The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-06


cultural products and cattle. The frst
speaker was F. H. Rockwell, OF War
ron Pa. Mr.. Rockwell is a cattle raiser.
grazing both in Mexlca and Kansas,and
he opposed high duties. The Mckinley
rate on cattle. he said, was proihbltiye
and had injured the farmers Of Kansas,
who were benefited by international
grazing. Herds were taken 30 Kansas
for perlods OF from sIX to eighteen
months. Last year the Kansas farmers
wore pald SO 900 for grain from cattle
men. and this year the amount would De
$td. COO In addition to which much Was
paid for labor. Another cattleman, M.
M sherman, OF Salna, Kansas, repre-
sentpd tha. two-thirlS OF the cattle lm-
ported from Mexico Into the United
States were owned by Americans. Mr..
shermnn thought that the high duties
ON cat,le had been decided upon by Con-
gross 10 keep out Canadian competition
without thought OF the Mexican busl-
ness. He argued as Mr.. Rockwell had,
that the chief effect OF the law was To
inIure Americans who had invested their
money In Mexico.
Then you think that the tarln should
be governed by the nationality OF the
producers OF goods?" Mr.. Grosvenor
asked
Mr.. Sherman assented to this, where
upon Mr.. Grosvenor inquired what the
eifect OF this system would have on iin-
ported foods In other lines.
Incidentally the witness stated that
American labor was the cheapest In the
world. which statement provoked a
laugh until he explained that In the cat
tie business. one American could do the
work OF two MeXlcans.
Asked why he had removed to Mexico.
Mr. Sherman said because Of the lack OF
ranges here. Chairman Dingley said
there were plenty OF ranges in Colorado,
wyoming and other western states. 1t
was Impossible u acquire title to ranges
in this country. was the answer and
moreover said the witness, the Amerl-
can laws gave a mans competitors the
advantage Of all the improvements he
Introduced into his business. In MeXl-
co the cattle men owned their ranges.
Mr.. Tawney questioned him as 10 why
dmportatlons from Mexico had increased
from 5000 u month under the Mckinley
law TO a. 900 under the wilson law.
He replied thai this was largely due 10
congestion In the market, but for various
reasons Mexico never could become 4
competitor OF the United states.
Wants Protection.
The next speaker was representative
Curtis, OF Kansas. He said that he rep
resented the district in which more Mex
lean cattle We're fed than any other in
the United States and in behalf OF the
American cattle raisers, feeders and
farmers OF Kansas. he asked to have re-
stored the duty OF so head on all cat
lie one year old and over. and So a head
on calves less than one year old
In the first twenty-one months Of the
Wilson law 26l 900 cattlg had been i'm
ported into the United States, OF an aver
age value OF 50 30 a head, paying fifty
one cents duty each. The cattle men
of Kansas had been unable to raise as
good stock as formerly because OF the
importatlons Of Mexican stock. The
consmers of beef had been fed Il poorer
quality under the Wilson law than ever
before. II Congress would restore the
duty Kansas would pledge herself 10 pro-
duce her share OF cattle without raising
the price OF beef.
Representative Turner. OF Georgia
asked Mr.. Curtis n he would sacrifice
the revenue OF S432OOO produced from
cattle.
Revenue can be raised on other
Items" was the reply, 'as II has been
heretofore by Republican legislation
There never has been any trouble about
revenue under Republican admlnistra-
ton"
Then you are for duty for protec,loa
Il am for protection and revenue. And
] would have a duty absolutely prohlbl-
tory on every agricultural product that
can be raised In this country. Kansas
would like duties on hay, oats and flax
seed"
How about silver"
"A large duty on silver would be- a
good plan"
Representative Bowers, of California.
declared that the Wilson law killed the
cattle business In California. flooding
tl1e state with Mexican cattle. Labor
was fifty cents n day in Mexico. He
combattcd che statements OF the cattle
rasers that but few OF the Mexican
stock Imported were sold, being brought
in for feeding Not more than one In ten
were imported for feeding
Protection for Fruit Growers.
Mr.. Bowers, in behalf OF the California
fruit growers, asked for higher duties
on fruits. The ElG.OOO,OOO worth of fruit
imported annually. he said. might be
grown by Americans. He suggested dp-
ties OF three cents a pound on ralsins,
plums, prunes and all other dried fruits,
and twenty-five cents a cubic foot on
oranEeA
Americans were peculiar about such
things and preferred foreign wines and
fruits az higher pricea. fust as some OF
their daughters preferred greasy lIber-
tines and gambler. because they had a
foreign label. He read petitions from
Tai5ln growers Of Fresno and other
places.
Senator Perkins OF California. pre-
scented the memorial recently adopted by
the state fruit growers organization. In
addition 70 the recommendation by Mr..
Bowers, he asked for dutlcs on nuts and
lima beans aud chicpry and that the duty
OF the wilson law on cocoanuts be drop
ped.
The duty asked on lima beans was
Nifty cents per 100 pounds, on raw chico
Ty one and one -half cents pound and on
manufactured the present rate NJ two
cents 4 duty on pearle barley was also
asked. The almond growers. Of Callfor-
MA. were repreqcnted by r. Il, Arm
strong, of Campo. He stated that from
Sl2 900 10 $4,000 900 was Invested IN
the business and from 10000 to 10000
hands employed. The business had been
brought TO the verge OF bankruptcy hy
the Wllson law and an increase Of rates
from three cents 10 six cents was asked,
Export lountiSs.
Grand Mister Ice. OF the Pcnnsylya.
mia State Grange. advocated protection
Tor the farmers While the ienther man
uilcturrr wac douhly protected. a Re-
publican cdngeEI had placed raw hide
on the free list refusing 10 Flvc The
American farmer the egme protection
given the manufacturer a Republican
Congress had reduced the duty on wool
and a Democratic Congress had placed