The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-24
THEY WILL NOT REDUCE IT
Preach Government Does Not lntesd
to Abolish Wheat Dsty.
WOULD ONLY ENRICH SPECTATORS
Comment On Priccs IL Exaggerated
More, Producers Arc Denented.

New York. August ga dispatch to
the Herald fsom Paris says;
There seems no reason to believe that
the import duty on wheat Will be taken
on, even temporarily There seems but
ono opinion. namely. that to abolish the
duty would merely enrich the speculators,
dcra.nge the equilibrium Of Tho budget,
work serious harm to tho French cultivalor
and bring not an tcta Of relief to the con-
sumner. An official at tho ministry Of agri-
culture ssid:
in years OF plenty tho duty has not
been able to make cultivation profitable,
This wear there is sure to BIO a big dohcit
In the crops. Tho growers Will. therefore,
be ablc 10 derive some benefit from tho
duty. This they can do without bread
being forced up to famine prices. As the
party clamoring for the abolition OF the
duty alleges. Therefore. It is my personal
oDinion that there Is not the most remote
possibility OF the government removing or
even reducing the import tax on gram. "
The Temps publishes tho following In
tcrview. unofficial 1t Is true. but neverthe-
less obtained from some one at the min
istry OF agriculture, whore some idea OF
the views OF NJ, vicger Ia suro to be had
'The wheat crops during the last few
wears were abundant. The market was
ovcrcrowdcd. Prices were low aud quota
lions went down to 30 francs per quintal
! and even 10 is francs. but the land was
fertile and the cultiyators managed 10 get
some little profit from tho plentiful har-
vests. This year the conditions have been
unfavorablc. The crops have been bad
| everywhere In France aud Europe Acner-
aily, The heavy rams. halls and floods
Htn 81 "A Amprtra
and we ought TO be glad OF it--has cs-
| caped these calamltous conditions and by
herself can furpish the markets OF the old
world.
What has been the result Of wheat be-
| ing scarccg Its price has gone up. II this
| Is unfortunate for the consumer. the aer,-
| culturist. who. after all, deserves some
| attention. will be able TO recover somo
| recompense for his labor. The question OF
wheat can not possibly be regarded as
alarming nowadays.
| Then. again, the comment made IN GER
| tain quarters IL exaggerated. The prices
| such as have been current during the FAST
week have often been obtained previously
without the country starving, but serious
| damage would be done II the duties we're
| removed, even for short period. This
| is why NJ, Vieger has persuaded the gen
ernl council OF the Loirot TO vote a desire
| that no modification shall be made In the
| import duties on foreign grain,
| "'rhc municipal council voted n resolu-
| ton to petition tho minister Of agriculture
| 10 remove the duty on flour should II prove
| inexpcdient to abolish tho duty on wheat
M Captain. who ts u recognized author
| itv on all matters connected with the
| grain trade. said today. however. that he
| did not think M. Meline would accede to
| the desire Of tho council
1.-THE municipal council voted o resolu :
| ton urging the munster OF agriculture to
| use his prerogative and to reduce at once
| frcm francs TO francs the import outy
! on wheat"
| London. August PA dispatch to the
| Pail Mall Gazette from Paris says:
"Thoro Is to be no reduction IN the
| tax on imported wheat and flour The
government especially now that the cec-
| tions are drawing near IL mortallS afraid
OF offending the small peasant who usually
| grows wheat On the other hand, tho
working classes who constitute tho mpss