The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-08-25
FOR CONGRESS TO DECIDE
Foreign Countries Establish Prohib-
tive Rates by Way Of Tariff
Retaliation.

The urgent need OF action by con
gees on the tarih will al once be seen
when IL is considered that the foreign
market for our surplus agricultural
/ products Is AT stake Germany and
other European countries have imposed
a tariff 20 prohibit. as far as possible
American products being imported
there In retaliation for our tariff
which excludes most OF the products OF
I those countries The new German tar
in will take effect in March. 1906. and
The rates have without exception been
Increased on every line OF exports from
this country. On corn the German
tarif has been increased 10 40 cents
buShcl and other cereals and pro
visions in proportion. These prohib-
tive rates will greatly reduce the mar.
ket for the surplus OF our agricultural
products, and when our crops are good
and this country has a large surplus
TO dispose Of. it will certainly AFFECT
the home price OF those products
The United States. like all countries
that have a surplus OF any product TO
sell has 10 seek a foreign market for
II and sell II in competition with the
surplus OF other countries. and the
price for such surplus product in those
foreign markets fixes tie price for the
whole Of the product at home We
have been exceedingly fortunate for
the past one or two years in having
falr crops when Europe had lean ones.
and that gave us an opportunity 10
reverse the usual order OF things and
demand good price for our surplus.
But that cannot be expected 10 con.
TIME, and when tits year or next
there are good crops the world over.
down will tumble the price to what
the countries. like England. who do
not rai.'e enough to supply their own
people will pay Then. being shut out
from most OF the European countries
by their high or prohibitive tariff. il
VIII leave rs but those low tariff or
free trade countries like England TO
sell our surplus TO. and the price they
will pay US Will be fixed there in com
petition with ell the countries. who
have. like us. a surplus 10 sell.
That will give England cheap food
and allow her workmen, as they lave
in the past. TO live better on less wages
in proportion than any other country.
II must also result in the increased
price Of such agricultural products in
Germany. and If long continued the
wages OF her workmen must be raised
70 meet the advanced cost Of food.
Who VIII first call a halt In this
economic war is a question. Our pro.
-ected industries are protesting that
he Present tariff rates are none too
ligh. They, OF course. do not want
either German products or those OF
my other couLtry TO come in and com
'ete with them. The higher the cost
II living here the .7ore profit for those
Who have a monopoly. like the trusts 4
rave. Of supplying our people The .
armer, the workingman and the mid /
lie class generally mast in the mean 4
ime see the cost az living advance I
Without similar increase in the
money they earn to pay it,
The reciprocity treaties. or tie max /
mum or minimum tariff. that some \
epublicans are proposing Will only
lelp those Industries who now find
themselves likely to lose the chance
o sell their surplus products to for.
ign countries, and some OF those must
'e content TO see part OF the profit
hey have been charging 20 20 the reel
'rocity hopper. So that others may
'eneht by the reduced tariff of the
ountry with whom the reciprocity
realty is made This reciprocity plan.
r the maximum and minimum system.
not intended to reduce prices. but
0 open partial market abroad for
ur surplus manufactures. The trusts
iill still charge all the consumers can
ay, for they will still have monop-
ly OF the home market Nor will
hese plans OF tariff tinkering ada
luch TO the revenues of the govern
lent
The only tariff reform that will re-
uce the present high trust prices is
so reduce tie tariff rates on those
rust. products that they are selling
heaper abroad than here. that our own
eople can buy al the same price as
ne foreigners. II will be interesting
watch the republican majority ia
re coming congress and notice IL they