The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-04-17
WORRIED over
BUSINESS CONDITIONS
The White House Professor Begins
Feel That the Free-Tariff is
Working Badly.

Wilson is plainly showing concern
over the business situation which
has resulted from the enactment OF
the Democratic Tariff bill. He knows
that unless something is done very
quickly to improve conditions there
will be a sweeping movement against
the Democratic party at the coming
Congressional elections.
I Several days ago, when the fact
that the net earnings of the rail-
roads had dropped $50 5000, 900 in the
past year was brought to the atten-
ton of the President, he said that he
realized the conditions prevailing in
the railroad weird and that he was
trying to help" all he could.
The administration is not unaware
of the general curtailment in va
rious industries throughout the coun-
try. The President himself is not
ing with concern the manner in which
various small railroads are passing
their dividends, especially the case
OF the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago
and st. Louis system, which reduc-
ed the dividend on the common stock
from to per cent. and the pre-
ferred from o per cent.
The Logan steel plant at Lewis
town, Pa, employing 500 men, re-
Gently sent word that it would be
compelled to close down for at least
six weeks, and possibly longer. Sim
liar reports are coming from many
other industries.
Nearly six months have passed
since the Tariff law went into effect,
and the farmers are finding that the
burden is falling heaviest upon them.
Since the first of October, accord
ing to official statistics, more than
100000 pounds of fresh beef have
come from foreign countries, mostly
from Argentina; yet the price of beef
to consumers has not decreased, but,
instead has increased. The wheat harv-
est of last year was almost a record
one, yet we imported between the
first of October and the first Of Janu-
airy nearly 100000 bushels Of wheat,
or approximately 100000 bushels
more than we imported in the like
period of the preceding year.
Everything that has been done by
the Democratic administration so
far in Washington has been opposed
to the home market and i'm favor of
the foreign market. Congress, 1t is
true, enacted a clause in the Tariff
bill granting a per cent rebate on
goads shipped in American bottoms,
but the Democratic Attorney General
held that such benefits to American
ships were contrary to the spirit of
agreements to foreign nations and
therefore could not be conferred.
The Tariff bill itself was an open
to cheap foreign labor TO
flood the rich American market with
their products, and they have done
so. Congress, in another attempt to
benefit American commerce, provided
for the exemption of American ships |
passing through the Panama Canal, |
but the President now demands that
this provision be repealtd. The argu-
ments made by President Wilson in |
MS private conference with members |
Of the Senate and House can be re-
1ealed here for the first time and
show an amazing Inconsistency on
he part of the administration. The
principal argument of the President
II favor OF the repeal is that it will
preserve friendly relations with FOR
ign countries, but the most s!Snifi-
ant argument that he makes is that
he advantage I American ships
would not benefit the consumer.
The President admits that Amer
can shipping would be benefited;
hat American ships would have a
distinct advantage over foreign ships
siu Wodsu bS <iDic ~ SOiupClc |
with the transcontnental
but he says THAT. altho
ates might be rehuced TO the ship
er. the consumer would not get any
enefit from such reduction. The
hipper he says. would simply put
he extra profit in his pocket, and,
Though fruits OF various kinds could
Q carried from San Francisco to
lew York at cheaper rate, the price .
D the onsumer would not be reduced
ecause the benefits OF fractional de-
reases can never be transferred to I
nc househ0lde.
What the President says with ref
renee to tolls exemption probably I
Jay be very sour1 logic, but 1t is .
contrary to the Democrat
Tariff principle. During the Tariff /;
ght the President said that foreign
a a al