Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-08
VALLEYTARIFF COMMITTEE
EXPLAINS ATTITUDE TOWARD
' BILL NOW BEFORE SENATE

free list. A most important item in
the cost OF steel ana iron-namely.
manganese-is made subjecs TO q
greatly reduced duty in this BILL
Fertilizers are on the free list;
gasoline and oil are free Of dutp.
There is no duty on the materials
used in picking and packing for ship
ment.
~Of course, the tomato grower,
ike everyone else, must maintain his
family. Such increases in domestic
prices as may come from other tar
if rates, will affect him in the cost
or living to the extent to which he
purchases those things which may
be increased in price-woolen goods.
for example. OF course. the Valley
farmers will by some WOODEN goods.
Some one will holler sugar" OF
course, the rate on sugar is TO be
raised about ore-half cent a pound.
and the best available figures show
that the average person uses 30
pounds Of sugar a year. This makes
a tariff charge on sugar of IS cents
per year. And remember this. the
sugar tariff is entirely for the bene-
fit Of the farmers of the United
States. beet and cane growers. He
probably buys meat, and the tariff
on dressed beef is increased from
three to six cents a pound: mutton
from ala TO sc per pound. This.
along with sugar and some other
agricultural items. makes up the ma
jor part Of the increased cost Of liv-
ing that the critics are talking about.
Il must be remembered that a vote
against this bill is a vote 10 retain
the present law-nOt some as yet
unwritten or unknown law which
will give the Valley farmers the only
benefits and cut down the rates on
everyone else-and the present law
contains neither the rates needed on
tomatoes and other vegetables and
on fruits, but the entirely made
quate rates on a long list Of other
products Of agriculture. The cotton
goods tariff Is increased slightly,
books and paper very slightly. silk
and Tayon a little, leather goods a
little. If there Is criticism of these
items, and 1t can be maintained,
then corrections should be made,
and the people who will get correc-
tons made will be the Senators and
Representatives who work for a pro-
~tective tariff bill. not those who
stand around outside and jump up
and down denouncing both what is
good and what needs correction.
Half Truths
"The claim that living costs will
be increased by the tariff bill so
that industriaIists cannot afford 10
buy winter fruits and vegetables Is
the most dangerous half truth which
is being preached. having its origin
almost entirely in the minds and
mouthpieces of the organized i'm
porters and the metropolitan news
papers.
II wish TO quote a reply TO this
which has been issued in Washing
ton and signed by the representa-
tives Of six great national farmers
organizations as follows:
1.-The established policy in Amer
lea today. regardless OF partisan poll
tics. is for protection through tar
IF and through restricted immigra-
ton. This principle of protection to
all classes. for all products, agricul-
tural or industrial. must be applied
with even-handed justice. or that
same Justice. plus the most evident
self-interest. demands that all bars
OF all kiads be let down. and we