The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1939-11-16

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Uncle Sap"
Senators Discuss Reciprocity
While the Senators were waiting
for the House to dispose of the
neutrality act they whiled away the
time with lively discussion Of the
workings of the reciprocal trade
law, under which % trade agree
ments have been entered into with
as many foreign countries. The de-
bate was very Illuminating. 1t
showed that such stalwart Demo-
Gratis as Senator Connally of Tex
as, O'Mahoney Of Wyoming, Pitt
man of Nevada, and Adams of Col
orado, all of whom voted to pass
the law under which these treaties
were negotiated, have recanted and
it is reported that they are ready
to vote for its repeal at the first
opportunity.
My readers are aware that hear
ings have already been held on the
proposed trade treaty with Argen-
tine, which would lower the bars
on turkeys, scasein, flaxseed, and
other agricultural imports that are
largely produced in the Northwest.
Representatives of agricultural or
CARNATIONS, Senators and Congress
men trooped down to the hearing
room in the State Department to
register their opposition to the
treaty but it is my guess that they
might just as well have used the
telephone because that treaty is go
ing through just as sure as two and
two make four.
The Tariff Act of 1884 transferred
the tariff-making power from Con-
gress to the President, and Roose-
welt in turn delegated it to that
outstanding freetrader Cordell Hull,
Secretary of State. Mr.. Hull is
thoroughly convinced that the best
way to preserve peace is to let
down all trade barriers so that
there may be free and unrestricted
exchange of produce and commo-
dities between nations. He immed-
lately proceeded to carry his theory
into operation. At first, Eastern
industry felt the devastating effect
but as business was anti-New Deal
anyhow, the walls and cries of the
manufacturer were ignored. Then
Mr.. Hull began using the ak on
agriculture and the American farm
er roared to the high heavens when
he found that under the treaties
negotiated with Cuba, Brazil, and
other Latin-American countries he
had been forced into competition
with the peon labor of those coun-
tries.
Practically all the agreements en-
tered into had to be ratified by the
legislative bodies of the contract
ing countries. A blind and cow
ardly Congress voted to surrender
it's right under the Constitution to
pass upon any of the trade treat
les. The Tariff Act of 1884 gives
the President full and complete
powers without any reference to
the legislative branch of the gov
eminent. Now we are reaping the
whirlwind. Agriculture and indus
try, alike, are up in arms and it
looks very much as though the tar
riff will be the paramount issue in
1940-government spending and
waste to take second place.
One Of the causes of the prolong-
ed depression is the low tariff base
upon which we are now operating.
1t virtually amounts to free trade.
Free trade and jobs do not go to-
gether.
Foreign Trade
Exports for the first nine months
of 1889 totaled $2,1S4,893, 807, a loss
of $110, 553, 1854 from the first nine
months of 1888. Imports rose from
81, 434, 1883 in the first nine
months of 1888 to $1,621, 945, $50 in
the first nine months of 1889, a gain
in imports of $1S7,795, 1886. Our
trade balance was thus reduced to
$562, 948, 248 for the nine month per-
iod. Foreign trade after all amounts
to but small part of our total ma
tional business. In dollar value it
is between percent and percent.
The National Debt
The national debt reached a new
high on November LIST of SAL 1885,
971 ,217. On top of the national debt
the contingent liabilities of gov
ernmental corporations and credit
agencies amounted to 1882, 916, 431
as of September 30. The per cap
tia national debt on October 81 was
$312O8. The interest rate on gov
eminent securities rose slightly dur
ing the month to an average of
2.602 percent.
From Cradle to Grave
During the fiscal year that end