The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-12-11
Rep. Fordney Says Free Trade With
Philippines Will be Limited.

| Detroit Dec. 4.-Congressman j.
w. Fordney and Mrs. Fordney of
Saginaw, came from Washington to-
night to attend the funeral of Mrs.
f. w. Gilchrist, which will be held to
morrow. They will return i'm
mediately, as congress convenes
Monday.
| Speaking of the proposed tariff re-
| vision and Speaker Cannon's candi-
| dacy for reelection, Mr.. Fordney
I said:
| There is not man in the coun-
try who could get half dozen votes
| against Uncle Joe for speaker. The
talk about Taft and Cannon prepar-
ing for fight is nonsense. Cannon
stands on the platform of the Re
publican national convention, which
declared for a revision of the tariff. +"
How much of revision there is
going to be?" he continued. 81 do
not think any man can tell. 1t is
a big task and one that requires
great care. 1 believe that a great
many changes will be made raising
as well as lowering the tariff where
it is deemed necessary. In making
a revision 1t must be kept in mind
that the government must be given
a sufficient revenue and II the re-
vision were to be entirely downwards
this could only be accomplished by
Increasing American products. I al
so believe that changes will be made
from an ad vaorem to a specific ba-
sis on numerous articles in the vari-
Gus schedules. Personally / do
not believe in reducing the tariff
when home industry would be in
jured, but suppose it is question
of viewpoint.
about sugar, so far as I can see,
nothing is to be done, except as re-
CARDS free trade with the Philip
pines. A plan is on foot to restrict
the amount of sugar to be brought
from the Philippines each year and
if this is accomplished the result
will not injure the beet sugar indus
try.
Arguments have been presented
on both sides of the lumber question
with reference to wood
products, such as pulp. AS a matter
of fact, lumber enjoys a less percent
age of protection based on the value
of the lumber than any other articla
in the Dingley bill"
In an interview with the Detroit
Journal, Mr.. Fordney referred to the
wool tariff as follows:
Personally, of course, am not in
favor of reducing the tariff on wool
or any other product raised on a |
Michigan farm. However, | cannot |
speak for the other II members of |
the committee. The Republican par
ty, of. course in it's platform, pledged |
itself to revision of tariff schedules
but with a $10O,00O,000 deficit star
ing us in the face and the public
demanding more river
and harbor appropriations on one
hand and raising the devil to hasten
reduction of the tariff on the other
hand. I don't see where money fo1
current expenses of the government
Is coming from. !
"All Of those who have asked the
to reduce the tariff on
wool are importers of wool or WOODEN
goods. No Michigan wool grower
)r manufacturers have been heard by
he committee, but sheep men from
he western states, Utah. Colorado,
IDAHO, Wyoming and California as
we'll as some Of the eastern states
lave raised strenuous objection to
he lowering of the tariff. They are
content with it as it is, with the ex-
option Of the substitution of specific
or ad valorem duties in instances.
let me explain this.
"Under section three Of the Ding
ey bill, the president is empowered
D make reciprocity treaties with var
,us countries. Germany, during
.oosevelt's term, was the first to
Ike advantage of this section, and
early all European countries soon
,llowed suit. Under these treaties v
le shipper in Europe sets the value '
the goods shipped. Our board of 1
Dpraisers has nothing to say. The
election to ad va1orem duties has
'isen in consequence of this foreign
tting of values. a
western sheep men told us that t
lring the three years of the Wilson C
riff (1S94-1S97) that raw wool II
ent down to nine cents pound in
ichigan and to six cents in the west d
estern wool now brings from Is to a
cents. The three years of the e.
ilson tariff, we are told, resulted in T
e reduction OF the country's ag- Il
egate number of sheep II, 100000. B
lie consequences were disastrous" A
Shia wassee county will have some az
ing to reckon with next time size 81