Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-07-25
SOM TARIFF LESSONS.
Free-Trade Sophistry COntradicted b
OhciaI Figures

A Free-Trade SOphfstry COntradicted by
Official Figures
No one denies that placing an arti-
| Gle on the free list will reduce the rev
enue from customs by an amount equal
to the duty collected before the reduc-
ton But does 2 reduction of 20 per
| cent in the rate of duty reduce the
revenue on that article 20 per cent
This is what Mr.. Mills claimed. He
and his free-trade associates insisted
that the revenue of the Government
must be reduced. They presented a
bill in which large number of arti-
cles, among them tin plates, cotton
ties, salt and lumber are placed on the
free list. 1t is conceded that the rev.
enues will be reduced by the amount
of duty collected on these articles. but
will there be reduction in revenues
by reason of the reduction in duty on
steel rails, for example, which were
reduced from S17 to 81 a ton. Mr.
Mills claimed that there would be and
gave a table showing how much his
bill will reduce the revenues based on
the assumption that the reduction in
revenues will just equal the reduction
in dudes on articles placed on the free
list plus a reduction equal to the re-
duction il rates on those articles left
dutiable.
Now, is Mr.. Mills or any other free
trader or revenue reformer justified
in assuming that this is so? No one
can tell the future, but as Patrick
Henry said, in effect, We can Judge the
future by the past; and, Judging by
the past, a reduction in the tariff rates
means unusual importatIons and unu-
sual revenues. Let US prove this by
notable examples.
In 1888 the duty on caustic soda was
reduced 80 1-3 per cent, or from lie
to 1c. pound. The importation in
creased from 52,172.49O pounds in
1888 Fiscal year, to SO, $40, 903 pounds
in 1887 Fiscal year,, or about 90 per
cent. and the amount of duties in
creased from 1872. 5S7 to $S3S. 499
That is, with a 50 1-3 per cent. reduc-
ton in duties the importations in
creased GO per cent. and the duties col
lected 10 per cent.
The duty on sulphate Of soda, an
other chemical. was changed from 1c.
per pound to 20 per cent, which in
1887 was equal to 3-10c. The reduction
was 40 per cent. The importations
increased from %. 81 pounds in 1888
to 1886, 5SS pounds il 1887. over 500
per cent, while the duties collected in
G 'eased about the same per cent
The duty on copper ore was reduced
from &C. per pound to 2@c. per pound.
and forthwith the quantity imported
quadrupled. the value doubled, and
amount of duty collected rose from
s33. 462 to $1OS. 7SS.
On tin-plates the duty was lowered
from l 1-10c- to 1c. per poand, and the
revenue rose from 81, 991, $50 to So
zoe. 442
On the contrary. on wire rods the
duty was at the same time raised from
80 per cent to rs per cent. and loi the
revenue fell from 81. 292, 459 for fiscal
year 1888 to 81, 1876, 668 for fiscal year
1887.
On screws the duty was slightly
raised and reclassifed, and the rev.
enue fell from SIS, 800 to exactly one
tenth as much.
On unbleached cotton cloth the duty
was reduced from &c. to &C. per square
yard. and the revenue rose from SO, 451
for fiscal year 1888 to S77, pol for fiscal
year 1887. In this instance fall of
Is in the duty increased the revenue
81 fold.
On grade of fannels the duties
were reduced by about one-half, and |
the revenue rose from $1,000, 615 to |
Sc. 1S6, Ala. Even on rags and shoddy, |
the duty being lowered from y cents
to 10 cents per pound. the revenue
rose from SIG, 500 in 1883 to 1920, 238 !
in 1887. the quantity of shoddy used |
in American cloth increasing ten-fold.
Take wool. Unsecured wool of the
irst-class clothing wool, valued at so
cents and less per pound, paid 10 ce1ts |
a pound and II per cent ad valorem
prior to 1883. In 1888 the 10 per cent
vas stricken off In 1883 there were
imported II, 400, 65S pounds. which
paid a duty of $1,424,576. while in
1887 the amount was %, COZ. $50 pounds.
paying duty of 81, 200. 7Sj, nearly
louble the quantity and 80 per cent.
Increase in duties collected. Carpet
yools. valued at u cents pound and
ess. paid cents a pound duty prior
o 1883. This was reduced cent or
Is % per cent The importations in
creased from IS. Az. 593 pounds in 1888
o 6l.S11,967 pounds in 1887, or about
20 per cent. and the duties collected
rom 1854. 32S to $1,545. 299, or not
quite 100 per cent.
1t seems to US that these examples
Indicate, if they do not prove. that
eductions in rates are not followed by
eductions in revenue, but that on the
ontrary they increase the revenue
I. Y. Mail and Express
NOTES AND COMMENTS