New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-20
FOR FARMERS TO THINK OF.
HOW THE WILSON TARIFF LAW is AF-
FECrING THEIR INTERESTS.
1T Is VASTLY INCREASING THE IMPORTS OF ARTI
Giles WHICH COME INTO COMPETITION
WITH THEIR PRODUCTS AND SHUT
TING THEM OUT OF FOR
EIGN MARX Els.
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE TnInUNF.1

TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnInUNr1
Washington. Nov. 1a--Had the farmers OF the
country and those dependent agriculture realized
what the new tariff law IL doing in regard to their
Industry the verdict OF the recent elections would
nrobably have been even strongly adverse TO
il and the party which created It, The persons de-
pendent on agriculture for a livelihood are. accord
ing TO the census practically one-half the popula-
ton OF the country. That they were unfayorabiy
IMPRESSED with the workings OF the new law is APP
parent but had they known that under II the I'M
ports OF farm products have more than doubled and
the EXPORTS Of the articles they produce fallen Off
20 per cent their expression OF views at the polls
would probably have been even more pointed ana
vigorous Recent publications OF the bureau OF
c,e,istics make II possible to compare in detail
the operations OF the new tarin law IN its hrst
wear with those OF the Mckinney law In former
wears And Il makes n sorry showing for the new
law and susains fully the predictions maze Dy
Republicans during Its discussion
IL Will be remembered that the Repuohcahs
warmed the low-tarH people that they were open
ing American markets to the agricultural products
Of other parts OF the world by the reduction In
du,v they were adopting. and that no adequate
comnensat.on would come In any increase In ex-
ports Ii was a favorte theory OF the free- lrau-
ers however, that the opening OF American uoofs
10 the products of the world would IN some Wys-
ferrous way cause larger demand ABROAD LOT
American productions. That this was not true Is
4
erst wear OF the new tariff law fell off nearly $780,
600 600 while the imports increased nearly |l'V""
So II appears that, instead OF increasing ihpor's
resulting In an improved export business the re-
verse was true and while this country was oeihs
overrun with foreign merchandise and produc-
tions the American market ABROAD WAS ia'i'ns on
at the rate OF $75.000.0oo year
While this is true in general terms OF all the IN
dustries OF the country, IT seems that the great
AGRICULTURAL class is the worst SUFFERER ana STUDY
NJ tho work OF the new law and international COM
merce since It went into effect presents deporape
state OF affairs to Its effect on agrlcui'ufis's
and those dependent them. 1t would seem that
the trainers OF the new tariff law especially In
tended It to bear heavily on the farmer Warned
as they were by the Republicans when the Dill was
under discussion that the result would be an IN
crease in imports OF the articles produced by a8r-
culture they persisted in lowering duties Inc re-
suit Is seen in an Increase of about 20 per cent IN
the articles imported by Canada, which hnds IN
the United States the chief market for her products
while people who have visited that country this
season say that the Canadians are now clamoring
for a still further reduction OF the duties.
But II is In a study in detail Of the work OF the
law especially in regard to farm products. that its
disastrous effects the farmers or the country
are seem The chief agricultural imports are live
animals breadstuffs. eggs, flax feathers, fruits
hay hemp, hides. hops, provisions, rice, SEEDS
tobacco vegetables and wool In every one OF these
the importatiops Of the first twelve months under
the new law are greater than in the corresponding
twelve months of the previous year under the Nc
Kinley law On the other hand. the exports OF
farm products have fallen off almost as surely and
steadily The chief articles OF export OF tne larih
are hay, hops vegetables, olcake ana mea, seeus
corn wheat -four and provisions. including meats
of all sorts In every one OF these classes the ex
ports of the first twelve months under the new law
are less than those of the preceding twelve months
under the Mckinley law. OF the long list OF agri,
cultural imports named every one shows increased
.iora uhiie ~ he
every one shows a reduction of exports. This iist
Of articles Of importation includes those which
into competition with pToduodS OF ' he,e snd
whose increased importation does not uniaVoraoy
affect the farmer Among tnSSe wcn pe soun
that the Increased importation is from 20 to 400
per cent while the falling of in exports is almost
The tables given below. show in detail the i'm
frst year OF the rev law. compared with the i'm,
ports and exports OF the same classes OF articles
In the preceding twelve months under the Mckinney
1898 to September J. 1894, under the 90 law, and
from September l. 1884 to September lss, under
went into effect August g. 1894 and the years pre-
cedng and succeeding September OF that year
new law and the last year OF the old one. 1t VIII
be seen by study of the tables that the imports
year of the new law those OF eggs 10 per cent fax
o per cent feathers 3 per cent a 1 hay rn se pss
over 200 per cent and wool 400 per cent. TAX
ing the total imports Of the class coming into com
petition with the farmers Of the country, the I'M
ports were increased more than 100 per cent in
value. as against the preceding year while OF the
exports the falling off was from 10 to 90 per cent
1t may be remarked by way OF explanation that or
fruits only such as come into competition WIN inc
ton in making up the accompanying statement
The following table. taken from the Official rec
ords of the Treasury Department. SHOWS the I'M
ports and exports OF leading farm products in the
first year OF the new law. comparing them with
those Of the last year of the old law