The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-30
THE DUTY on COTTON.
ObserVa tions in Reply TO an objec-
tfon to the New Duty.


tfOn to the New Duty.
Editor Morning News: I hope you will
not consider me intrusive II I offer some
observations in reply TO the South Caro-
Ira mill man and those Hno argue in the
same way he does. he contends that on
account Of the small duty Of - per cent.
sd valorem the entire importations into
this country OF Egyptian cotton, now
amounting 10 more than 1000 bales Of
- pounds TO The bale VIII be prohibited
and that the result viii be that this addi-
tonal cotton will be thrown on the Euro
peau markets TO deDress them. and that
the result viii be that the European man.
ufaciurer with his cheap labor, viii bring
his Manufactured goods into this cOun-
try and undersel our manufacturers. This
gentleman is evidently very much inter
ested in the welfare OF our cotton manu-
facturers. but his sympathy is not broad
and does not extend 10 the poor cotton
farmer who must compete with labor
many times cheaper than the labor the
American cotton manufacturer has to
compete with. Why does not this gentle
man take the same position in regard to
rice and again in regard 20 wool. lumber,
hides, as well as all manufactured goods
imported into this country? Why does
not he. as well as all those that agree
with him. say that the higher duties be-
ing laid upon these various lines will pro-
hibit their importation and that the re-
suit viii be that all these articles viii be
thrown upon the European markets to
depress prices. and hence the additional
duties viii not raise prices here.
II seems that the rice growers the wool
growers. the lumbermen. the cattle own
ers. to say nothing Of the cotton manu-
facturers and hundreds of other manu-
facturers. have no fear OF any such re-
suit. Indeed IL the South Carolina gentle
man is right It is perfectly needless for
those who were satisfied with the Wilson
bill to kick, because the increased duties
are not going to raise prices. Why then
all this furore against the Dingley bill, II
IL is not going to raise prices? And Il can
not II the South Carolina gentleman Is
correct / do not find. however. that the
various large interests in the east and
west who are going 70 have additional
duties imposed on the various lines in
which they are interested, are Norry wing
themselves as to whether or not these ad-
ditonal duties are going TO benefit them
These people have the reputation OF look
ing out for themselves.
If the gentleman from South Carolina is
right, the Dingley bill will be a monstrous
failure from revenue point OF view, as
well as from the standpoint Of raising
prices in this country, because, according
TO the gentleman from South Carolina, 20
per cent. ad valorem viii entirely prohibit
the importation OF Egyptian long staple
cotton; and as there are but few articles
upon which so low a duty has been pro-
yided, il must necessarily follow that all
articles having a higher duty will be pro-
hibited. Take all grades OF wool A duty
is proposed on similar woods OF about 10
cents per pound, or about 100 per cent.
ad valorem. and yet prices, since bIcKin-
ley's election, have been gradually climb
ing. Why2 Because everybody knew
high duties were to be imposed. II the
argument OF the gentleman from South
Carolina had been right, there would have
been no advance. Senator Bacon made
only one mistake, and that was in propos-
ing too low a duty. However, our people
feel very grateful to him for what he has
done. A. p. Brantley.
Blackshear, Ca, June q, 1897.