Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-12-30
THE SHIPPING BILL AND THE FARMERS


BY Former Congressman John f. Kelley Pierre, S. D.
We have heard but little lately about the defeat o the shining bill that
the President tried so hard to get through congress during the closing days of
the last session. Its defeat however, vas a serious blow to the farmers of
this country. 0 vas there n substantial reason why it should be defeated,
President, should be given credit for the splendid efforts he made to secure the
passage of this bil,t h defeat of which cost the agricultural interests of the
country a sum not less than 100000 600.
Ocean rates o grain previous to the war averaged about 3 cents per bush,
ell The average rates nce thebegnnng of the wa would run about 80 cents
per bushel running as high as 81 cents. and at present, the last investigation
mad by this writer, "a cents to British ports per bushel- But who re the
men most responsible for the defeat of the shipping bill during the late con
gress! There are two of them, very prominent at the present time in the
councils of the nation Senator Clark of Arkansas, president pro TEN of
the Senate and Albert G. Cummins, senior senator from the great agricutur
al state of Iowa and now a candidate for the presidency.
paying their hard.earned dollars into the Golfers of the shipping trust; let the
Northern grain grower remember Senator Cummins, as chief among the men
who defeated the administration shipping bill, and thereby handed them a
lemon that cost them owe one hundred million dollars.
When farmers show politicians that they are wide awake to their interests,
the m az other business men do, such acts az Cummins and Clark per
formed in this instance will hot happen. and not before viii. they cease,
About 400 100000 bushels of grain has been exported since the defeat of
the shipping bill, 50 that 25c per bushel would easily make the hundred million
dollars, and all students know that the price of the amount consumed at home
was affected by the exorbtant ocean rates as well Is the amount sent abroad
Grain prices throughout the world have been the highest known for 40
years. Yet, owing to the shipping trust and the America terminal elevator
rust me american farmers IA zen selling in many instances, below the
cost of production. Oats sold throughout the Northwest for moret than 100
days after the opening of the markets this year for % to % cents per bushel,
IN IN nan instances even less MI this time, witt the exception OF just
a few days, American oats sold in Liverpool 7As to 5 cents for % lbs. New
clipped, Amer. liv. 45 lbs. 4s41s TOD Sd Thus, while American ots sold in
Liverpool for 70 cents per bushel and the American farmers yer getting at
the same time but an average o 2c, who got the remaining SOC per boshe?
Here are the figures; the market raiders go 2a cents per bushel of it
rates before the var The other l1c psr bush n we're ABSORBED in local. hI I lsSata.
rates, lake rates, insurance, overseas and locally. The government furnishes
the insurance, which has averaged lie to British ports down to & and a o non
beigerent countries. So that insurance is low and within reach of all.
Accordingly, while the consumer in England paid an average Of 75c per
bushel for American pats, the American farmers got an average for the first
100 days following the opening of the m arket this fall, of 25 cents per bushel,
or but n third of thereal value of his crop.
Of the SOC per bushel taken from the farmers from IL to 10 cents only
could by any possibility be fairly charged, ave during IA times, to legitimate
expenses and legitimate profits. The remaining 81 cts per bushel represents
clear plumber divided up between the American grain spectators and the for
ein shipping trust, above indicated.
A short time before the war the Minneapolis Journal made a comment up
m the fact that the spread between the price of wheat in Liverpool and Min
neapoHs, was the exact cost of transportation and commissions, and vas given
of - cts per busheL lake freight from Duluth.
WHEAT, OATS AND BARLEY ADVANCE
On the 9th day of November the spread between Duluth
and Liverpool "a II cts. per ousheL, beng worth IN Liver
81 73or
12s. In Duluth (same graie) ....... 1O2
opreao. $3.50. ...... ..'..'. II cts.
FAR cost OF handing. II
81 cts.
A fair price for handling wheat between Duluth and Liverpool O n that.
date allowing big advances O account of the war would be:
EieValo 80. =. .... 49,. $50. ...... ..... l
Insurance., local n oversee, ........... . 9"
Emergencies. -. ..... 49,. $"
Ocean ratesQ Double peace rate). ........... 8 Z"
Total Ii cts