The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-10
SERVING THE FOREIGNER.
his lips?

SERVING THE FOREIGNER.
7ssA good deal of surprise and dissatisfaction
publicly expressed from time to time when 1t is
made plain that some indispensable commodity or
other produced in their immediate vicinity finds
market among Americans at price in Of the
figures for which the same commodity is known to
be sold in foreign markets. AS instance of the
evil which thus merits and receives the condemna-
ton Of our people may be mentioned the undeniable
circumstance that barrel Of Minneapolis -four has
been possible of purchase in the city of Liverpool at
price low, if lower than the commodity could
be secured at the point of production
In recent decision the interstate commerce COM
mission had this condition under consideration That
body found among other facts, that owing to dis
examinations existing between the export rates on
grain and grain products and the rates from the in
terror to Atlantic seaports the foreign miller
ceiving decided advantage The way and the
tent to which this discrimination operates is forth
by the commission by pointing out that the domestic
miller at New York has been paying rate Of 1919
cents per hundred pounds from Mississippi river
points, while the English miller transports his wheat
to the Atlantic coast from the same Western points
at the rate of u cents per hundred pounds yet as
the commission further points out it costs the Amer
lean miller more to carry his product across the At
IL
1t will be thus seen that the foreign miller has
advantage in his purchase of the American prod
uct of just ~ cents per hundred pounds
In another illustration Of the operation of this
unjust discrimination in favor of the foreigner it is
shown by the commission that Chicago mill grind
ing about 1000 barrels of -four day, it's wheat sup
ply coming entirely from the Mississippi valley paid
a rate Of 5 cents hundred from the Mississippi to
Chicago, while the English miller competing with the
Chicago in the English market paid from and
to the points respectively just Is cents per
hundred Upon his manufactured product the Chi
cago miller paid to the Atlantic seaport II cents
while on his wheat the Engshman paid for the
same distance 1912 cents making total difference
in cost at New York against the Chicago miller of 10
cents per hundred pounds.
Touching these conditions the commission very
properly adds: =.
The question for consideration therefore one of
whether the present adjustment of export and does
and in favor Of the foreign Consumer What reason IS
It WS the whea tt New R R
dGr cents ~ @ @ while the is
Upon this branch of the subject accordingly the
commission holds asafolows:
The n act to regulate commerce intended
uar ndyiduals or industries but also in nvoly
the bsnc Of 1e s as wh and
be right for American railroads permanently trans
business for foreigners at less
which they render corresponding service American
citizens SRI
The profit to American nillers in
for export is from toe cents 100 pounds
freight rates son. on IL IT, for diff
cents per 100 pounds, and, other things being equal
such discrimination is clearly prohibitve upon the
American manufacturer
1t is no doubt true that sacrifices must be made
by American manufacturers who determined to
secure foreign market for their products but, no
matter what those sacrifices may demand tempo
rariy it cannot be successfully made plain to Amerf
cans why they should as permanent condition wit
the daily necessares of their lives sold in foreign
markets at rates less than they themselves
them. No national disributve system which will al
low of such results be equitable one and every
consideration Of sound public policy demands that 1t
shall be promptly brought to close