The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-04-02
TARIFF ON KANT.
Duty Payne Proposed Will Cost Car
olinians s2oo,OOo-"An Out
rage" Clemson Says.
The Record.

The Record.
A delegation of South Carolina far
mers and commercial fertilizer manu-
facturers will probably go to Wash
ington on the warpath in few days
to protest against that provision Of
the much discussed Payne tariff bill,
which imposes a duty of 20 per cent.
on potash salts.
Commissioner Watson has just re-
ceived a very strong letter from Dl-
rector Harper, of the experiment sta
ton at Clemson, denouncing the new
duty as an outrage, saying it will take -
100000 a year out of the pockets OF
the farmers of this State alone. This
stuff comes mostly from Germany and
as there is nothing in this country
to compete against it the duty Is re-
garded as a double shame against
both the farmers and the fertilizer
people, Charleston beirg the centre Of
fertilizer manufacturing in the coun-
try, and supplying, the farmers not
only of South Carolina, but Of many
adjoining States.
Commissioner Watson has sent MIR.
Harper's letter 'on to Congressman
Lever to say what kind of a delega-
ton would be most effective to come
to Washington on the subject. After
hearing from Mr.. Lever, Mr.. Watson
will probably call on the State Far
mers' union to get together and name
delegation to 60 on to Washington.
Mr.. Harper's letter to Mr.. Watson
follows:
"Dear Sir: understand from the
German kali people that section 3 Of
the Payne tariff bill imposes a duty
of 20 per cent. on potash salts. [
think this is an outrage. This will
mean that South Carolina will pay an
additional duty to the government Of
about 100000 a year. This will
come largely from the farmers. Most
Of the potash salts, which are now on
the free list, are consumed by South
ern farmers, as sandy soils Of the
South are more deficient in potash
than clay soils, and most of the soils
of the South are sandy. Something
should be done to let congress know
that the people of South Carolina pro-
test against any such treatment.
"Yours very truly,
~, N. Harper"
The fertilizer manufacturers join
in the comment of Mr.. Harper that
the new duty is an outrage against
the farmers Of this State and of the
entire South. ..,.
When he was shown Mr.: Harper s Z
letter and asked what "infant indus
try" in this country such a duty
would benefit or protect, General
Manager C. Fitz Simons, Of the
Southern Cotton Oil COMPANY, which
is affiliated with the Virginia-Caro-
lima Chemical company, said: !.
"Nons whatever. It is a plain case
of the government needs the money, 1
suppose. We own our mines in Ger
manv and import thousands and thou
sands of tons every year, and it is
sold to the farmers all over the South.
of course the farmers will have to
pay the difference, and if the new
duty means 100000 a year out Of
the South Carolina farmers, it Will
mean millions a year out Of the pock-
cts of the Southern farmers generally.
The demand for potash has been par
ticularly strong this season in this
State and throughout the South. 1t Is
used in the manufacture Of fertilizers,
and the farmers buy large quantities
and mix it themselves with acid phos-
phate and cottonseed meal"
"It is the first I have heard of the
situation,' said Mr.. c. C. Waring,
division manager for the V. C. peo-
pie. "I will this afternoon forward
copy of Mr.. Harper's letter to VIC
Richmond headquarters. I have no
doubt but that our people will join
the farmers in strong protest TO
oo,,o,,oco -