Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-11-04
Strictly "SCicntinC"

THE report Of the Tariff Commission i'll re-
1 gard TO the effect OF the emergency
tariff law on prices of farm products is not
particularly enlightcnng. 1t is to be pre-
suined that the report was intended TO be
strictly "scientitic''-that is, that no part
OF its purpose was to influence the attitude
or voters in the pending political campaign.
That the law failed in accomplishing what
its proponents predicted. is undeniablc from
the rather wobhly line of reasoning INDUCED
in the vague conclusions reached. The COM
mission does not find that the tariff raised
farm prices or that ii prevented them from
falling but that il tended TO prevent as
great u fall in prices as might other
wise have occurred. Since there is in this
way OF reasoning no established basis for
comparison. the resultant conclusions are
necessarily pure guesswork.
The law was effective according to the
report as 10 sugar. wool. Gnd-to limited
exten,-whcnt. The wheat duty seems to
have affected only the trade in Northern
spring wheat produced in the upper Mis-
sissippi and Missouri valleys in competition
with Canadian wheat OF the same variety,
and this effect was due 10 special causes
which rarely operate. Large quantities OF
other varieties OF wheat are exported from
this country therefore an import duty has
little effect OH their prices" TO even in
expert opinion that conclusion Is obvious.
AS 10 wool. the law seems to have assisted
in relieving the acute depression" in the
wool-growing industry, 1t certainly ought
TO be able to sit up and take nourishment
III tho form of the huge subsidy voted II out
Of the pockets OF hard-pressed American
consumers.
AS to the effect OF the emergency tariff
on sugar. prices the case seems 10 be per-
.l, clo &c
upward. Since sugar is one OF life's most
vital necessities. this advance will hardly
he applauded by the farmers. The products
they wanted to advance failed 10 do so, not
withstanding the protection" which they
enjoy" 1t is poor consolation 10 those de
pendent on active demand for these products
10 he told that prices might have gone low
or but for the tariff, 10 secure which they
had to consent 10 additional high taxes on
everything needed TO carry on their farm
ing operations
The Tariff Commission concludes: For
tho most part the effects OF tho duties on
other commodities were uncertain The
trade in corn. for example. apparently
showed no change traceabe TO the duties.
Imports were negligible for many months
before and after the emergency law The
effects OF the duties on cattle. beef and veal
are not certain There is some Indication
that Chicago prices Of cattle declined less
rapidly Ghey did dcclinop than did the
Toronto prices OF practically the same
grades after the enactment o: the Law. The
cents pound duty on long staple cotton
had no effect on the bulk Of the cotton
crop OF this country, but it steadied the
market for the small output Of long staple
or Egyptian type cotton produced in the
irrigated region OF the Southwest
II is upon such results as these that the
Republican party is asking the farmers
70 vote i; back into legislative power again!
II the farmer vote does not resent this in
sult 10 its intelligence q; the polls next
Tuesday. its credulity will be great indeed