The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-05-02
McCUMBER DISCUSSES THE
PROPOSED FREE LIST BILL

Washington, May 2.-senator Nc
Cumber yesterday paid his compile
ments to the Canadian reciprocity pact
and the democratic free list. He de-
clared that the democrats have es-
poused the Canadian agreement in or
der to satisfy the press and please the
manufacturers and to the free list, Sen
ator McCumber says:
The farmer who has sense enough
to see wherein he is hurt by the reci-
procity agreement is also capable OF
understanding that he win get prac-
tically no compensatory advantage
from the free list bill as offered by the
democrats"
pushing the free list measure in order
to allay the feelings Of the farmers and
soothe their anger.
There are several reasons" says
Senator gMcCumber. why the farmer
will not receive any material BENEFITS
from the free list. In the first place.
the amount of tariff collected upon the
articles imported is always such a
small percentage OF the retail price
that it is scarcely considered a factor
In figuring the cost to the consumer,
and therefore If we should remove the
tariff entirely the consumer would not
experience any appreciabIe benefit.
The second reason, continued SEN
ator McCumber. SIS the articles on
which the duty is proposed to be re-
moved are, to a certain extent those
things which the farmer win not buy
but two or three times in his life time,
while the reciprocity agreement strikes
everything that he sells every year Of
his life. He builds house once IN
forty-five years. his wagon lasts him
twenty years, his farming machinery
fifteen years--if properly cared for, his
wire fencing from ten to fifteen years,
but the things he sells, he sells every
year. and often many times in year.
An illustration.
LET me illustrate: At present there
IS a difference of between 25 and 30
cents a .husIel on barley in favor OF
the American farmer Now, to be very
conservative, suppose the American
farmer sows 100 acres of barley and
only raises ten bushels per acre, OF
/ 600 bushels. At 20 cents per bushel
which is very much below the present
difference, he would realize 5000 for his
crop more than would be received by
the Canadian farmer That would be
his yearly loss on barley alone, under
the reciprocity agreement, without TAX
ing into consideration everything else
that he raises, and would sell in COM
petition with the worlds product.
NOW, suppose he builds house
once in forty-five years, and puts into
that house 10000 feet OF lumber, and
that he gets the full benefit Of the re-
duction in the tariff on lumber, OF
about $3.50 per thousand; IL he gets
the full benefit of the tarif he would
save SIS: SIS saved in forty-five years
means SO cents saved in one year. His
account will then stand, annual loss on
harley. 5000: annual profit on lumber
az cents. Applying the same proper
zion 10 the other articles ] have men
TONED. giving the farmer the full bene-
At of the tariff rate, and balance Il
against his loss, you have about the
proportion before mentioned. And there
can be no question as to the actual loss
"a the farmer. The Canadian price o.
barley is the level Of the worlds price
When the American farmer has no pro
lection on his barley he will then Ger.
tainly be unable to realize a price
above the level of the worlds price, o.
lust what the Canadian gets.
put the most important reason o.
All il. that none of these articles what.
ever viii be imported. whether placed
on the free list or not. Although W.
have the tariff wall to overcome IL
other countries, we are heavy exporter
| of agricultural implements, barbet
fence wire and other wire fencing; not
withstanding the tariff on lumber, W.
are still exporting heavily into Canada
American sewing machines, although
manufactured abroad, are still solS
abroad"
Discussing foreign competition Il
agricultural machinery. he said:
EVEN admitting that foreigner
could manufacture the agricultural ma
chinerv which we use In this country
and deliver it to us at very much below
the present American price. they arr
not prepared to do so. 1t requires
years. capital and experience to bulk
up q trade in these lines, and no for
eign capitalist will take the chance o
Investing In an enterprise for this pur
pose, knowing very well that the mo
ment he would become d serious com
petitor with the American rnanufac