New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-21
.SN26.722.0O6

The amount of duties actually collected on
imports in these three months according to Off
cial statements was S3S.21700O Hence the
actual rate of duty on all dutiabe imports dur
ing the only three months in which the most
important provision of the new tariff has been
operative has been only 1927 per cent. Mr..
Carlisle said it would be over GO per cent, and
it proves to DO only two-thirds as much. He
said and with elaborate calculations prOfessed
to know. that the new tariff would increase the
rate Of duties on dutiable imports, whereas the
fact is that the rate has been decreased
Again he may object that his prediction APP
piled only to the next fiscal year, upon which
we have now entered, after the increase OF
duties on tin plates has taken effect. 1t is true
that this change did not 60 into operation until
July |. and the figures do not show what the
rate of duty will be when there are smaller
imports of tin plates at higher duties. But
calculation can easily be made in which the
only chance of error is in Mr.. CarliSles favor.
The maximum imports OF this article except
ing during the last few months Dor the purpose
of anticipating the advance in duties, have
been about 700, 100000 pounds in year, or
175, OOO,O 900 pounds in three months. The act
80, 1890, just preceding Mr.. Carlisles speech,
had been ia, 100000 pounds, and the duties
paid thereon were S1,742,62 in tho three
months. Had there been imports as large dur
ing the second quarter of this year ct the new
rate of duty, an impossible superstition, the
duties would have been S3,S33771. Deduct
ing the imports actually made during those
three months of this year and the duties there
On. and substituting the ordinary imports with
duties rcckOned at the new rate, it appears that
even then the rate of duties on all dutiabe i'm
ports would have been but A IL per cent, in
stead of the GO per cent predicted by Mr. Car
Isle, a decrease instead of great increase in
rates. But it will be found that imports of tin
plates will diminish, and 80 will add less TO the
amount of duties and TO the rate.
Again. Mr.. Carlisle asserted that Senator
Sherman was in error when he said that nearly
half of the imports under the new tariff would
be free of duty. The Kentucky Senator claimed
that changes had been made in the Senate
"maiing the total value of dutable articles
hereafter to be imported under this bill, upon
the basis Of 1889, more than $500, 00O, 900,
and placing upon the free list articles of the
value of S341, 100000 not near one-half Of
the whole importationS; and it must be remem-
bered that SS3.3SS,2 sG of this sum consists Of
sugar and molasses alone" Mr. Aldrich pointed
out that it was violent and absurd supposition
to reckon that imports would continue the same
under the new tariff as under the old. but Mr..
Carlisle insisted upon his reasoning which was
sent broadcast over the land and repeated in
thousands of speeches. What has been tho
fact? The actual value of all imports during
the three months after the change on sugar
went into effect, as above shown, was 1926
722,9OG, while the value of dutiable imports
was only $94,sS9,355, much less than half in