The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-15
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
The Wheat Tariff Again.

To the Editor of the Journal
A few days ago there appeared in T h 9
J o u a letter from w. c.. Edgar,
editor Northwestern Miller, replying to Mr..
Arson of Casselton, N. D., on the matter
of importation Of Canadian wheat by the
millers Of Minneapolis under the present
tariff law. 49,
Mr.. Edgar admits the existence of an
import duty on wheat and says that no
efforts are being made by the millers or
anyone else to have this duty either re-
duced or taken off, While this is, in d
measure true still, will Mr.. Edgar deny
that efforts are not being made to
practically defeat the purposes Of the tar
iff schedule that imposes an import duty
on wheat of 25 cents bushe1? Will he
explain why the Lowering drawback bill''
was introduced in congress as far back
as February last, and what that bill pro-
Vides for? r
Will he explain the purpose Of the
"Stevens bill''? Will he inform us why
more liberal rulings and regulations for
the milling Of foreign wheat are now
| being made from the treasury depart
! ment? Why this three fold movement, If
| not to open up a way for. the free ad-
| mission of Canadian wheat.
| The millers do not care to disturb the
tariff schedule on wheat by coming out in
the open for it's repeal. They prefer to
| let it stand as it is and kill it by amend
ments. BY the measures above referred
to they hope to be able to set aside the
tariff restrictions that stand in their way,
and should they succeed in their efforts
! then protection to the American wheat
grower will be as dead as Cesar s
ghost" Mr.. Edgar says: 'They (the mill
ers) are merely endeavoring to secure
! from the treasury department a plain
definition of their rights and privileges
under the law-the rights and privileges
common to any and every American cit
izen who desires to import the raw an6
export the manufactured product
MIR. Edgar here refers to section 30 Of
the Dingley law. ...
About two years ago the Washburr
! Milling company bonded one of their mills
for the grinding of Manitoba wheat, under
the rulings and regulations of the treas
ury department., and 1t is reasonable tt
suppose that the treasury department al
that time gave the Washburn company
"a plain definition Of their rights anc
privileges under the law and doubtless
the regulations under which the mill was
operated were as liberal and sweeping a:
could be made.
| It now appears, however, that more lib
eral rulings are demanded. Mr.. Edgar
hints at the privilege ito mix the Cana
dian wheat with American wheat anG
the privilege "to retain in this country
free Of duty, the offal from the imported
wheat" This would be distinct advan.
tage to the millers but what Of the tar.
if law, and protection to the farmers
How could the identity of the foreign
wheat be established. and what effec
would the dumping Of the offa1 on the do:
mestic market have on the value Of
coarse grains, notably oats and barley
which at present are on as low a price
level as the farmers care to see them?
No, Mr.. Edgar, special privileges only
benefit the few at the expense of the
many, and your proposition don't strike
the farmers favorably. The experiment
had better not be tried.
Mr.. Edgar deplores the low ebb to which
the American flour export trade has fallen
It is unfortunate that rust, disease in tht
l spring wheat crop and unfayorab1e wealth.
er conditions in the fall wheat states have
i brought about a shortage of good milling
wheat, and put the price SO high that ou1
millers cannot grind home wheat and ex.
port it at a profit, but is there not a way
j open for the milling interests OF Mime.
apolis to supply their export trade with.
4 out annulling the tariff schedule that az.