The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-01
REVISING THE NEAT TRUSTS
DUTIES UPWARD.

DUTIES UPWARD.
II there IS any one item which de-
serves attention in the long list of
accessories whose ascending prices have
inspired protest against the increasing
cost OF living, that item is meat. 1t is
controlled by a trust which Is fast
reaching out toward domination of the
meat business of other countries as
well as this. It's prices have been NOV
ing steadily upward, and the movement
has been traced to the operations of
the trust. There Is no possible excuse
for tariff ON meats; certainly none
Tor increasing the duties fixed in the
House bill
Yet the Senate Finance Committee
has proposed and actually made fight
to maintain the present duties, in the
face of the fact that the House reduced
them after careful investigation. The
present duties are:
Per ID.
Hams and bacon. .---s..-........ &c
Beef ...--....s-s...ss.. &c
Veal, mutton. and pork. .--....... &c
Lard .---......--.-..- .....----. &c
The House reduced these to : cents
on hams and bacon. and 10 cents on
the other items. The Senate Finance
Committee reported in favoring Of re
storing the present rates.
There vas a fight against the restor-
alton, and finally the Senate Committee
amendment was withdrawn, save as 10
the fresh meats, on which the fight is
70 be made to retain the higher i'm
posts. That fight viii be made frally
in the Senate, after the Committee OF
the Whole has completed its considera-
ton and has reported the bill
Meats, certainly must be set down
as among the necessaries of life. The
acute craftsmanship which found that
gloves and hosiery were luxuries. would
probably be able to present a yegetar-
ian argument and demonstrate to the
mythical" consumer that his taste
for meat is q sad misfortune; that he
really ought to confne himself to a
vegetable diet. But we have mispiv-
ings about the political prospects OF
the man who runs for office on the veg
etarian platform of taxing meat of the
table and improving our health by liv-
ing without it.
Whence Is any meat to be imported
TO the United Statesg From Canada 2
Perhaps a little, over the border: but
our meat trust is working into Canada.
From Argentina? Swifts are there in
full forse. From Cuba? From Nexi-
cot The trust is looking in those di-
Eections also.
The only possible utility Of protec-
tion on meats-fresh meats especial
y-is to protect the. meat monopoly.
This country is vastly the greatest
producer and the greatest exporter of
meats on earth. Protection is about
as useful as the rings Of Saturn would
be 70 a kitchen maid seeking a brace
let to wear 70 the eabmen's ball. In
Just one circumstance might protection
have a real effect: IN the circum-
stance Of the Meat trust exact
ing such unholy and outrageous
prices that importations would become
possible. Even that Is not yet IN seri-
Gus prospect, though it may become so
Meanwhile, to take of the fresh meat
duti,s would be the best possible earn
est Of purpose 10 make the necessaries
of life cheaper or at least TO prevent
monopoly from further extorting iron
the people.
II VIII require some effort to find d
monopoly which is so widely felt or 81
entirely hated as is the Meat trust. j
has no possible claim, in morals or il
equity, for protection. Nobody is s,
foolish as to suspect fer an instant
that protection on meat viii mean 4
farthing TO the farmer. 1t is the veries
rot
And yet the Senate committee seri
ously tried to sustain the old mea
duties, after the House had pared then
down a comfortable way That is tn,
sort Of politics which IS going to max,
the next House Democratic, if it con
tinues.
It seems useless to give warning il
these matters. Senator AIdrieh himsel
finally admitted that as 20 some item
in the meat schedule the rates wer'
too high, and withdrew the Senap
advances. But on fresh meats the oil,