Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-01
Sloan on the Shipping Bill
Congressional Record.

/
than that in the treasury OF clear legal ten
| der money. | am equally opposed to mortgagng
| the future by sale OF Panama bonds, placing a
burden upon our children OF $50,0OO0OO for them
TO pay for ships to be purchased now at the high
est price ships have brought, not only in the
history of the United States but in the history Of
the world since Commodore Noah started out
with his water craft and the scoffers of that day
looked around saw the gathering flood and then
asked him to name his price for ship (Laugh-
teri.
"Yet the inspiring genius Of this legislation,
still active in its support, no doubt will find
way to go into the market and purchase ships at
whatever price necessary TO obtain them, and
place that burden upon our children. They prob
ably will God bless them, forgive us for it, but
they will have a sublime contempt for our BUSH
ness judgment in investing at This time The
western man who bought water in dry season
to hold for use when the floods came had nothing
on the financial genius who conceived this leg
islative enterprise.
II object to the investment FOR, "a larger rea-
son, and that is the reason unveiled by the
speaker Of the house in his address yesterday,
unveiled with that frankness which eompels us
all to love and admire him.
Gentlemen will recall that the first bill pre-
sented in this house for this legislation, two or
more years ago, stated clearly that II to build
up our South American trade. That appeared
also in the committee reports to the house and
senate. But now the purpose IN until yesterday
and today was, il not yelled and concealed, was
kept ably secluded Because while | have al
ways understood that the main purpose was to
build up this South American trade, nothing in
the bill committee report, or responsible speech
emphasized that fact till the speaker declared the
South American trade as the larger end TO be
served by passage Of this bill.
Il have no objection to building up trade with
South America, with Europe, with any Of the
continents Of the earth but do not desire that
trade shall be built up with South America at the
expense Of the American treasury so as to give
special discrimination against the people whom !
represent and those living in that part of the
country whence / come.
THE following is a portion OF editorial
taken from the Wallace Farmer, one of the great
est farm journals in the world. ! knew well its
able and venerable founder in his lifetime. The
last time ! met him we discussed the adverse line
OF legislation begun and carried out IN congress
against the men and women OF the northwest
and the industries through which they were max
ing that section the best and most useful part Of
the world--reciprocty, so-caled farmers free list,
Underwood tariff law, and now this governments
owned shipping bill with the South American
trade as its obectiye
But II should be able secure large share Of the
South American trade what effect will II have the agr
culture Of the United States7 What will II the
eornbe farmer who has been furnishing most of the
consumed in the United States and in years has
been eSportingH What viii II mean to the wheat
in the United StatesY What will IL TO the live
stock grower and feeder not only In the corn belt but In
the west
III we should establish line OF merchant vessels for
the South American trade either by subsidy
through government ownership, these vessels would
take down there the products Of our
terprsea What will South America sell TO us in return
for what they buy from us7 Naturally they will expect
take their agricultural products their and their
small grains, their cattle sheep and hides What effect
will that have the agriculture Of the westf
peet South American people to buy from be
willing to buy from them and must buy what they
have to sell.
For generation the this country sustained
high protective tariff manufactured products and
during that period they were given high protective tariff
agricultural products. Few Of them realized that this
tariff agricultural products absolutely worthless
TO them because had surplus of agricultural products
which selling at prices with which other
country could compete. When, few prices
Of grain and live stock reached point which other
countries could compete, what happened to usi The
paper tariff which had been of value that time
was very promptly taken off soon as It became worth
something. and not likely to get it back the
efforts to establish relations with South America are
successful
largely by the surplus which have TO sell not
sar the surplus which out Of the country but the
surplus whieh out of the country in which it
This amounts to not more than 20 per cent Of
the total Speaking roughly, the price is fixed by
surplus Of b0ooOo.OoO bushels The Argentine sur
plus Of in the neghborhood Of 100000 bushels
about one-third Of surplus. Now If the price
fixed by surplus OF 5oooooo0O bushels. what will
happen IL add that surplus bushels from
Argentina We say definitely. but we would
estimate the effect to be reduction Of less than
cents a bushel-probaby more. what effect will this
have the price of land. remembering that this
cents is taken out Of the profit of the farmerl
Not alone the farmers but all of the citizens of the
should consider this situation, No foreses
lust what effect this and termination will
have the United States but when consider that
the prosperity Of the depends the prosperity Of
ts agriculture, Il high time that should take
Of the probable developments that may very
iously affect
1T seems to the time has Tor the people Of
the consider whether they should not send 10
who will represent the and its inter-
rather than who viii represent this party or
that party
South America and especially Argentina, IS
our greatest rival for the markets OF what
are now, SO Tar as farm products ate concerned
tteeu trade cities ol London aud New York Boston
aud Liverpool Philadelphia and Birmingham. Bal,
um0fc and Manchester
Argentina exports more beet aud veal than
any other nation on earth, Argentina exports
more cora chat an othet nations Ut the earth. in.