The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-17
RICE COMMITTEE STILL AT III.
SaVannah's Delegation Making a
Fight For the Rice Industry.

iSht TOT the Htce industry.
Col. John Screven and Mr. w. r.
Lealen, who went to Washington several
days ago as the representatives of the
rice interest of this section to appear be-
fore the Senate committee which now has
the tariff bill in hand, have not yet re-
turned to the city, ana may be absent
several days longer.
The Savannah delegation appears TO
have been the first In the field. the New
Orleans and Charleston delegations hav-
ing gone on later The Importance to the
rice interests of the increased duties al
lowed in the Dingley bin are well known
to the representatives Of this interest.
ana they Will spare no effort to secure
what they are firmly satisfied is neces-
sary for the continued existence of the
rice industry.
circular recently issued by Ernst &
Co., rice millers of New Orleans, makes
probably the strongest statement of the
case from the protection standpoint that
could possibly be made. The Qrguments
put forward in the circular would seem
60 be absolutely convincing to a repubn-
can congress. The circular states the
case strongly. 1t says:
The tariff on rice, as established in the
Senate bill is a blow at the rice industry
of the United States, and we protest
against 1t because 1t violates the promise
contained In the st. Louis platform, and
because it wilfully reduces the government
revenue, IN favor of foreign producers and
70 the injury of the home industry.
The House committee carefully studied
the question, and put the rates as they
were in the Mckinley bill to-wit: Two
cents on cleaned. and one and quarter
cents on uncleaned rice.
The Senate committee have substituted
the Wilson rates, viz. one and "A half
cents on Cleaned, and eight-tenths on I'M
cleaned rice. Thereby violating the prin-
ciples which have always governed the
party.
In the platform It is said: 1--WE demand
such an equitable tariff on foreign imports,
which come into competition with Amer-
can products, as will not only furnish ade
quate revenue for the necessary expenses
Of the government, but will protect Amer
lean labor from degradation to the wage
leve4 of other lands We are not pledged
to any particular schedules. The question
of rates is a practical question TO be gov
erned by the conditions of the times and
of product"
THE ruling and uncompromising princi-
pie is the protection and development OF
American labor and industry"
1t is well known that Foreign rices are
there is no article on the tariff list which
completes with cheaper labor than rice.
The reduction made by the Senate com
mittee clearly favors the manufacture of
foreign cheap labor rice, and turns its
back upon the domestic article
The rice farmer not only has to compete
with the cheapest labor recorded, but the
price of the article Is directly affected by
every decline In silver. Being raised in
silver countries, silver is accepted in pay
ment thereof. And to-day, on a gold
basis, rice can be brought into this coun-
try 80 per cent cheaper than in former
years Notwithstanding, prices abroad
remain virtually unchanged
The struggle of the rice farmer for eN
istence under the Wilson bill was such
that many valuable farms in South Caro-
lima. Georgia and Louisiana were aban-
doned; but when the st. Louis platform
was adopted, our merchants felt sure a
return OF prosperity was at hand The
merchants resumed their advances
farms which had not been planted fol
years are now repanted and the reduc.
ton by the Senate bill will impose upon
every class, which touches the rice pro
duction, serious injury and loss, because
of their faith in the st. Louis platform
We ask that the duties shall be kept as
they were reported In the Dingley bill.
believing that the change In the Sen.
ate bill has been made in the interest OF
importers, we feel II our duty to ourselves
and to the country to enter this solemn
protest against the betrayal OF the most
sacred promises of the republican party"