Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-04-11
ROBBERY OF THE FARMERS.
New Orleans Cotton Exchange De-
nounces Bassins and Tie Trusts.


New Orleans, April 10.-That the
cotton bagging and tie trusts are now
robbing the American cotton planter
Of $1,O00,000 annually through unjust
tariff placed upon bagging and ties,
under the Payne-Aldrich tariff, are
planning to increase their profits on the
cotton crop to $2,SOO,O0O annually Is de-
clared in resolution adopted today by
the new cotton exchange. The resolu-
tions appeal to congress to place bag
ging and ties on the free list and urge
the enactment Of the necessary legisla-
ton at the present extra session of
congress.
w. B. Thompson, president Of the
cotton exchange, in a letter, which he
addressed to each member Of congress.
tells Of the great Importance to the
south of this alleged tariff steal.
He says In part:
The cotton crop Of the south yields
an average of about 100000 bales.
OF this total approximately five
eighths, or 100000 bales, representing
an average money value Of over $780,
000, 900 are exported and exchanged for
foreign gold. The mere statement Of
these facts attests the Importance of
the cotton producing industry, empha-
sizes the obligation, which the country
at large owes the producer OF this crop
and establishes his right to at least
just treatment at the hands of the
general law making power.
Under the present tariff law, the
duty on steel cotton ties amounts to
81 cents per bale, or $324,000 on a crop
of 100000 bales. This tariff Is pro-
hibitive, as is shown by the fact that
no steel ties are imported. Therefore
the government has no share in this
impost which constitutes simply and
solely tribute levied upon the cotton
farmer for the benefit of the cotton tie
trust.
The duty on jute bagging imposed
by the present tariff law amounts to
81 cents per bale or S630,000, on a crop
Of 12,O0O,OOO bales. This tariff is to
large extent prohibitive inasmuch as 1t
yields only about 100000 in revenues
to the government. The balance Of
about $435,OOO constitutes a tribute
paid by the cotton farmer to the bag
ging trust.
But the bagging trust Is not satis-
fed with it's share of this impost. 1t
desires to raise the duty to g. figure
which will not only prevent the gov
ernment from receiving any revenue
therefrom, but will enable the trust to
take from the farmer four times as
much as it has been able to take here
tofore.
This trust has recently made a
technical test case based upon ques-
ton Of chemical analysis, and has Sc
cured ruling thereon from the board
Of general appraisers In New York,
which will change the duty on import
ed bagging from the present rate,
which amounts to about 5 IA cents
per bale, to an ad valorem duty,
which will amount to about 81 cents
per bale. This means an increase
from $63O.O0 on the crops to prac-
tically $2,500,000 all Of which the
trust will collect from the farmer
without any division with the govern
ment.
THUS under the Payne-Aldrich
law as heretofore interpreted, the cot
ton producer has borne the burden Of
a $3.50, 900 yearly tax on bagging and
ties and If the chemical interpreta-
ton holds, he will hereafter be
in the yearly sum Of $2,S00,-
900 for his baling materials, all of
which goes into the treasures Of the
bagging and tie trusts.
From this 1t will appear that not
only the proposed outrage, but the
present tax on bagging and ties Is in
adequate and wrong; and because the
western farmer has, and has had Tor
more than fifteen years. his binder
twines on the free list, the tax upon
the southern farmer stands con-
demned on the additional discrimina-
tiOn +"