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

An Approval of the Results of the Nc
Kinley Bill.
The general interest i'll 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 so fall off as to leave the
treasury bankrupt, and that the prices of arti-
cles entering into the living of the people would
be so enhanced as to disastrously affect their
comfort and happiness; while, on the other, it
was argued that the loss to the revenue, largely
the result OF placing sugar on the free list would
be direct gain to the peoples that the prices OF
the necessaries Of life, including those most
highly protected, would not be enhanced; that
labor would have q larger market and the prod
ucts advanced prices, while the treasury surplus
and receipts would be adequate to meet the ap-
propriations, including the large exceptional ex-
penditures for the refunding to the states OF the
direct tax and the redemption Of the AZ per cent
bonds
1t is not my purpose to enter at length into
discussion of the effects Of the legislation to
which have referred; but q brief examination
Of the statistics OF the treasury and general
glance at the state of business throughout the
country will, think, satisfy any impartial in
quiry that its results have disappointed the evil
prophecies of its opponents and in large meas
ure realized the hopeful predictions of its friends
Rarely, if before. in the history OF the coun-
try has there been time when the proceeds OF
one days labor or the product OF one farmed
acre would purchase 50 large an amount OF
those things that enter into the living Of the
masses of the people. ! believe tnat full 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. aa
During the twelve months from Oct. 1, 1890,
to Sept. 30, 1891, the total value OF our foreign
commerce Imports and exports combinedl was
81 TAI, SOC, ,4OD, which was the largest OF any
A. vNR fhn fnd n
largest in any previous year was in 1890, when
our commerce amounted to 81 ,647, 139rOo3,
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 $S24 Ilo,-
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, 1856. .522, and during
| erage was exceeded by 1892, ,52S, ,469.
The value OF free imports during the twelve
months ending Sept. 30, 1891, was $lls,o92,.
3S7 more than the value OF free imports during
| the corresponding twelve months OF the preced.
| ing year, and there was during the same period
a decrease Of s106. BAG, sos In the value ot I'm.
| OF merchandise admitted free OF duty during the
year to which have referred. the first under the
new tariff, was 4S.1S, Whlle uurlEg gne preceu-
centage WAS 3D. 81, an increase OF 13. 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 Eee Of duty is found to
| be 5537, which Is larger percentage OF free I'M
/ ports than during any prior fiscal year IN the
4 history OF the government.
/ Ii we turn to exports Of merchandise the sta
/ tistics are full OF gratification. The value o.
such exports OF merchandise for the swelve
2Q1 &Q2a. OBI lS5
i while for corresponding previous twelve months
| It was $500, III, 115, an increase of $62,sl4'