The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-11-12
A Prominent New
Yorker Writes of
Ciinuibsriain's Plan

| 'ASAA liz AoifO IL lCouitD. 4 AC tOI04
value of domestic exports for the year
ended June 80, 1903, was about ! 400
millions, of these about $50 millions,
or more than one-half, would be af-
fected by the scheme, as appears from
the table below.
Exports of domestic commodities from
the United States to the United
Kingdom and its colonies and de-
tendencies during the fiscal year
1903. Sums in millions Of dollars
, Value.
Manufactures liable &c a threat
ened duty OF IL per cent. 1850
Provisions liable to a threatened
duty of per cent. .1l5
Breadstuffs liable to cents per
bushel, 81 million bushels. 49,. So
Manufactures and other commodi-
ties not threatened with duties. 330
Total to the United Kingdom
and colonies $50
From this exhibit it appears that
American manufactures to the value
OF 25U millions year, and agricul-
tural productions to the value of ITO
millions year are open to be affected
by an adverse tariff scheme which is
liable to be adopted, If adopted at all,
within a few months.
In casting about for means to
avert this attack upon American trade
we confess ourselves at a loss to dis
Germ any measure that promises
/. ympt relief. We cannot expect the
lrices of our agricultural produce to
be lowered without distressing class
who are already sufficiently pinched
by money-lenders, carriers and COM
H. ission houses. Nor can we expect
tn, prices of our manufactures to be
lowered in the face of the constantly
increasing demands Of labor. Mr..
Lewis Nixon, in his recent testimony
before the examiner into the affairs
of the ship trust said that within the
past year there had occurred an in
dustrial revolution. Labor had
changed its conditions. No expert
could have foreseen this, year be-
fore. There had been cases wherein
vessels half built had required for
their completion an expenditure of
several times the amount expended
rpon the first half of theil construc-
tiOn." This is true not alone of ship
building, but of many branches of
manufacture.
Except as to patented articles, we
cannot manufacture goods any cheap
er than we are now doing, unless tax
alton Gncluding the 300 millions
year collected under the Dingley tar
iff) is lowered; and with it, the gen.
eral cost of living and wages. Between
two disagreeable alternatives we shall
probably be driven to choose the least.
1t would appear to follow that our
farmers must be prepared to stand a
little more pressure; in other words,
accept lower price for their bread
stuffs, so as to be able to hold their
market against British colonial pro-
duce. No concessions are to be ex-
pected from patentees, or the produc-
ers of monopolized commodities; so
that the brunt of Mr. Chamberlain
Lolicy, in case Of its adoption, is al
most certain to fall upon the farm
ers and the manufactures which are
open TO free competition. OF these,
the principal ones are as follows:
Value of our principal manufactured
exports which are open to COMPETE
ton! Sums in millions of dollars:
Value.
Wheat -four. oatmeal and starch. So
Cotton seed oil. 2
Lumber. doors, sashes, blinds.
holdings. furniture and wooden
ware ................... IL
Spirits of turpentine. ............ 4
Mineral oil .................... ~
ParaHn ............-......
Hides, furs, skins, leather. boots
and shoes, etc. Observation-Disclosures. 80
Cars. carriages. automobiles and
cycles NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. lO
Hard ware. nails. wire, rails ma
chinery. stoves, engines and
structural iron .............. &c
Cotton manufactures ..... 8
Copper manufactures ..........,. 6
Horticultural implements ..,,.,..
All other manufactures open to
free competition ...,........,.. rs
2i6
This means that ZIG millions Of our
exports will either have 10 lower their
prices 10 per cent. or demand 10 per
cent more from the British consumer.