The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-11-21
HOW THE TARIFF WORKS.
SOMETHING ABOUT AMERICAN
TIN PLATE.
Some Striking Figures Which Democratic
Papers Do Not 1ublisii-Earm Prod
uce and the Tarih-Ihe Constitution
ality OF Reciprocity.
Some Striking Figures.

same eleven months OF lN>S-SD. Then,
what becomes of the Democratic asser-
ton that protection diminlsAes the for
eign trade?
During these eleven months the por-
ton of merchandise admitted free OF
duty was HIS per cent. OF the whole,
as against ;i.27 per cent. during the
same period of the year prior. Then
what becomes of the Democratic asscr-
tlon that the Mckinley bill raised the
duties all along the | ne ="
Since sugar was put on the free list
and until August 81, 1881, Il period of
of merchandise was $&59, ~, ,2O9, of
was admitted free of duty. The Demo
cratic Mills bill proposed TO admit free
only 10 per cent.
For the full year ending September
so, 1890, under the old taritt.the receipts
from customs were &237 sos, ,l92.4o. For
the full year ending September 80, ls'i
under the new tariff, the receipts from
customs were SIH6.302, ,0t6. .96, a decrease
OF S4I ,396. $3.50. Then, what becomes
of the Democratic prediction that the
Mckinley bill would increase taxation
and swell the sO-called surplus:
The customs revenue during the last
year under the ola tariff was $3.50 per
head OF population. During the first
year under the new tarlli It Is S3.O1.
The exact per capita reduction OF Gus
toms revenue Is - cents. If, therefore,
the tariff is a tax. il is now Just 13 cents
less q tax than It was before the Me
kin!ev bill went into effect.
During the eleven months ending
August 81, 1891, under the new tariff.
our exports of merchandise were S49,-
OS9, ,323 greater tnan during the same
period of the year before. This is near
~ two and half times greater than the
average annual increase during the
twenty years prior to 1871. Then, what
becomes of the Democratic assertion
that protection diminshes the export
trade, and shuts Us out of the world s
markets?
During the month of August, 1890,
our exports Of agricultural goods
amounted to S}5. rs, $50 or G4.34 per
cent. of our total exports. During the
same month OF this year they amounted
to S5l, ,74S, -, or -. 10 per cent. of the
whole. Our exports of manufactures,
on the other hand, during August, 1850,
We're 81 ,24S, 1@9, or 23.I2 per cent. OF all,
while during the same month Of this
'
per cent. Of the whole. Then, what be-
comes Of the Democratic assertion that
protection aids manufacturing interests
only and Injuries those Of agriculture
Since the reciprocity treaty with DTa-
Zll went into effect on April | last, and
until August 81, our exports to that
country amounted TO SG,@O3, lS2, an in
crease over the same period Of last year
of 81 100 ,092. And Vet the Democratic
convention OF New J lork fi,ppautly
pronounced reciprocity a hum bug :"
The price of graIulaied sugar in Sep
tember, 1891. was * cents a pound. as
against IS cents during September, 1890.
The free sugar clause of the Mckinley
bill means TO the people OF the [ nitei
States saving of not less than $40 ,UUO,- :
600.
The price OF cotton cloth in Septem-
Der, 1891, was s. cents ward, as against
q cents IL September, 1880; Of printed
cottons, 6 cents, as against d: OF iron
nails, Sl.S0 Per 100 pounds, as against
Sl.S5; of steel nails, $l.S3, as against
500; of steel rails. SjD.0 per ton. as
against S3l.50; of binders tWinc (an ay-
erage of four grades, s l-i6 cents a
pound, US against l2f cents; OF Bcsse mer
pig iron, SO ton, as against 2lS.l0: OF
cut nails, !l.55 per 100 pounds, as
against Sl.S5; OF middling cotton, per
pound, S.54 cents, as against l2.l7.
Then what becomes Of the Democratic
lie about the Mckinley bill having raised
prices, the pet lie on which the Democ-
racy won the congressional campaign Il
year ago?
The validity of the Mckinley law is at
present before the supreme court for
argument One of the noints made b.
the importers is that the reciprocity
clause is unconstitutional. and that the
entire law IS yitIGted thereby. The
point made by their Couns which IS
backed up eagerly by the Democratic
papers, is that the reciprocity provision
Is an unlawful delegation of legislative
power 10 the President-that il is giving
him authority to decide aItera specified
time whether certain named articles
imported from q certain class Of COun-
tries shall continue to be dutv-free a. at
present, or shall pay certain specified
duties. II is evident that whatever leg
islative power IS granted Is hed@ed
around very closely.
In passing on matters OF this kind SUI
preme courts are exceedingly COnsCr rVa-
tive and are governed to great extent
by usage. If they find that it has been
the custom to make sucn delegations
of legislative power they will decline
to go into the possible merits OF the
point raised by the importers. Such
has been the custom. me records Of
the State Department viii show pTOc.I-
nation made by President Cleveland
early in 1850 that evidence having been
submitted, which appeared satlstaJt tory
to him, that Spain had abolished certain
discriminating duties. tine discriminate
ing customs duties imposed by the
[ nited States on imports rom Cuba and
Puerto Rico should be taken of. Thus
q Democratic President, acting under
the authority Of Congress, took action
which lowered tine duties which had
been collected On Cuban sugar, etc.
BY another proclamation made bv Pres
ident Cleveland IN lS~ti II was declared
that he had become satisfied that the
Spanish diiiCrenta! duties
had not been completely suppressed
that he had rreu mistaken in MS pEeEI-
0ns behof-anG that therefore the Eus-
pension Of the Teta.aJUrv djscT; mjnattu-
duties OF the United states was revoked
and those duties restored. and there
by the duties on Cuban and Puerto
Rican products were increased.
Such delegations OF power are on a
small scale. But by the non-intercourse
act, passed shortly before tie war o.
1912, the President was given q broad
measure Of Discretionary power con
cerning its suspension in whole or part.
That law gave him almost unbounded
power over the entire commerce Of the
country. YET It's constitutionality was
never seriously challenged, although
President Madison made a poor use Of
the law.
In the face of these and other prece-
dents. the supreme court Will decline 10
consider the matter, and those Demo
erats who dread reciprocity and hope
that the supreme court will remove Il
from the field of politics, and the next
presidential campaign will be wofuiiy
disappointed Chicago Tribune.
BosToy. Mass, Oct. 26.-To tie Editor:
went 10 Democratic meeting IN Bos-
,on tonight. Gov. Russell, the Demo