Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-05-28

In the course of the debate a few
days ago Senator Gore said Nobody
who believes on duty on cora ought
to be allowed to rup at large outside of
the Senate This wittisism suggest is
an inquiry into the agricultural scheG-
ule of the tariff bill, and we find that
the farmers have not been forgotten.
Whether the remembrance will recon-
ellie the tillers of the soil to some other
things in the bill remains to be seen
Corn has beer given duty Of Is cents
per bushel. Our corn imports N 1907
were less than 10000 bushels; the do
nestle product exceeded $780, 100000
bushels. 1t will be observed that corn
in this country is not an "infant in
dustry.' Ii the 15-cent duty fails to
dispel the horrible shadow that hangs
of "foreign competitions" it will at
least serve to assist the spellhicder in
convincing our bucolic brother that
the tariff makers were not unmindful
his interests.
The Senate bill increases the duty on
oats from 10 cents to 90 cents a bushel.
Here again the domestic farmer will
breathe satisfying sigh, for the 81
900 bushels OF imports in 1907 must
have been an awful menace against
the 754 900 900 bushels that he pro-
duced. Wheat duty was advanced from
| % TO so cents per bushel, an increase
of 20 per cent. This will put check
to the threatened distraction of the
bust less of wheat raising in this coun-
try, for in 1907 the foreign wheat rails
| er sent US the enormous amount of
$4,000 bushels and we produced only
634 900, 600 bushels.
! But the committee fairly overlooked
with generosity in the matter of rye,
| on which the duty is increased 100 per
cent. The Imports of rye in 1907 were
! 157 bushels; we produced 81 $50, 600
| bushels. The value of buckwheat flour
| imported in 1907 was 1888; of buck
wheat itself the domestic production
amounted to more than $4,000 600
/ bushels. Consequently the duty on
/ buckwheat flour was increased from
/ % cents 10 70 cenls What boots it that
/ the sug tr which the cheerful house
wife converts INFO syrup for the glad
| breakfast table sustain tax of nearly
two cents per pound? IL not the buck
wheat cake protected also against for
| eign Invasion.
Let no one imagine for moment
! u rs . i
! by the Senate bill in behalf of the
farmer have been confined for political
effect To those localities represented
by the responsible msjority of the
committee. Democratic senators have
been especially remembered la its
impartial research for facts upon which
to base its actions, the committee
found among other things, that in
| ] SO7 tfere were imported from the
Philippine Islands 237 pounds of cleau-
ed lice, valued at So, Whereupon the
duty OF 10 cents is increased 10 , cents
per pound.
Other lines Of industry have been
permit to languish; the m oaopolist
has kLocked in vain at the Orazen
doors of Congress for relief and turned
away Ia despair; the sugar trust and
the lumber trust have exhausted their
energies pleading for the retention of
tarlu dlfferenuals in the interest of the
American Worklugman; it aVaileth
them net, forabove the din and clamor
OF these mendIcaats have been heard
the demands OF the opulent oat-r aiseT,
OF the predatory producer of wheat, of
the soulless sewers and reapers of rye,
while from tho rice plantations of The
falr Southland came an ominous plo-
test against the designs of the fatted
Filipino.
I o ali which the finance committee
mas lent Its listening ear and then has
iievlsed the tariff upward. The preda-
ofy farmer is IN the saddle-Wasb
ington Post Ind, Republican.