ITS CAUSE AND REMEDY S 



rine. My father emigrated here in 1871, 

 and I transferred my lot to the American 

 merchant marine. Since 1874 I have been 

 engaged in farming. I am here now in the 

 interest of a bounty; that is to say, I take 

 exception to the gentleman who said that 

 our tariff can be reduced. I do not think 

 that can be done with safety. For instance, 

 let us take the Wilson free wool.. We saw 

 how it operated here on this coast. I 

 watched the foreign market and the home 

 market. When the free wool was inaugur- 

 ated Oregon wool was 8 cents per pound 

 below the European market. When the Mc- 

 Kinley 10 cent tariff was put on our wool 

 immediatedy jumped ^8 cents above the 

 European market. Tliat showed the mer- 

 chant in Boston had failed to look after our 

 interest. I think the tariffs helping the 

 United States in yery many other instances. 

 I have a very short letter to read. There 

 are two things I think that can not be 

 helped by the tariff under our economics, 

 and they are suffering; these are the ship- 

 ping interest and the wheat. This has 

 worked great hardship on our people. 



Portland, Ore., August 1st, 1904. 



To the Honorable Merchant Marine Com- 

 mission. 



Gentlemen — As you asked for opinions 



and ideas of how to restore the American 



