
ii',,,.d states MORETON FREWEN.
We,bonrne. Australia. Feb. 10. 1880