The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-07-08

son In letter 10 y. =. OlS8SIos GA
plains his attitude on the tariff bill,
now up for consideration in congress.
It !s interesting and should be care.
fully read:
T. e. DISCARD, Esq, .--
Minot, N. D,
Dear Mr.. Olsgard:-I have just re-
ceived yourefavor of the 39th suits and
notes what you say regarding the tariff !
bill now under consideration in the
senate. 5
Ever since the tariff debate COM
menced unfair criticisms Of the bill
have appeared in many Of the papers
in North Dakota. So far have not
answered any of them because We
have constantly been changing and
amending the proposed bill. Even
now detailed statement cannot be
given as to what the law will finally
be, for the reason that we do not
know what the conference committee
will do. ~
But can safely say to you that the
law when completed will be revis-
ion downward; in almost all cases
will square with Taft's speeches. and
will bring prosperity.
The Democrats wrote platform in
1908 which was repudiated by more
than a million votes at the polls last
fall In that they declared for a
revision downwards in all instances.
The Republican party in their 1908
platform promised to revise the tar
if so as to make up the difference
between cost of production at home
and abroad plus a reasonable profit.
Taft said in his speeches that he
thot that rule faithfully carried out
would mean reduction in most cases,
but advances in others. He was right.
Of the sixty-one Republican senat-
ors, ffty-three of us have stood to-
gether almost steadily in support OF
the president, the vlce-president and
the cabinet on the platform of 1908,
while eight Republican senator's have
as steadily voted with the Democrats
to make downward revision as de-
manded and promised by the Demo-
cratic platform. For voting with
that safe majority of my party have
been censured by the democratic
press of North Dakota. That Is very
natural. am Republican and
protectionist Democrats and free
traders do not admire my stand on the
present tariff bill.
It is impossible now to 90 into any
general discussion OF the bill, but l
would call attention to two sched-
ules, G. and c., being products and
iron and steal. In the middle west
we sell farm products and buy iron
and steel. In the proposed bill all
farm products either retain the high
duties of the Dingley law or are rais-
ed, viz, barley, cattle, horses, sheep
hogs, hay, butter, cheese, eggs, meat
remain as in the present law, carry
ing very high duties. Oats and
wheat are raised five cents bushel;
rye ten cents and potatoes twenty
cents. -
The iron and steek schedu.. con-
tains marked reductions, notwith-
standing statements to the contrary
in many Of the North Dakota papers.
One hundred and thirty items are
contained in the schedule. One
hundred and twenty of them are
greatly reduced. Two are unchang-
ed. Three are new items. Five are
apparently raised and one is really
raised, but for the best Of reasons.
The two unchanged are Ferrosilic-
on and one fourth inch steel tubes.
When we made the Dingley law Fer
rosilicon was made in open hearths
and did not hold over ten or twelve
per cent of silicon, the costly part,
and was worth $17.00 per ton. Now
It is made by electricity and contains
as much as fifty per cent silicon and
is worth $1,000 per ton, and the fore
ieners have got away with our mar
ket. We imported nearly one mill
lion dollars worth last veal, The small
steel tubes, one fourth inch, are used
in bicycles, automobiles and small
gas plants. They are costly and Inn
porters got the trade.
The only real advance was on
plate for circular saws. which was
blunder in the Dinsley law.
The fve apparent advances and
three new items relate 70 new kinds
Of steel, invented since 1897. used for