The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-07
FAYORS LOW TARIFF.
James S. Bell Thinks This Would Be
Better Than Free Canadian
Wheat.
He Would Make the Winnipeg
Grain Market Relative to
Minneapolis.

James S. Bell, president Of the Wash
burn-Crosby company, believes that q
low tariff on Canadian wheat is more to
be desired than a form of reciprocity
nroviding for free wheat. Inasmuch as
his company has been a pioneer in the
grinding of Canadian wheat here, Mr.
Bells interview in the Commercial West
has a special interest. He says:
II am opposed to free wheat from
Canada and favor instead a tariff of s.
cents per 100 pounds. My principal rea.-
son is that we can get that by. the action
of this country alone, and when this is
done Canada by her statute is bound to
give this country an equivalent tarlH re-
duction on our products. On the basis
of reciprocity we must waste time in
educating a hostile sentiment to reci-
procity in both countries with the result
that legislation may be postponed for
years. "-s.5. z.%ts4.a
Transportation a Factor.
..The car facilities on the Canadia Pa
! cific will be Inadequate to care for large
wheat crop in Canada for several years.
We can grind Canadian wheat after lake
navigation closes by buylng II outrisne
! on a tariff of cents. When navigation
| closes the Canadian wheat price is based
on the export value with an all-rail haul
added This means a considerable re-
duction in price to the Canadian farmer.
| That redSAtion would offset in part the
| scent tariff and we in turn would be
willing to pay cent or two to get the
| wheat, When we have a sufficient sup
| ply in Minnesota and the Dakotas we
would not need the Canadian wheat, and
| the tariff would keep back shipments only
| as we bought the wheat. Sentimental
objection to free wheat disappears at
| once and yet Minneapolis millers would
| never be forced to suspend business for
want of wheat to grind, as they have had
to do, or resort to importations from other
| states. D., 49,.
Under the present system the only
outlet for Canadian wheat is EuroE/,
| where it becomse a depressing factor on
American trade. The price of wheat IN
| Winnipeg is based on the export value
of wheat the export price has no de-
Gliding influence on the price of wheat in
| MINNEAPOLIS. Wheat is higher in Mime
| apolis than in Winnipeg, but the relative
| value in Minneapolis has no effect in
| Winnipeg, because the market for the lat
ter point is in Europe and there Is a bar
rier between it and Minneapolis of rs
cents a bushel The. wheat of Manitoba
is placed on the bargain counter in
Europe, where it has a depressing in
fluence on the value of American wheat
in London, Liverpool and Berlin. Our
proposition would change the current OF
! trade and make the Winnipeg market
, relative to Minneapolis
Commenting on Mr.. Bells statements
the Commercial West says: e..
''The elevator companies in Wnnipe;
) buy wheat at country stations on the basi
of 2 and 3 cents under Winnipeg price
This margin used to be 10 cents. In win
| ter, when it is not easy to move Whea
all RAIL- this difference widens to about
cents At this point Minnea polls miller
could buy Canadian wheat on tariff o
5 cents. ..,
2 What is the result of this policy sug
gested by Mr.. Bell? The United State
secures a revenue from the importa tion G
. the wheat; the farmer in the United State
. Is not injured because the duty preserve
the proper balance as to price; to colleC
- the duty on wheat the United States ca
. increase the size of Its customs stations o
ii the boundary and thus be, in better pc
sition to protect the general interests q
& to smuggling and other violations of Law
A Reciprocity Feature.
r ''But there is reciprocity factor
| consider also. q AS a result of reductic
of tariff on wheat Canada would be bour
to make an equiva ent reduction Of i
E tariff on flour Ito 30h cents a barrel
1 thereabouts. AS a rAsult American flo,
would be sold in the eastern provinces
. Canada, where consumers of flour pc
= relatively higher prices for Canadie
brands than they are sold for in Englan
1.-THE. manufacturers of farm impl
"a ments would pay a small duty to get the
u goods into Canada, but they could afford
:, sell them to Canadian farmers at pra
II tically the American price.
[r 1T is wholly within the power of tt
s United States to take the initiative."