The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-04-24
GOOD FOR MILLERS
British War Duty on Breadstuf I'm
ports Soon to Be Can
elled.
Also There's Prospect Of Reduction
on Export Flour Rates by
Eastern Lines.

Minneapolis milling companies which
maintain agencies in England received
cable advises this morning that the inn
port duties on flour we'll on grain
would bs abolished by the British govern
ment July 1. Morning paper dispatches
indicated that the wheat duty alone would
be affected but the millers accept their
private messages as accurate. The can
collation. Of the import breadstuffs duty
Will be benefit in a way to Minneapolis
millers who have been watching the de-
velopments along this line for some time.
It was Boer war tax When it went into
effect Minneapolis millers were not seri-
ously affected by it as it was an all around
tax. Had the duty Of about 20 cents a
barrel been levied on flour alone it would
have been bad, but inasmuch as the Eng
lish government also taxed wheat 81
cents per 100 pounds and corn ~ cents
per 100 pounds there was no discrimina-
ton and the Minneapolis millers were not
seriously affected. Now that the tax
| comes off all around, the American miller,
compared with the English miller, in the
matter Of the relative cheapness of wheat
supply is not materially affected.
Possible Future Help.
II think" said a miller this morning,
that the taking off Of this tax will help
the American export flour trade of the
near future. It is not that the Minneapo-
the tax, nor will it be affected perman-
emily by remission Of it. But every one
knew that this tax was simply suicidal
for Great Britain, was an emergency
measure only, and every one expected it
to come off. including the English buyer of
American flour. Hence a good many Eng
fish flour buyers have been slzimping
along with light supplies pending the ac-
ton OF their government in the matter.
Our cable from London this morning
states that the English government will
allow bonding facilities to July /. This
I take to mean that any flour arriving in
England from now on may be placed in
bonded warehouses until July 1, after
which all flour will go into England free
as was formerly the case. There is,
therefore, no reason why an English buyer
In ned Of -four should hesitate longer
over the tax question, as he now knows
just about what to figure upon"
Prospective Domestic Revision.
The Interstate commerce division yes
terday, in the case Of proposed advan-
tages in freight rates on various articles,
including grain and grain products, is
hailed with unmistakable pleasure by the
millers.
The commissions decision that the pro-
posed advances in the rate on grain and
grain products are not just was in the
form OF a general investigation, and no
order can be made, therefore, on the rec
| ord, but further proceedings will be COM
! menced unless the respondent carriers re-
adjust their rates on grain and grain
| products in accordance with the views In
the decision on or before May Is, 1908.
1t is believed that this decision is an
entering wedge toward acting on the COM
plant of Minneapolis millers against the
high thru rate to the seaboard on ex-
| port flour. This view is evidently shared
py the western lines which have stood by
the millers thru thick and thin, for tele-
| grams to local freight agents from head
| quarters were being shown around the
chamber this morning, Indicating that the
decision would result in a break by the
| eastern connections.