Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-02-08
The Effect Of the Tariff ACT, 1888.

The report of Mr.. Nimmo, of the bureau
of statistics, in regard to the results of the
tariff act of March 8, 1888, which took eff
feet July /, 1888, has reference only to the
quarter ended September 3d. the data for six
months ended December 81, 1883, not be.
ing yet attainable, nor likely to be so till
about the 25th of February For the quar-
ter ended September 80, 1882, the value of
dutiable merchandise imported was $144,-
012,940; the amount of duty collected $685.
658,653; the average ad, valorem duty on
dutiable goods 44.20 per cent. For the cor
responding quarter Of 1888 these figures
were respectively $133, ,84S, $50, 106965
and 42.08, showing that there was reduc-
ton of rates under the new tariff of 2.12
.pGr cent. in the amount Of duties collected
Of $7,500O00,stpd in Tho value of the goods
imported OF $11 ,682,000t 1t is to be noted
that there has been no increase of importa
lions on account of the 242 per cent. reduq-
ton Of tariff rates, but on the contrary a
decrease. This decrease was doubtless due
to diminished purchasing power, as it ap-
plies also to goods imported free Of duty.
Free importations decreased from value of
$54, 203, 1888 in the quarter ended September
30, 1882, to $50, 725 $50 in the corresponding
period Of 1888. San Francisco presents some
suggestive facts in this connection. Her
imports during the former period were, free,
$8,300,5 500; dutiable, 1924 $50. In the lat
ter period there was a falling off to $4,884,
1855 Of free imports, and to "a, 200S66 of du-
table imports, the falling off in imports not
touched by the tariff being over three times
as great as the decline in dutiable imports.
AS sugar yields larger amount of duty
than any other imported commodity, and is
likely to be the cause Of much bitter discus
sion during the revision Of the present tariff,
the following facts will BIZ of special inter-
est The average ad valcrem rate of duty
on sugar during the quarter ended Septem-
Der 30 was :.52.28 per cent, the amount of
duty collected $13,407, 523, and the value of
the sugar imported $25 ,643, $50. During the
corresponding quarter Of 1888 the rate of
duty was 1888 per cent, the amount of
duty collected 1885,, 429, the value of the
sugar imported $27, 342 1921, showing slight
increase in the importations of this article
Wool, on which the decrease of tariff rates
under the new law was more considerable,
shows very decided increase of importa-
tons On clothing wool the reduction of
duty was nearly 10 per cent. nd valorem, on
combing wool nearly 8 per cent, and on car
pet wool about 2.45 per cent Yet there are
indications that the importation was not
wholly regulated by the reduced rates. Car
pet woods, for example, during the three
month of 1883 were imported to the amount
of 1884, 91 pounds against 11,920899
pounds in the corresponding months of
1882. This large increase under reduc-
ton of but 2,45 per cent in the duty COM
pares favorably with the increase under a
much larger reduction from 32l $3.50 to 1885,
sos in combing woods, and from 2,41S,233 to
6,326, 1879 in clothing woods. The data pre-
sented by Mr.. Nlmmo would seem to indi-
cate, upon survey of the whole field, that
the tariff act of March, 1888, has been with
out any perceptible effect upon the revenue
of the country, the diminutien so far OBJ
servable being probably due to other causes,
chief among which may be mentioned the
general depression of business now prevail
ing