The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-10-26
IMPORTS AND THE Law.


IMPORTS AND THE Law.
The common impression is that when
4 Federal law is passed. that law will
be put into effect in good faith; and
I yet, such j. By no means the case. For
example, when President Taft four
years ago insisted upon having hides
| put upon the free list so that leather.
and especially footwear. might be dc.
| creased in pr,ce, the Department of
Agriculture At once proceeded 60 apply
a set Of regulations formulated hy H..
sclf. tending TO bar the shipping Of
hides into this country from many im-
portant sources Of supply The pre-
text for this was the claim OF infcc
tion in germ diseases carried in the
hides. The inspections provided made
the importation practically impossible.
and so there was no relief, and there
has been no relief all this time, by rea-
son OF free hides being carried in the
tariff law of 1909 The reasons gwen
by the Department of Agriculture for
hhN III uhlAlAlNdAlbl VI INC
law were accepted as reasonable and
satisfactory on ali hands, and so the
free hide provision did not help the
people at all
We have now repetition Of the
same tactics from the same department
in the matter of potatoes. Under the
new tariff law potatoes arc entitled to
come in free of duty; but the Depart
ment of Agriculture has adopted
series of regulations under which for
eign shippers are not finding il easier
TO send potatoes TO the United States
than before Recent meetings in Lon
don have protested against these regu-
lations, and announcements TO the
same effect hae been made elsewhere.
but the Department adhercs to its
regulations, claiming that the free i'm.
portation OF potatoes without the in
spection provided would introduce into
this country all Of the potato diseases
known in the world; and since, of
ccssion to the already plentiful trou-
bles which face the potato raisers in
this country, tho department will
doubtless be able TO enforce its regu-
lations, and the imports Of potatoes
will be minimized accordingly.
With regard 10 the imports OF meats,
the same complaint has been made, al |
though in less degree. The meat in
spection laws are very rigid, and can
EASILY be so applied as practically to
forbid the imports of meats altogether. |
DR.. A. ID. Melvin, an agent of the de-
partment who has been investigating |
.he cattle supply in Argentina, reports
hat meat slaughter there is fully up
% the normal limit, meaning snffici-
mt simply for the supply Of the Argen-
ina people, and that whatever sup
'lies are 70 be shipped from Argentina
o the United States must be secured
~ withdrawing them from home Gus
omers who would have bought these
that is, unless the price is to
,e raised or the reserve meat supply
upon. DR.. Melvin reports
owever. that large increase in the
lumber of cattle can be brought about
N Argentina if the stock raisers are
given satisfactory Inducements for
uch increase. That inducement. it is
Splained would be afforded by an as
urance that the present level Of meat
rices is to be assuredly maintained in
he United States.
1t thus appears, precisely as The
'ribUne has stated heretofore, that
here is not the slightest disposition
n the part of the Argentine cattle
aisers 10 raise extensive supplies OF
leat in order TO break the price in the
juited States. What they. desire Is
o be assured that the present prices
all be maintained or even increased;
hen they Will add the supplies that
re needed, IL it is possible for them
o do so in that country.
All Of which was simply to have
cen expected. II is seen that the Ar
entinn cattle raisers have no such
ltruistic interest in the people OF the
'nited States as would induce them TO
md their efforts to the proposition Of
aising cheap meat for the American
eoDle