The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-01-06
TARIFF REVISION BY ITS FRIENDS
That is, If There Is Any Real
Necessity for Revision Now.
CONGRESSMAN FORDNEY OUT
LINES HIS VIEWS.
Sad Experience with Cuban Reciprocity
Warns Us to Beware of the Cana
dian Proposition.

Sad Experience with Cuban Reciprocity
Warns Us to Beware of the Cana
dian Proposition.
From the Saginaw Courier Herald.
Congressman Fordney was at his
Office in the Merrill block yesterday and
gave The Courier-Herald few minutes
talk on tariff and reciprocity subjects.
In response to an inquiry as to the reso.
luton he introduced before the holiday
recess calling for the appointment of IL
republican congressman to act as tar.
lift commission, and investigate the
whole subject and report to the regular
session of the next congress, he said:
lit is my firm conviction that tariff
commission can accomplish much more
by sitting during the summer and re-
porting its findings to the congress
which convenes next December, than
could possibly result from an extra ses-
sion of congress, and think the work
would be more thoroughly done and at
less expense. The membership was con-
fined to republicans because the blame
or credit for any and all changes should
be shouldered by republicans. If the
present tariff law was of democratic ORR
gin should insist upon that party hav-
ing the same right and assuming the
same responsibility.
TARIFF REVISION NOT AN ISSUE.
81 am a protectionist and am doubt
full if revision is demanded by major
ity of our people, yet think the views
of the minority should have attention.
If the minority can prove its case and
show that the revision is wise, and
furnish conclusive evidence that when
thework is undertaken. the removal or
lowering of duties will help somebody
and hurt nobody, such change would
have my approval. Tariff revision was
certainly not an issue in the last cam
paign, and the great republican victory
would naturally lead one to believe that
vast majority of the people are salts
fed with present conditions. The gen.
eral public thought that tariff ripping
had been put to sleep for another four
years, and fear that too much ado
about the matter will create enough dis
trust to unnecessarily disturb business.
1t would be good idea to let well
enough alone.
OPPOSES CANADIAN RECIPROCITY.
What do / think about reciprocity
with Canada2 Facts, figures and ex-
perience force me to oppose it. Reel
procity is catchy term, but what are
the facts2 Our trade with Canada since
1850 shows a balance in our favor of
1888, 600, 600; of this amount $43S, 000,
600 has resulted since 1897. In other
words, 70 per cent of this enormous
balance in our favor has taken place
under the Dingley law. The percent
age of gain in our trade relations with
Canada since 1870 has been as follows:
Exports to Canada have increased All
per cent, while imports from Canada
have increased Al per cent
e'The Canadian balance of trade in
our favor since 1870 far exceeds that of
any other country in the world, in pro-
portion to the business done To ask
any more from the Canadians would be
asking too much; to give away what we
have would not be wise. We must not
forget that our trade with Canada is
constantly Observation-Disclosures
ing the assertion of Eugene N. Foss, of
Boston, to the contrary. Our imports
from Canada during the last fiscal year
ending June 30, 1904, were $51, 0OO,0 900,
while our sales to that country for the
same period amounted to the enormous
sum of $131 200, 900. These figures far
exceed those of any previous year in
our history.
THE CUBAN GOLD BRICK.
Cuban reciprocity should be warn
ing to reciprocity enthusiasts. Our ex-
ports to Cuba during the year 1901
amounted to $26,O0O,O0O, while her
total imports from all countries exceed
cd $40, 100000. Cuba sold to us during
the same period $76,O00,000 worth of
goods, or % per cent of her total sales.
Cuban reciprocity took effect Dec. ~,
1908, and for the first six months of 1904 |
we sold Cuba goods to the amount of |
5000, 600, showing no increase over
1908. During the same period she sold |
us S54, 000, 900 worth of her products or
an increase of AZ per cent over 1908; so |
per cent of our purchases from the
Oubans in 1904 has been sugar and 10 |
per cent tobacco.
From absolutely reliable informa-
ton, the fact is established that the
poor, down-trodden Cubans received
less for their sugar since the enactment
Of the Cuban bill than before. Yet this
bill, while greatly retarding the growth
Of the beet sugar industry in the United
States, has driven the stock of the
American sugar trust from 100 in 1908
10 $50 per share in November, 1904,
while the publicly announced dividends
On that stock amounted to 90 per cent