The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1891-12-17
THE TARIFF.
An Approval of the Results of the Nc
Kinlev Bill.

Kinley Bill.
The general interest in the operations OF the
treasury department has been much augmented
during the last year by reason OF the conflicting
predictions which accompanied and 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 50 fall Off as to leave the
treasury bankrupt, and that the prices OF arti-
cles entering into the living Of the people would
he 50 enhanced as to disastrOusiy affect their
comfort and happiness While on the other, 1t
was argued that the loss to the revenue, largely
the result OF placing sugar on the free list would
be q direct gain to the people, that the prices OF
the MeCeSSarieS OF life, including those most
highly protected, would not be enhanced; that
labor would have a larger market and the prod
uCts advanced prices, while the treasury surplus
and receipts would be adequate to meet the aD-
preparations, including the large exceptional ex-
Ienditures for the refunding to the states OF the
direct tax and the redemption Of the AZ percent
bonds.
1t is not my purpose to enter at length into
discussion OF the effects OF the legislation to
which have referred; but u brief examination
of the statistics of the treasury and a general
glance at the state of business throughout the
country WILL think, satisfy any impartial in
quiry that it's results have disappointed the evil
prophecies OF its opponents and i'll large meas
IRE realized the hopeful predictions OF its friends
Rarely, if before, in the history OF the coun-
try has there been a time when the proceeds OF
acre would purchase large an amount OF
those things that enter INTO the living OF the
masses of the people. l believe That tull test
will disclose the fact that the tariff act OF the
Fifty first congress is very favorable in its aver
age effect upon the prices OF articles entering
into common use. 1000
During he twelve months from Oct. l, 1890,
to Sept. 30, 1891 the total value Of our foreign
commerce imports and exports Combined) was
81, 7I7 8O6 ,4O6, which was the largest OF any
year in the history Of the United States. The
largest in any previous year was in 1890, when
our commerce amounted to 81 ,647, 139.O93,
and the last year exceeds this enormous aggre-
gate by over one hundred millions. 1t is inter
esting and to some will be surprising, to know
that during the year, ending Sept. 30, 1891, our
imports of merchandise amounted to 1874, no.
| 27O, which was an increase of more then eleven
million dollars over the value OF imports OF the
| corresponding months OF the preceding year,
| when the imports OF merchandise were unusually
large in anticipation of the tariff legislation then
pending. The average annual value OF the I'M
ports OF merchandise for the ten years from
| 1881 to 1890 was $692, 1862, and during
| the year ending Sept. 30, 1891, this annual aV-
erage was exceeded by $132 52S, 469.
The value of free imports during the twelve
months ending Sept 30, 1891, was $ll8,O92,-
| 387 more than the value OF free imports during
| the corresponding twelve months OF the proceed.
| ing year, and there was during the same period
a decrease OF $1o6, SAC, sos in the value OF I'M
| ports of dutiable merchandise. The percentage
| of merchandise admitted free OF duty during the
| year to which have referred, the first under the
new tariff was 49, IL, while during the preced'
| centage was 34.27 an increase OF 1891 PEI cent
| II we take the six months ending Sept. 30 last
| which covers the time during which sugars have
been admitted free of duty, the per cent OF value
| OF merchandise imported Tree OF duty is found to
be 55 ST, which is larger percentage OF free i'm
| ports than during any prior fiscal year In the
| history of the government.
| Ii we turn to exports Of merchandise the sta
| tistics are full of qualification. The value o
| such exports of merchandise for the twelve
| months ending Sept. 80, 1879 was 1928 ,O91, 136
| while for corresponding previous twelve months
it was $500, 1T, 115, an increase OF $62,e14,