Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-12-17
The Tariff Question.


The general interest in the operations
of the treasury department has been
much augmented during the last year
Ivy reason Of the conflicting predictions
which accompanied and followed the
Tariff, and other legislation of the last
congress affecting the revenues, as to
the results of this legislation upon the
treasury and the country. On the one
hand 1t was contended that imports
would fall off SO as to leave the t, easury
bankrupt, and that the prices of arti-
cles entering into the living of the peo-
pie would he 80 enhanced as to disas-
trously affect their comfort and happi-
ness. While, on the other hand, it
was argued that the loss to the revenue,
largely the result of placing sugar OH
the free list, would be direct gain to
the people; that the prices of the neces-
saries Of life, including those most
highly protected, would not be en-
HANGED; that labor would have larger
market and the products of the farm
would advance in prices, while the
treasury surplus and receipts would be
adequate to meet the appropriations
i including the large exceptional expen-
ditures for the refund to the states of
the direct tax and the redemption of
the fonr-and-a-half per cent bonds.
1t Is not my purpose to enter at any
length into a discussion Of the effects
Ut this legislation to which I have re-
ferred, but brief examination of the
statistics Of the Treasury, and a
general glance at the state of business
throughout the country, will, think,
satisfy us that its result has iissa-
pointed the evil prophecies Of its oppo-
nents, and in large measure, realize
the hopeful predictions Of its friends.
Rarely, If ever before in the history of
the country, has there been a time
when the proceeds Of one days labor,
or the product Of one farm crop, could
purchase such large amount of things
that enter into the living of the masses
Of the people. believe that full
test will develop the fact that the tariff
act of the Fifty-first Congress is very
favorably in its average effect upon the
prices Of articles flowing into common
use.
During the twelve months from
October !, 1890, to September 80, 1901,
the total value of our foreign commerce
imports and exports combined) was
81, IA, 500, 400. which was the largest of
any year in the history Of the United
States. The largest In any previous
year was In 1880, when our commerce
amounted to 1884,, l39. 083, and the
last year exceeds this enormous aQpre.
gate by over 500, OOO, 600. tits inter-
esting, and to some will be surprising
to know that during the year ending
September 80, 1891, our imports of mer-
chandise amounted to 1924, ia, go.
which was an increase Of over $ll ,OOO,-
coo over the value Of the imports Of the
corresponding months Of the previous
year, when the imports of merchant
disc were large, In anticipation of the
tariff legislation then pending. The
average annual value OF the imports of
merchandise for the ten years from
1881 to 1891 was $602, l86, 522, and du-
ring the year ending September 80,
1891, this annual average was exceeded
by $ls2 ,52s, 1859.
The value of free imports during the
twelve months ending September 80,
1891, was $ll8, O82 1857, moro than the
value of free imports during the cores
ponding month Of the preceding year,
and there was, during the same period,
a decrease Of SIG, 885, 598, in the value Of
imports OH dutiable merchandise. The