The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-04-17

Mr.. Chairman, a few minutes ago lis
tened to some remarks made by the gentle
man from Iowa (Mr. Vollmer), recently
elected to membership in this House, and
the gentleman referred to importations of
agricultural products, especially Of corn.
He states that the amount of Argentine
corn coming into this country under the
new Tariff law is insignificant in quantity,
and therefore will have no effect upon the
corn market in the United States 1 want
to call his attention to the importations as
reported by the Department of Commerce.
For October, November and December,
1912, and January, 1913, under the old law,
there were imported into the United States
100000 bushels of corn, as against 1884,
159 bushels under the present law for the
same months, October, November and De-
cember, 1913, and January, 1914
He further states that at the present rate
Of importation of corn the quantity import
ed during the year would not exceed 10000
600 bushels. If the corresponding rate of
importation keeps up for the succeeding
eight months, as compared with the four
months above given, the importations for
the first year under the Underwood Tariff
law will exceed 21O00,0OO bushels, a guam
tity quite sufficient to regulate the price Of
corn in the United Staes market, and ma
terially lower the value of the corn crop in
this country. This amount Of imported
corn coming from the Argentine Republic
is more than one-half our usual annual
exports Of corn. The imported corn above
referred to was purchased chiefly by the
glucose and starch manufacturers located
in the Atlantic States, and has taken away
from the American farmer his market for
just that much corn.
Cheap Freight Rates from Argentina.
1t is important TO know, too, that the
freight rate on corn from Argentina to the
United States is five cents per 100 pounds
or three cents a bushel, while the freight
from the Mississippi River Valley to the
Atlantic Coast States is, in round numbers
10 cents per bushel. This is an average
freight rate from the Mississippi and Mis-
souri, valleys to eastern ports. This is q
very important factor in fixing the value
of corn in the Eastern States especially SO
when IL is true that for the purpose of
manufacturing starch and glucose Argen-
tine corn is about as valuable as the extra
ordinary quality of corn produced in the
United States.
The importations of oats for the same
months under the old law were 23,5SC
bushels and under the present law &c, 1914,
145 bushels.
Are the Farmers Satisfied?
The gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Vollmer)
states that the farmers in his State are sat
isfed Perhaps so. He would have us be-
lieve that the Iowa farmers are satisfied
with having their corn placed on the free
list, while the farmers of the South de.
manded and received a Protective duty on
rice. He would have us believe that the
Iowa farmer is pleased to have his pota.
toes on the free list, while the farmers OF
Virginia and North Carolina have exacted
a duty on peanuts. He would have us be-
lieve that the Iowa farmers are satisfied tC
have their live stock placed upon the free
list, while the farmers of the South insisted
upon having their tobacco highly protected
He would have us believe that the farmers
of the North are satisfied with having fruit
placed on the free list or at a very low
rate Of duty, while the orange and lemon
growers Of Florida demanded ample Pro
lection. Would he have us believe that the
Iowa farmer is pleased with having WOO
placed on the free list, while Texas hat
demanded and obtained q Protective Tariff
on Angora goat hair?
Loss on the Price Of Potatoes.
Let me call the gentleman's attention tc
another article-butter-of which we i'm
ported $122,00 worth in the same months
under the old law, and s1,631,000 worth
under the present law.
The gentleman referred particularly tc
potatoes. OF these the importations fol
the four months named under the old law
were'70, 900 bushels, value $S4, 900, and under
the present law for the same period 3,2G1,-
900 bushels. value s1,476,O00. II the gentle.
man will refer to these figures he will find
that the import value Of potatoes under the
old law was S1.29 per bushel, and now
under the new Tariff law 40 cents a bushel
Does the gentleman think he can throw
out any sop of that kind to the Iowa farm
er by saying, "Here's TO the Iowa hen
whose son never, sets" (Laughter) You