The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-08-16

cannot compete win tne great west IN
the production of the cereals or in the
production of beef and pork; nor with
the Pacific coast in the production of
fruits; nor with the South in the produe-
ton of cotton; all of which products find
a ready market within her borders. But
they can specialize and produce those
commodities which are demanded by this
dense population of consumers, and
thus, too, share in the general prosperity
of all.
Value of Home Markets to New
England Farmers.
"Much has been written about the val
ue of nearby markets for farm and dairy
products. Can it be more strikingly H.
Illustrated than by the results of the CEN
sus of 1900, from which it appears that
the state in which an acre of land
brought the largest return to its owner
was New Jersey. Why? Simply be-
cause the whole state is dotted with
manufacturing towns and cities, and be-
cause she has New York on the one
hand and Philadelphia on the other, and
the small farmer can produce what the
nearby market demands and secure for
Ills produce the highest retail prices.
Ranking next to New Jersey was Rhode
| Island, where similar conditions exist,
Next to Rhode Island was Massachusetts,,
and then Connecticut. And so it was
found that just in proportion to the
nearness OF farm to a great indus
irial center just in the same proportion
! the value per acre of the produce of the
land is enhanced in value.
what will an industrial depression
l ~ LnnIa nd IN Epr
land farmer? Let me illustrate by say
ing that the census of 1910 shows that
Vermont ranked first in the per capita
production of butter and third in the
per capita production of cheese of all
the states in the union. And what is
true in Vermont in relation to the dairy
products, poultry, vegetables, fruits, and
other products of the farm is true of all
the other New England states in greater
or less degree Their farmers find their
profits in suiting their products TO the
demands of the home market in the man
ufacturing sections of that division Of
states.
"How will the pending measure affect
the New England farmer in respect to
Canadian products?
"In this bill the rates are decreased
lUu pei CtHNt iAOiil iIt BitoNhb HtiAltS oI
eggs, milk, cream, potatoes, corn, rye,
wheat, flax, buckwheat, cabbage, bacon
and hams, lard, tallow, fresh beef, veal,
and so forth, cattle, swine, and sheep. |
The duties are reduced 80 per cent. on
poultry, butter, cheese, apples, peaches, |
pears, and so forth, straw, oats, peas, |
and horses. The rates on hay, onions, |
and barley are reduced 80 per cent. And |
Al "a 4
vantage offered to or received by any
class Of producers in the United States.
HE can but remember the dark days |
under the Wilson bill in the years 1895, |
1896 and 1897, when all classes received |
such staggering blows that each sympa I
thized with the other in the sufTerings /
which followed; vast throngs of work I
ingmen were without employment, soup
houses were opened in many of our cities, |
armies of the unemployed demanded |
work of the public authorities, farm and |
dairy produce of suffered heavy decline
in prices, and the finest products of New
England's farms and dairies sold in the |
markets Of New England for prices less
than the cost of production. This was
the result of the last previous attempt
OF the Democratic party to compel
American citizens to preserve their birth
right by 'whetting their wits in com.
petition with those who grant no IA
vOrs.
"Mr President, | believe in the prin-
ciple Of an income tax. | was opposed
to the constitutional amendment grant
ing power to the federal government to
impose such a system, because | did not
deem it necessary for the maintenance
of the general government. On the other
hand, l did believe, in view of the bur-
densome rates of taxation maintained in
some of our states and the difficulty /
they are finding in devisng an equitable i
of such burdens be-
lieved, | say, that the imposition of an
income tax should have been reserved to
the states as one of their sovereign pow
ers. But this is neither here nor there.
The constitutional amendment has been
adopted, Congress has the undoubted
power to impose this tax, and the pro-
motors of this measure propose to use
it to meet the expected deficit.
Necessity for Tariff Board.
ain view of all these considerations,
Mr.. President, | am driven to the con-
clusion that the proposed measure is one
which is unequal in its application to the
different interests of the country; one
which is burdensome to particular sec
tions of the country but which affects
only slightly certain other portions of
our country; that it is one all of the
provisions of which support a policy ,
which is un-American in spirit, and one
which, in my judgment, is destructive .
to the highest and best interests of the ,
nation as a whole. For these reasons /
am unalterably opposed to its passage,
and | am more than ever convinced of
that which has so often been asserted,
and which ! believe has come to be .
settled conviction of the country, that
legislation of this character ought not
to be undertaken except upon informa-
ton which can only be derived through
the work of government hoard or com
mission, absolutely nonpartisan in char
icter, composed of men technically
equipped for the work, through whose
scientific Investigations the actual diff
ference in the cost of production of all
classes of commodities in the United
States and in foreign nations can be ,
iscertained and reported to Congress. !
For long time l have been convinced
hat permanent board of this charac-
.er should be established, and ] conf !
lently expect that the operation of this I
measure, if it is enacted into law, will
leepen the conviction in the minds of all /.