The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-06-03
PLAIN FACTS
About the Tariff bill Told by
Senator Smith
ON, FLOOR OF SENATE

Tendency of the Present LegisIa-
ton is to Give the manufacturer
Undue Advantage Over the Pro-
duccr and the Consumer.
Denouncing the pending tariff bill
as giving the manufacturer an undue
advantage over the American farmer
and working man, Senator Smith,
of South Carolina, unequivocally eX-
pressed his faith in free trade poll
cy in an extended steech while the
cotton schedule was under consider
alton in the Senate on Tuesday. The
following write-up of the speech was
furnished The News and Courier by
its Washington correspondent:
The whole tendency OF this leg
islation has been TO cheaper the raw
material and raise the price of the
finished article said Mr.. Smith,
thereby giving to the protected
manufacturer double advantage,
lessening the price of what he has
to buy and raising the price of what
he has to sell.
Il am not pleading for, nor shall
vote for, protection for the raw
material. | believe a thing is worth
what it will bring in the open mark
cts of the world. What l shall vote
against is the iniquitous and inde-
fensible system of legislating profit
by artificial methods. / believe that
American skill and the wonderful
mechanical devices operated by
steam, water and electricity, our
nearness to the source Of supply for
the raw material makes it possible
for us to compete with the nations of
the world"
Senator Smith said it was abso-
lutely idle to talk about the 'protec-
tive tariff being benefit to the cot
ton and grain. growers. of America.
In support of his position, Mr.. Smith
quoted, though not by name, lead
ing manufacturer of the South" who,
he said, had told him that he be-
| lieyed it was right and just that the
protective feature OF the tariff on
cotton goods should be entirely wip-
ed out. The protection of the Gov
ernment, asserted Mr.. Smith, giving
such margin of profit, has invited
and brought into the cotton manufac-
turing business "a lot OF financial
| buccaneers and plungers, who, by the
marvellous profits that could be fig
ured, possibly on paper put on foot
/ impossible schemes, which have re-
suited disasterouly to the milling
industry of the country" He said
that what is true of the cotton in
dustry is largely true of every other
manufacturing industry.
THE monstrous injustice of this
bill is made in two particulars" con-
tinued Mr. Smith This bill de-
clares that it is for the purpose OF
encouraging American industries
and guaranteeing 10 them a reason
able profit, while on the other hand
in sharp contrast with it in the bill,
is incorporated tax on the very
! fertiliZing element upon which the
agricultural laborer is dependent for
the enrichment Of his soil. This
i ammonia, or this heterogeneous ele-
ment that is so costly and so essential
II the production of this crop, must
| be taxed because of a few coke and
| gas companies, who, already protect
! ed and making their millions, can
not be denied the privilege Of max
ing other millions out Of that which
the Government ought to see that
the farmer gets at the lowest pos
siblc price
! During the course Of his speech
Mr.. Smith read some interesting
figures to bear out his contention
that the protective tariff worked a
hardship upon the people Of the
South, who had to pay most severely
for the prosperity enjoyed by the
manufacturers. The eleven cotton
growing States last year produced
! $71G.%52.2G5 worth OF raw cotton,
he said, and $9O,000.000 worth of
cotton seed. This cotton they had
to put upon the market at IL price
: fixed by Liverpool. That price was
fixed in Liverpool upon the basis
of the cost of labor in Europe and
the price at which they sold the
finished product.
'Thcreforc the whole American
cotton crop is sold upon the basis
of free trade" said Senator Smith
so that. in the cotton growing
States. according to the census fig
ureS OF 1900. there are engaged in
agricultural pursuits i.O00.00U peo-
pie, and their average earnings for
+ the year are $l33.
Taking the outcome duties on
articles imported, such as are used
on the farms. there are consumed
about $66.3577. 900 worth. Taking
the consumption OF domestic man
ufactured goods. the proporIionate
; part of the South is $2.S%3. 600. 900.
The indirect tax paid on this con-
! sumption, due to protection. Is
! sS55 900. 900 Now this for the Ell