The Dickinson press., 1891-12-12
THE 4 .AItIFF.
An Approval of the Results of the Me-
Kinlev BIN

The general interest i'll the operations of tho
treasury department h;ts ba,l nucA augmented
during the last year by reason of lie conflicting
predictions which accompanied AMI followed the
tariff and other legislation OF the last congress-
affecting the revenue, as to the results of this
legislation upon the treasury and upon the
country. On the one hand. it was contended
that imports would 40 fall off us To leave the
treasury bankrupt, and that the prices of arti-
cles entering into the Twin. Of the Ieol!e would
be 80 enhanced as to lisuStrously affect their
comfort and happiness: while, the other, it
was argued that the loss to the revenue. largely
the result OF placing sugar the free list would
be direct gain to he people: that the prices OF
the necessaries oil life, including those most
highly protected, would not be enhanced that
laborwould have larger lnarkc' ,n, the prod
ucts advanced prices. while the treasury surplus
and receipts would lie adequate To meet the ap-
preparations. including the large exceptional ex-
pendturcs for the reunding to the states OF the
direct tax and the rcemi ito. Of "a, q. per cent
bonds.
1t is not my purpose to en II -; 'e.,p,h into n
discussion OF the effects vi the legislation to
which have reicrred; but IL brief examination
OF the statistics oi the treasury and n general
glance at the state of Lisurss u throughout the
country will, think. satisfy amy Impartial i'll
qury that its results have disappointed the evil
prophecies OF its opl,"ur,i> iu IL. IL !iusr meas
re realized the hopeful lr'! cii'.s oi its friends
Rarely, IL ever beiorr. i'll the history of te coun
try has there been Il time when the proceeds OF
one days labor or tho product OF one iarmed
acre would purchase so large an amount OF
those Things that enter uto the living oil the
masses of the people. |. believe tnat IL full test
VIII disclose tine fact that the tariff act of the
flity:frst congress is very favorable III Its aver
age elect upon the prices OF articles entering
lnto common use.
During the twelve months from Oct. l. 1890.
to Sept. 30 1891, the total value OF our foreign
commerce Imports and exports combined) was
Sl,7l7 SOC, ,iO6, which the largest OF any
year in the history of the United states. The
largest in any previous year was in 1890. when
a =
AND the last year exceeds this enormous hggre-
gate by over one hundred mi!lions 1t is inter
estmg, aud to some will be surprising to know
that du.ing the year, ending Sept. 30, 1891 our
IMPORTS of merchandise amounted toSS2l, 1lo,-
20, which was an increase of morr then eleven
miliioi. uoars over the value of imports OF the
corresponding months Of the preceding year,
when the imports oi merchandise were unusually
large iii anticipation Of the tariff legislation then
pendiIE. The average annual vuu. OF the i'm
ports OF merchandise for the ten years from
1881 to 1880 SG92. SG522. and during
tile year ending Sept. 30. 1891. this annual av-
erage w;- Needed hv 5 i:'2. o2S l63
The value of ire imports during thc twelve
months el..ng So ~. 1891, was $lls.o92.-
oS7 more than TN. tiue ot Tree imports during
the correspondents: twelve months OF the preced-
ing year. and tlcc WAS during the same period
II decrease oi /: loo; .SiG sos in the value of i'm
ports OF duti:'hIc inerchand ST. The percentage
1l inercnaid-t admitted free OF uuty during the
year to which have referred. the first under the
new tariff. SIS, While during the preced
ing twelve lis. under the Old tariff the per-
ctlltige was 312 All Increase OF IL 81 pc cent
Ii We t.Ike the SIX months ending sept 30 last.
which cov-rs the time during which sugars have
been admitted irre o duty, the per cent of value
Dl merchandise imported lr"rut hHty Is louhh 10
be oo:}1, which Is ii ;,r.r l'ercciitage ol Tree I'M
ports than during any prior fiscal year IN the
history OF the government.
1t We turu to exports OF merchandise the sta
tl>i:cs are full a. qualification. Inc value oil
si:c.i exports of merchandise for III" twelve
months ending sept. 10, 1881. WAS S923OJl l30,
whie eiorcorrespondn. previous twelve mouths
1t vas $500, III, 10. a.I Increase oil SG2ol4-