Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-04-19

Of reducing the duties a means of increasing
the revenue. The bill which they have reported
(now pending before the House) provides for inn
portant reductions upon most of the articles en-
braced in the existing Tariff. Should this bill
Mas. our importatons Of dutiable articles must be
largely increased, in order to produce an amount
of revenue equal to that now received.
Il does not necessarily follow that reduction
of duties will increase tho amount of Imports
Thor amount must be regulated by the demand.
Should the duties be entirely taken OFT, and the
principles Of unlimited free trade be carried out,
the amount Of our imports would still be limited
II the wants of the country. The experience Of
the past proves conclusiveIy that increased i'm
portation Of foreign products docs not necessarily
follow a reduction Of tho duties. 1t Is equally
clear that the importatlons arc not always iesS-
ened by an increase of the dutics no amount
Of irnportations is not regulated by the amount OF
the duties, but by the desire and tho ability OF
the people to purchase.
Under tho operations of the act of March,
1883, known as tho the :. compromise act there
has been a gradual reduction of tho duties, until
in 1912 they reached the minimum OF twenty
por cent. There has not been however an
increase of importntions corresponding with
the reduction Of the duties. The lmporta-
tiops of those articles admitted free of duty,
os well as those which werc dutiaDc have con-
stantly nuctuated, according to the business ope-
ratons Of tho country, and the varying demand
for their consumption. In 1887 tho importation OF
foreign merchandise, paying duty, amounted to
S7l739, 1856 and tho importation of articles
which were admitted free of duty amounted to
500 25O. O3l. In 1888 notwithstanding tho du-
ties were then much lower than they were the
preceding wear, tho amount of dutiable articles
imported foil to so, S37 300, and the imports,
duty FREQ were reduced to S6O, $50 OO3. Again.
in 1910 notw outstanding there was a still greater
reduction of the duties, imports of articles
navinq duty wore only $19,945,3I5, and those
admitted duty free, were but S57, l06,2Of In
1912. during which year the duties wore reduced
to the lowest point under the compromise act, tho
aggregate importations were less by twcnty-sev-
en- millions than they were the preceding year.
under the higher ratio Of duties. These facts
show conclusivcly that the iInportatons will not
increase in proportion the duties arc reduced.
They provo tho falsitv of the theory that low du-
ties will produce more revenue than high ones,
within the point of prohibition.
The amount of rovcnuo derived from duties on
foreign merchandise, in 1889, S23, 1877.
In 1910 it was $l3,496,S 31. In 1871 it was
SI4 ,lSl,997. During portion of the year last
named. the revenue was increased by the duties
upon wines and silks imposed at the extra session
of tho last Congress, and which boforo that time
were admitted FREQ Of duty. In 1912, during
which year the present Tariff went into opera
ion. the revenue from customs was SIS, I76,-
20. The duties received in 1913 have greatly
exceeded those of the preceding year. While
there has boon an increase of the importatisns Of
articles paying duty, those admitted duty free
havo diminished.
Since the commencement of the present year
the increase of revenue has been greater than at
any previous period since the passage of the pro-
sent Tariff Tho amount of revenue received
at tho New York Custom House
il Jan. 1913 S5is,o36 in Jan 1914 Sl.-.6.6l
II Feb 492,2l6 in Feb. - 2,l69.I 10
in March 936,590 II March I" l.69 900