The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-11
to ovade a conflict BY destroying the
stills and getting out OF the locality, rs
tho moonshincrs were evidently hunt
ing help. No arrests wcre made.
THE EXISTING TARIFF.

Nj
THE EXISTING TARIFF.
Secretary Foster shows I,s Benoncent
W~orklngs-Thc Consumer Does Not Pay
tho Tax.
Front he Annual Report ctthc stcrdary Of ne
treasury
AZ my request tho Chief Of the Blu.
reou Of Statistics has prepared u special
report on our foreign commerce for
comparative periods under the old and
new tariffs, which furnishes u striking
exhibit OF the practical elect OF tho
new law.
The existing tariff went into effect rs
to most Of its provisions on the Oh OF
October, 1890. Under its operations
during the twelve months ending Sep.
TENDER 80, 1891, tho first five days Of
October being under the old tariff, the
value OF imports OF merchandise was
SS2l,IH5O7, IN increase OF $ll ,247,llG
over tho value Of imports OF tho CORES
ponains months OF the preceding year.
" ms total tho value OF free goods was
S597,aa?,lO1. IN increase OF $llS,092 ,43G
over the value OF FREQ imports during
the corresponding months OF the pre-.
vlous year. The proportion OF mcr.
cNandise admitted free was 1918 per
cenl OF the total importation, rs against
Jl,32 per cent for tho preceding year,
thus exceeding the proportion OF Tree
goods under any previous tariff for n
corresponding period.
Tor the six months ending Septem.
Der 80. 1891, during which sugar has
been admitted free, the proportion OF
free importations was 55.37 per cent, as
against 1927 per cent for the cores
ponoinS months OF the preceding year.
For six months ending March 81, 1881,
when sllear was dutiablu under the new
tarln, The FREQ importations were l0.GS
per. cent, and for the corresponding
period Of tho preceding year, under the
Old tariff, they we're So. Is per cent OF
the total im%portations.
Inc articles now admitted free OF duty
are chiefly nccessarics OF life, such rs
sugar, tea, coffee, and other articles
which are not largely produced in this
country, and DO not successfully com
pete with our domestic productions.
The removal OF the duty OH sugar has
reduced its price TO the consumer, and
tins result is not in conflict with the
DOCTRINE Of protection to home indus
tries, because the limited domestic pro-
ducilon Of sugar under the most favor
able protective rates was not sufficient
to influence the price in the home
market.
The report oil the chief OF the bureau
OF statistics is accompanied b. tables
showing that prices to the consumer OF
manufactured articles, as 4 rule, have
not been increased, but have been re-
ducel.
The receipts from customs for the
year ending September 80, 1891, during
the lust six months OF which sugar was
free, were Slo6,270,G5l 10, rs against
S23S, IS4,020 Il for the preceding year, Il
decrease OF $42,5O5,275 il.
During the twelve months ending
September SO, the value OF our exports
oil merchandise was S923, 09l ,l3G, rs
against $SG0,l11,ll5 ior the previous
twelve months, an increaseoi$G2,9 81 i,02l.
Under the operations OF the new tariff
tho customs revenue has been decreased
as f&r az is consistent with tho current
needs OF the government. By the re-
adjustment OF duties in thu. line OF pro-
lection to American labor and Ameri-
can industries, the free list has been
enlarged By the addition OF articles
which from climate or other conditions
are not produced ~proiitably, nor cx-
t%cnsiveiy, in this country; adequate
protective duties have been imposed
upon Articles that come into competi-
ton with ourown productions; new in
dustrics have been established and
others stimulated, thereby giving in
creased employment to American labor,
and better control OF our homo market
to our own people: and the price OF
nearly every article oil common con.
sumption has been reduced TO the con-
incl
lnasmuch as Il considerable portion
OF our revenues must be derived from
duties on imports, it is the part OF Wis
dom and patriotism to so adjust the
rates as to have regard first to the in
tcrests Of our own people and the right
iul demands OF American labor for re-
muierative wages.
| do not believe that any considera-
bic number OF the people desire to see
Ill manufacturing industries destroyed
or wages reduced to the European
basis. which would BIO the inevitable
result Of a reduction oil duties, with u
view to revenue only.
A comparison oil the prices OF goods
imported respectively under the old and
new tariffs where rates have been in
| creased will demonstrate that the tariff
is q tax fixed upon the foreign compcti-
tor in our markets in the sale OF such
articles rs are extensively produced
here, and that the duties are in fact thus
| deducted from the foreign market value,
and arc paid by the foreigner as n tax
ior the privilege Of selling his goods
here at prices fixed by our own people
competing among themselves in their