New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-14
FIGHT OVER WHEAT DUTY.
DR4WB4CK PL4NOPPDQSED
Northeastern Farmers 4roused-
Sh0tc Ldkcfy to. Liberaliae Lac.
TrRom TIE TRIBUNE sURFAu.1


Washington Dec 13.-MeInbers of congress
from the Northwest are deeply apprehensiVe
concerning the political and economic enect o.
the drawback ruling which Secretary Shaw IL
expected TO make IN response TO the petition OF
the minneapolis TnilleTs. On the ground that NO
9 hard wheat is scarce and high priced. the mill
iess have petitioned for a regulation allowing
them TO import Manitoba wheat and to manu-
facture It into -four for expert. and securing to
them rebate of the DUTY paid on the percentage
Of wheat exported.
Members OF Congress representing that section
OF the Northwest IN which No. hard wheat can
be raised, prominent among whom is Senator
1ansorough, of North Dakota. contend that for
gears they have preached the doctrine OF pro-
lection TO the farmers in their section. although
iacldng concrete evidences Of the benefit of the
protective policy to the farmers: that now the
sligh price Of No. l hard wheat in the United
states and the lower price IN Manitoba are
proving potent object lesson. but that the
saillers by misrepresenting the actual condi-
Sions, are seeking a regulation which Will de-
prive the American farmer Of the entire value
of the duty OF % cents bushel on wheat so far
az the foreign demand for American flour is
concerned.
In support Of this statement it is pointed out
shat the best -four IS made by mixing No.
hard with the soft wheat grown further South,
approximately half and half The tremendous
development Of the agricultural industry Of the
canadian Northwest now enables the farmers Of
that section 10 supply to the American millers
Eu the hard wheat they require for the export
trade. If therefore, the American producer of
70 ] hal-I IS TO benefit to the least degree by
The export trade which has been so sedulously
cultivated by the federal government he must
sell his wheat at as low a price may rule in
Manitoba and the Canadian Northwest The
Jaw, as heretofore administered, has permitted
she importation OF Canadian wheat in bond. the
entire output of tie mill in which 1t milled
being exported and the entire process conducted
under the supervision Of Treasury agent or
ftorekeeper.
The contention Of the rnillers that No. 1 hard
wheat IS 50 scarce IS TO render impossible COM
petition in the foreign market with Canadian
-four. Senator Hansbrough declares to be
founded. He says the price Of wheat is higher
Than usual. but so the prices which the
GARNER has TO pay for other things. and it will
prove difficult TO demonstrate TO the farmer that
he must cheerfully pay the high prices begotten
10y general prosperity for all that he has to
buy but must submit 10 a special regulation
which viii deprive him Of the benefits of that
prosperity when he comes TO sell his chief article
Of production.
10 NIX CANADIAN AND AMERICAN
WHEAT
# as is expected. the petition Of the millers
IS granted. they viii be empowered to mix
Canadian wheat with American. manufacture it
without government supervision and secure the
drawback, or refunded duty, on making an afr
davft that a specific amount Of foreign wheat
has been exported in the form of -four.
"Such an arrangement" declared Senator
Hansbrougl to-day. would afford almost in
finite opportunity for the evasion Of the tariff;
she bran middlings and shorts. on payment of
Na]+ ~, -1,sS To
nompeJe with the important by-products Of the
american farmers. The farmers Of the North
west would be robbed Of the value OF the pro-
9ection which ii was intended to grant them
syhen the Dingley law enacted. II has long
been difficult 10 prevent the farmers In nay sec
alcn OF the country from complaining OF the
high prices which they were compelled to pay
for machinery. harness. etc, but we have al
ways pointed TO the duty on wheat affording
shem protection from ,ruinous competition IN
rioentaIly, We have pointed to the policy Of the
E2epublican party n building up the foreign de-
snRnd for American products ana have assured
Fhem that they were being benefited. Now when
The time has come that they themselves
perceive the advantages Of protection direct
~ accruing to them and saving them from the
competition of the Canadian farmers just over
The line, the miers apply to the Secretary OF
the Treasury for q regulation which Will enable
them TO bear the market for No ! hard wheat
until the American farmer is compelled to ac-
cept for his wheat the ruling price in the Cana
dian market.
The granting Of the muers' petition will, IN
my judgment completely nullify the intent Of
The protective policy far the farmers OF
the No. hard wheat belt are concerned will
admit large quantities OF bran, mddlings and
shorts on payment Of a nominal duty to the DO
a1lestic market, which the American farmer Is
well able TO supply with these by-products and
VIII greatly intensity the Northwestern demand
Tor tariff revision. Moreover IT viii seem like q
total disregard Of the farmers Of North Dakota
Hnd Northern Minnesota. who gave such grand
D1aJorlties 30 the present administration and
viii be used by our political opponents in at
1e1nprs 10 make the farmers believe that the
administration cares nothing for them after the
election Is over and thar the protective policy Is
solely for the benefit Of the lslers and manu-
-1acturers. incidentally, I desire TO call atten-
ZION 70 the fact that the market for BRAN shorts
and uiddLngs is most important 10 farm
ers these products now selling from S1S 20 500
a ton l cannot but feel that the Secretary of
athe Treasury IS making serious political and
economic mistake"
Advocates OF the liberia lization of the drs W
Back law with reference 10 the Importation OF
Canadian wheat for manufacture into -four for
and described IN these dispatches Of Decern her
10, contend that such action would not only be
beneficial 10 the millers, but 20 the farmers as
well. Under the system now ODera ~ rhe
-four manufacturers Of this country say that
Sfhey cannot control the foreign market for tbe
Season that they cannot secure the wheat neces-
cary fer production.
SECRETARY STIAW'S DRAWBACK PIAr;
Minnesota miers. in establishing foreign
;7larket. have used high grade Of hard sprins
wheat in the manufacture of -four. This wheat
Is obtained largely from Minnesota and III,
,50akotas. but the nillers complain that because
OF the rust shortage has ensued The Cana.
dian wheat is similar IN quality and. if # couIl
be imported and used IN its entirety to ad.