The times., 1899-06-23
THE SILVER QUESTION
COMES TO THE FRONT
A Bimetallist Before the In
dustrial Commission.
Depreciation in Property Due to
Appreciation in Money.
Labor Measured by n Longer stand
ard Than the Constitutional
Unit of Value.

Until yesterday the money question has
not entered into the deliberations of the
Industrial Commission, and when that
subject was given prominence by one of
the witnesses as the principal cause for the
depressed condition of the farming industry
in the South, it created somewhat of a
sensation. Points of order were immedi-
ately raised by several members of the
Commission, and the witness was informed
by Acting Chairman Harris that he must
confine his remarks to agricultural condi-
tions. Representative Livingston, who was
conducting the examination. objected to
this ruling. and wanted to discuss the
point of order, but was ruled out of or
der by the chair.
The proceedings yesterday comprised
testimony from Joseph B. Ager, a farmer
and dairyman, of Hyattsville, Md, and L.
W. Youmans, of Allendale, S. C. 1t was
during the testimony of the latter that
the silver question arose.
Mr.. Ager took the stand in the morn
ing, and spoke particularly with reference
to agricultural conditions in Maryland.
THE land under cultivation in the
State" he said has decreased dur
OF the subdivision of farms in the imme
date vicinity of Washington and Balti-
more into suburban town sites. The num-
ber of laborers has decreased during the
past forty years and their condition is gen.
orally worse since the Civil War. The
hours of work are long. generally from
about or O'Clock IN the morning to or
s o'clock at night. Men employed by the
day receive from rs cents to 81 per day
nd ,a1 b,,
the month are paid from $40 to SIS
month and board. In some localities tene-
ment houses are provided with which are
given small tracts of land which the en-
ploye may cultivate and retain the pro-
ducts"
The witness believed that farming is
more profitable, taking everything into
consideration, than any other industry.
The witness said that since the abolition of
slavery, large tracts of land in all the parts
of the State have been abandoned. Before
the war the Maryland planters employed
slaves to large extent to cultivate their
lands and after the freeing of the slaves,
rather than employ free men, they mort
gagged their farms. living on the money
thus obtained. In time, large portion of
this land passed into the hands of the
money lenders who generally live in Balti-
more and Washington, and who do not at
have become exhausted through imprudent
cultivation. Some of this land is now be-
ing reclaimed.
The roads in Maryland are miserable
and there has been no improvement during
the past twenty years, the witness said.
About $500, 600 is supposed to be spent each
year on the roads throughout the State
but the witness said that he did not believe
that it is expended judiciously He ex-
int hot
roads could be maintained throughout the
State with the amount mentioned. Road
inspectors are appointed for political serv-
ices.
Mr.. Ager suggested that there should be
an annual assessment of property instead
of one in three years. He also thought that
an income tax would remove large share
of taxation from the farmer. The objects
of the grange. of which Mr.. Ager is the
State executive officer were described at
some length. Education, social intercourse
and financial betterment are the principal
ends sought. The grange in Maryland has
within recent years decreased in member
ship. However, at the present time there
seems to be a revival of interest.
Education along Industrial lines was ad-
vocated by the witness as means of rene
dying much of the evil of hard times He
said that it was his opinion that many
Vi lHe III MS state uiu not KNOW
their business. The grange is having
good effect on the farmer. and his condi-
tion intellectually is improving, said Mr..
Ager
Mr. Youmans. who testified in the after
noon, OWNS 1000 acres of land in the
southern part of South Carolina, and be-
sides operating this as a cotton plantation,
he carries on mercantile business. He
has also been a member of the Legislature
of this State. He began by saying that
the agricultural industry of his section
was in a very deplorable condition. This,
however, was not because of poor soil or
bad climate. Mr.. Youmans believed the
real and primary cause of the depression
in the price of cotton and other commodi-
ties produced from the soil. was the none
tary system of the country, and he spoke
on this phase of the question. He said
the population and the number of business
transactions were constantly increasing,
while the volume of money remained prac-
tcally the same, and was under the con-
troll of comparatively a few men. Prices
of commodities had steadily declined,
while taxes and the fixed expenses of the
Government had remained the same or
had increased. The officials who received
these salaries. and who We're in power,
We're benefited by this state of affairs
while the producer was in the position of
furnishing twice the amount oil supplies
for given amount of money, as was the
case prior to 1873. The witness commented
on the decentralization of silver at that
time. and believed that had brought about
the evil.
AT this point an OBJECTION was interposed
that he had no right to talk about the
money question. The witness was re-
quested to mention any other causes which
he might know of that were responsible
for depression in the farming industry of
the South
In answer to this, Mr.. Youmans said
that the American cotton raiser was COM
PEELED practically to pay the freight on his
crop which was marketed in Europe both
ways by reason of the fact that the carry
ing was principally done by foreign ships.
When the cotton reached the European
market it came In competition with the
same commodity from all the nations of
the world which brought in the question
of the cheap labor of India. Asia, and other
countries where cotton is being success
fully raised. While this competition had
to be met in selling, the American was not
allowed to take advantage of it in buying,
on account of the tariff.
AS a remedy Mr.. Youmans suggested
the free and unlimited coinage of silver,
the reduction of the tariff, and the ju-
dicious establishment of local banks of
issue. The question of interest on money
Int IN,