The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-05-14
Those Cheaper Markets.


the Massachusetts, Legislature to inves-
tigats and report on the increase in
commodity prices expressed the opinion
that certain specified facts show con-
cllsively that the tariff has not been the
active factor In the recent upward
movement Of prices in this country.
II modified this opinion by saying that
the tariff cuts OF possible relief 20 con-
sImeTs by closing access 10 the cheapest
sources Of food supply in the worlds
markets. This Is precisely the point on
which probably large majority Of the
American people are widely astray in the
whole matter.
Il n true that the price o. many food
products Is lower in other countries than
in the United States. Therefore. the
argument runs, If the tariff on food sub
stances were removed il would be posi-
be for us 10 buy in those markets and
80 reduce prices here to the level Of
prices IN those countries. The argu-
meIit is ENTIRELY superficial. and with the
exception Of a few articles quite un-
sound. The one notable exception is
sugar. RICE, potatoes and fish might
M regarded a. exceptions, bat they are
more properly included in a doubtful
class. The reply n the argument IL a
question: Where are the cheaper mar
kets in which il is possible 10 purchase
a sufficient quantity Of food products
10 aheCt materially the prices Of domes-
tic products? Where can we buy wheat
corn, oats. barley. beef mutton. cattle.
sheep, lard, bacon, butter, eggs. poul-
try. -four. fresh vegetables fruits,
berries and other commodities Of gen
eral and daily household consumption?
What country or what group Of cOun-
tres has these commodities 20 sell in
millions Of pounds or bushels? This
point "a generally overlooked or disre-
garded by the proponents Of the free
list for all food products as a remedy
for high prices.
The price Of wheat is regulated by
world supply. by the crops Of Russia.
India, Argentina and Canada a. we'll a.
by the crops Of the United States. The
crop Of this country averages only !
little more than 20 per cent. Of the
worlds total, and while there would be /
other benefits from the transfer Of wheat |
70 the free list there is no good reason |
for belief that such a proceeding would |
affect materially the retail price Of -four.
This country produces from twO-thirds
10 three-quarters Of all che corn grown
in the world Where could we buy corn
more cheaply? Our exports Of lard for
the last ten years have averaged co.
o.. 600 pounds a year. Where il the
cheaper market for that commodity?
The duty on butter Is six cents a pound
and the duty on eggs Is five cents a
dozen, but the very high price Of those
commodities for the last year has not led
IN large importation, for the simple rea-
son that other markets have not a large
surplus that might be- sold here. Free
pOrtAtiOn Of that article. but consumers
evidently prefer 10 pay the higher price
for the domestic product because of its
better appearance, and the two cent
duty on cleaned rice does not fairly
account for a difference Of about seven
cents a pound between the farm price
and the retail price Of the domestic arti-
Gle. We usually import about a million
bushels Of potatoes a year. under a duty ,
of twenty-five cents a bushel, 70 supple
ment our home crops Of about 3OO. OJO 900 ,
bushels, but while the world crop Of
'spuds' is something like 500 .OOO 90
bushels a year the greater part Of the I
supply is needed and used in the coun- I
tries 81 ~ production.
The duty on fresh beef. veal. mutton. I
lamb and pork il one and half cents Z
pound, certainly not a serious bar al the :
present level n prices il, a. is assumed {
by some. the supply elsewhere il abund- q
ant and the prices much below the prices
here. In the same way IL would be- Dos I
sible 10 go through the entire list Of the
important food substances with no con- {
clusion possible except that Of relieving {
nc tarih generally from responsibility q
lOr the prevailing high prices Of food
suds, sugar being the one notable e1- a
septlon. me theory Of material reduc. u
ton in cost Of living through transfer .
NJ all food products TO tho free list s 9
distinctly fallaciOus Such a course Q
would not be- materially helpful ~ Tar
Ne CONSUMERS are concerned. and not !.
lppreciably haHnfll ~ far a. producers =,
arc concerned. The effect on tho ma
aonal revenues, except in the case Of o
sugar would be inconsiderable. 4 pos E
sible and II may be a probable influence q
would lie in a tendency 10 steady prices
on sOTns commodities Of
In all this matter our relations with d
Canada may he regarded a exceptional. II