Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-02-16
That German Tariff.

The new German tariff. framed by
the agrarians, in retaliation upon the
United States for maintaining prohi-
bitive duties against German exports.
will do more harm to the American
farmer than any one else. says the
Dubuque Telegraph Herald. That
this is not Il partisan conclusion is
proven by the sentiment of the re-
publican Chicago Tribune: The SEN
ate is posing as the protector of the
American manufacturing and agri-
cultural interests. 1t is really one of
the most serious obstacles the far
mer or the manufacturer has to CON
tend with when he enlarges or en-
deavors to senlarge his foreign trade
or keep what he has
Germany's principal discrimination
is against American and Argentina
wheat. Exports from the United
States TO Germany in 1900 amounted
to $243, zoo. 900 and in the same period
Argentina sold about 100000 worth
of goods. Our receipts from Ger
many for the same year amounted
only to sos 100000 and Argentina inn
ported but $l5,000,000 worth of Ger
many's products. This showing is
not at all satisfactory to the agra
rians of Germany who propose that
since we Will not lower the barriers
to German goods and thus afford Il
larger market for her products. she
will retaliate with measures designed
to decrease her imports from Ameri-
ca by at least $1OOOOO,OOO a year. To
accomplish this end she has enacted
Il law providing:
An increase in the duty ON wheat
which now pays SO per 220 lbs. to
S1.7S. or about so cents bushel.
\ reduction in Inc duties of fruit
packed in barrels or boxes, making
| it approximately 81 a barrel.
An increase of 25c per pair in the
duty on shoes.
The reduction of duties on spades,
shovels and other articles for use in
fields.
\ maximum and minimum duty on
wheat. the whole being $1.3O per 22O
pounds. The minimum duty viii be
made operative only in the event of
the agreement of the two countries
on commercial treaty.
That the maximum duty will con
tinue to obtain seems settled fact
as the senate will approve no treaties
looking TO reduction of duties that
would enlarge our market abroad and
relieve the American consumer from
the eXactions of trust monopoly.
The duty on wheat as contained in
the new German tariff bill is practi-
cally prohibitive and will bar Ameri-
can wheat and the American farmer
from the market. This is one of the
notable instances in which the tar
| iff protects" the farmer. Wisdom
suggests the removal of the American
duty on wheat and the opening of the
markets of this country to the wheat
of the world. This will not hurt cur
farmers but will benefit them in that
| it will serve to batter down the bar
riers against American wheat in fox
eign countries. There is nothing to
| fear from the removal of the duties be-
cause Manitoba wheat is today in com
petition with American wheat in the
markets of Europe. 1t is not easy to
comprehend how we shall iniure the
American farmer by grinding Mani
! toba wheat for shipment as flour
abroad. Liverpool fixes the price of
wheat, which is high or low as the
supply is large or small in relation
to the demand. Manitoba wheat com
petes there with American wheat and
its congestion serves to break the
price This would be obviated with
free trade. With the markets of Ger
many barred to this wheat and an
additional duty put on leather which
is made out. of hides, our protective
policy is serving to bring the farmer
untold gain.
Nearly Forfeits His Life.