The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-11-30
ANDERSON PLEADS
FOR WHEAT TARIFF
Minnesota Congressman Be-
fore Federal Commission
DATA WAS SUBMITTED
Proposed For Fifty Per Cent In
crease In Duty Being Heard
At Washington
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatchl


Washington, d. c.. November ~.
North Dakota wheat producers
were called upon today at the pub
lie hearing being conducted by the
tariff commission to present theii
evidence in connection with the
proposal Of the wheat ouncil Of the
United States for an increase OF
fifty per cent in the thirty cent
tariff on wheat.
. Little testimony was heard at the
opening session yesterday which
was adjourned until today to per-
NIT the North Dakota producers to
put their evidence in form. Repre-
sentatives Young and Burtness ap-
peared in their behalf.
The commission expressed the
opinion today that there was on oc-
casion at this time for defining or
limiting the scope OF the inquiry: A
limitation was requested yesterday
by former Senator McCumber. coun-
sci for the wheat council Of the
United States, who asked that only
hard spring wheat be considered
and that cost of production be linn
tied to the spring wheat sections OF
the United States and Canada.
Scope Determined BY Order
The legal scope of the inyestiga-
ton, the commission field, was de-
termined by the order institnting
it, which in turn was in conformity
with the application of the wheat
council in asking the investigation.
II the evidence respecting competi-
tive conditions tended to show later
on that the inquiry should be limit
ed, the commission said 1t then
would consider the ACCESSIBILITY Of
that course of action.
Anderson Before Hearing
Representative Anderson of Min
nesota, president Of the wheat coun-
Gil, made an extended statement OF
costs of production, land values,
taxes, yields and other details for
both Canada and the United States.
He submitted statistics showing
land values were higher in the
cost of production. Taxes, he said,
had increased 2 1-2 times in the last
eight years in the United States,
and were relatively higher here
than across the border. He esti-
mated that Canadian producers en-
joyed the advantage of lower freight
rates. averaging about cents
bushel.
The cost OF production in the
United States was estimated by
Representative Anderson to be 100
per cent about Canadian costs. He
placed the cost of producing in this
country at S1.57 bushel and In
Canada at 70 cents. Yields per acre
were higher In Canada than in this
country, he said.
Rex Willard Was Witness
Questioned as to whether an in
crease in duty would result in large
use IN the United States of hard
winter wheat as a substitute for
hard spring wheat, Mr.. Anderson
said he was Of the opinion it would.
Rex e. Willard, agricultural eco
college OF agriculture. appearing as
representative OF North Dakota far
mers, bankers and business men,
said farmers in that section were in
dire financial difficulties as result
OF low wheat prices. He submitted
statistics to show that during the
last seven years wheat prices weld
ed profit in only one year-191S.
The large increase in acreage, Mr..
Willard said, was due to the urge
Of the government for larger wheat
production during the war Losses
OF sos an acre were sutained by
North Dakota farmers in 1921, he
said, with an average yield of 9.S
bushels per acre, and of $1.69 in
1922 when the yield was al bushels.
Preliminary estimates for this year.
he, said. showed a loss of s4.85 per
acre. Diversification Of crops had
begun since the war, he added. and
the livestock and dairy business was
increasing. y