The Washington times., 1913-04-08
THE NEW TARIFF BILL.

these columns II would nave TO be 20 allelpt IL
make good on the promises of President Wilson and
his party. That attempt is to reduce costs without al
the same time cutting the purchasing power OF the
American people in such way as to make their llv'
| ing harder than ever.
So the Democratic tariff bill proposes to put
most foodsufs on the free list. This includes meats
flour, bread. milk and cream products, SALT swine
fish, corn, cornmeal. AS having to do with the cost
OF producing foodstuffs, it includes agricultural I'M
pements, baggng, lumber, cotton ties, naIls hoop
and band iron, harness, wire for fencing, saddlery
and so on; lumber products hubs for wheels, posts
laths pckets, slaves, shingles, and so on.
Also in the attempt to reduce the cost of living in
the matter of clothes wool is put on the free list
and there are heavy reductions in the tariff woole
goods; likewise 90 boots and shoes, leather, wood
pulp, printing paper, ypewriters, and sewing ma
chimes.
Of course tariff bill introduced is not tariff
law enacted. Whether all the items that have been
put on the free list or all that have been merely
duced will so stand in the final passage of the meas
ure is not matter that can be absolutely determined
at this time All the signs, however, are that this
measure as introduced very closely represents the
tariff views of President Wilson, and President Will
son at this stage of the proceedings to be in
complete control of Congress.
Yet if at its passage the bill does stand in practi-
cay the form it now takes it is not altogether clear
and this also we have several times said before in
these columns-how the American consumer can get
such benefit from the reductions he has been led
to believe would come to him.
The price of beef for example, has been largely
rising in response to the law of supply and demand.
With rapidly increasing population in this country
to ask for more and more meat the actual numbers
of cattle on the ranges have been diminishing.
In 1900 there were more than 100000 neat
CATTLE cows bulls, etc. the farms and ranges, with
900 900 not on farms ranges. In 1910 there
were only 100000.
In 1900 there were 6l,735, 900 sheep and lambs,
with 23l 900 not on farms or ranges. In 1910 there
were 5l,sOOOOo
In 1900 there were 64,6soOOO swine, with l,sOo,-
600 not on farms or ranges. In 1910 there we're
5s,OOO,OOO. .-
So with some of the crops. Corn, by bushels to
numbers of inhabitants, decreased from 1900 to 1910
20e per cent; wheat, 14.3 per cent; oats, lib per
cent; rye, 46 per cent and cotton, bales to inhabi
tants, IL per cent.
The trouble with the principal food products, there
FORE has been that compared with previous periods
when prices were lower, there is diminished sup
ply. That is to say in some cases there may be more
food in the country than there was ten years ago,
though actually there is not in cattle sheep and swine
more food in the country, but less food to every
man. woman and child in the country.
Now the purpose of putting food on the free list
is to invite it to come to from other countries But
the best authority holds that there is not now in
Canada for example, much more cattle and bread
stuffs than the Canadians need for their own con-
sumption In other words, they are, over there, in
CO md
we are here.
Then take the Argentine Republic. 1t is to be
doubted whether at the best there is sufficient sur
PLUS supply of either beef grain to count for any
thing worth while as against the enormously in
creased and always increasing demand in this coun-
try for beef and grain.
AS regards the Argentine products there is anoth-
er consideration 1t is unchallenged report that
the so-called Beef trust in this country is very heav
Iy interested in part of the Argentine beef industry
and very closely allied with the rest of it. In any
event it is not doubted that the American beef COM
bne would be a very large factor in the Argentine
beef supply so far any share of it might be avail
able for export to this country.
1t NAV be- therefore, that all food products can
20 on the free list without achieving the object that
is essential TO lower prices in this country-an ade-
uuate supply to fill the demand. If the supply does
not cxist-the adequate supply-then neither the
tariff any otner tariff bring if
into this country from abroad. And it is not to be
conceived that if, under stimulating tariff the home
supply has diminished positively in cases, rela-
ively in nearly all cases it will increase under dis
tariff.
This is the problem in its cold economic essen
als which President Wilson and his Democratic
Congress are up against, however earnestly any of us
wish food to be cheaper to American consumers and
certainly this paper, for one does earnestly wish It
20 be.
Even with sugar the new tariff bill does not offer
f,,IEllnlent Of nrnniSe Ii hrinu