The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-12-16
Tariff Legislation.

The general interest In the Operations of tho
Treasury Department has been much aug
mented during the last ear by reason OF tho
conflicting predictions, which accompanied and
followed the tariff and other legislation of 10
last Congress affecting the revenues as to the
results OF this legislation upon the treasury
and upon the country.
1t Is notrny purpose to enter at any length
into discussion Of the effects OF the legislation
to which have referred but q brief examina-
tion of the statistics OF the Treasury and a
general glance at the state of business through
out the country will, think, satisfy any I'M
partial inquirer that its results have disap-
pointed the evil lropheciessf It's opponents and
In a large measure realized the hopeful predic-
tions of its friends. During the twelve months
from October l, 1870, to September 80, 1891, the
total value Of our foreign commerce Imports
and eXports) was l,T47 800, 405, which was the
largest OF any year in the history of the United
States. The largest in any previous year was
In 1870, when our commerce amounted to
81 CAT ,l39O93, and the last year exceeds this
enormous aggregate by over one hundred mill
ions. The average annual value Of the imports
OF merchandise for the ten years from 1881 to
1890 was 6)2, 1855 t22, and during the year end
ing Sept. 30, 1891, this annual average was ex-
ceeded by Sl32, 52S, i6J.
The value of free Imports during the twelve
months ending Sept. b. 1891, was Sis, 092, 3S7
more than the value of free imports during tho
corresponding twelve months Of the preceding
year, and there Wa, during the same period h
decrease OF rl00, 1903 in the value of imports
OF dutiable IN merchandise The percentage
OF merchandise admitted free of duty
during the year TO which L have
referred, the first under the new tariff, was
4S. Is, while during the preceding twelve months,
under the old tariff the percentage was a. 81, an
increase Of 1891 per cent. If we take the six
months ending Sept. % last, which covers the
time during which sugars have been admitted
free OF duty, the per cent OF value OF merchan-
disc imported free OF duty is found to be 1927,
which is larger percentage of free imports
than during any prior fiscal year in the history
of the Government
IL we return to exports OF merchandise the
statistics are full OF qualification. The value OF
such exports OF merchandise for the twelve
months ending September 1891 was 1928, C9I, :
136, while for the CORES ponding previous
twelve months it was $780, 1T lis, an increase of
SCI, 9l4U2l, which is nearly three times the
average increase OF exports e merchandise
during any year in history a. the Govern
ment. The increase in the value of exports of
agricultural products during the year referred
TO over the corresponding twelve months of the
prior year was S45 s46,lV, while the increase in
the value OF exports OF manufactured products
was SIC $40, 240
There is certainly nothing in the condition Of
trade. foreign or domestic, there is certainly
nothing IN the condition of our people OF any
class, TO suggest that the existing tariff and rev.
enue legislation bears oppressively upon sthe
people, or retards the commercial development
OF the nation.
l think there are conclusive evidences that the
new tariff has created several great industries
which will, within n few years, give employ
ment to several hundred thousand American
workingmen and women. In view OF the some
what overcrowded condition of the labor mar
ket OF the United States, every patriotic citizen
shou Il rejoice at such a result.