The Delta independent., 1923-10-26
WESTERN LIVESTOCK IN
THESTS ARE AGAINST
ANY TARIFF CHANGES

Livestock Exchange Is making vigor-
GUS protest against the proposed re-
duction Of the tariff on Canadian cat
tie. Copies of the formal protest pre-
pared under the supervision Of the
Exchange have been forwarded to
Senators Phipps and Adams and to
livestock markets. and to the state
and local livestock associations. The
protest says:
eve are informed that the Ameri-
can Farm Bureau Federation, through
It's Washington representative, Mr.
Gray Silver, has applied to the United
States Tariff Commission. asking 1t to
use the authority vested in it. with
the approval Of the President, under
the sliding scale provisions OF the
tariff act, to nullify, so far as possible.
the tariff on Canadian cattle.
1--WE earnestly protest against any
change in the present tariff laws SO
far as livestock fs concerned. To the
! South, West ana Northwest the change
suggested would be disastrous. The
ruinous result to the entire range
country OF the proposal contained in
Mr.. Snver's application cannot be
overestimated-
In its argument the Farm Bureau
Federation, says, in part:
Conditions in Western Canada are
not favorable to a stock+finishing in
dustry. The natural course is for the
beef animals to be brought to the best
possible grass-fed condition and ship
ped to the American cornfeeder for
final conditioning. This process unites
the grass lands Of Western Canada to
the corn fields of the Mississippi Val
ley, and is mutually beneficial re-
lation. The tendency is for the num-
bers OF our range cattle to decrease
and that is or probably will be the
tendency in Canada. The time may
come when we might wish it other
wise, but the chances are that Canada
will not be able to increase materially
the numbers of its range cattle; and
perhaps even with free trade restored,
it will not be able to keep up the pres
ent proportion of it's exports to the
United States to the total number of
cattle marketed in this country.
Mr.. Silvers argument Is predIcat-
ed upon the fact that the bulk of the
cattle coming from Canada are stock
ers and feeders. The cattle raised in
the West are likewise principally
stockers and feeders. that move to the
feed lots OF the corn belt states to be
finished for beef. and the proposal
made would simply increase the sup
ply and still further reduce prices that
are already forcing the range man out
of business.
ut is not too much to say that a
reduction Of the tariff az asked by the
American Farm Bureau Federation
would be absolutely disastrous to the
people Of the range country. The pro-
Queer Of the foundation Of beef in this
country IL entitled to consideration.
He has gone through a disastrous
and disheartening period, and has SUI
fered more than any other. To increase
his burden at this time would not
only be an injustice to him, but would
force him out Of business entirely.
TT Is also commended by the Farm
Bureau that II the Canadian growers
continue to produce feeder cattle and
are barred from American markets.
they will develop q trade with East
ern Canada and Great Britain to our
dekriment. Britain buys comper attvely
little meat from US. II the conditions
suggested were brought about 20
that Canada were shipping large guam
titles to Great Britain the result would
be not increased competition for the
United States. but increased competd-
ton for the Argentine. where England
at the present time buys most Of It's
imported cattle.
1.-THE entire application seems TO be
framed with the welfare Of the Cana
dian, and not the American cattle
grower in mind It is matter Of no
small wonder to the Western Amert
can cattle growers that the American
Farm Bureau Federation is 30 ardent
in its championship Of the Canadian
cattle man and 30 entirely obvious to
1--WE believe that the cattle tariff
should be protective and not rev.
enue tariff. That the present tariff
does not operate as a restriction
on the importation of Canadian cattle
is demonstrated by the filing OF the
Farm Bureaus application. The pro-
Queer OF cattle IN this country 10 en-
titled to protection from his govern
ment, at least to the same extent as a
manufacturer as Mr.. Silver calls the
cattle feeder.
1.-The American producer of livestock
pays taxes upon his land, upon his
cattle, and upon his income for the
support OF his state and national gov
ernments. His competitor in Canada