The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-12-12

Ane EheCt OF ile lariu BILL
The general interest in tho operations Of the
treasury department has been much augment
ed during the last year by reason Of the con-
aicting predictions, which accompanied and
followed the tariff and other legislation Of the
last congress affecting the revenues as to the
results Of this legislation upon the treasury
and upon the country. On the one hand il was
contended that imports would so fall off as
to leave the treasury bankrupt and that the
prices Of articles entering into the living OF the
people would be so enhanced as 10 disastrOusly
affect their comfort and happiness, while on
the other IL was argued that the loss TO the
revenue, largely the result of placing sugar on
the free list, would be direct gain TO the poO-
pie; that the prices Of the necessaries Of life,
including those most highly protected, would
not be enhanced; that labor would have
larger market and the products Of the farm
advanced prices, while the treasury surplus
and receipts would be adequate to meet tho
appropriations, including the large exceptional
expenditures for the refunding 10 the states
OF the direct tax and the redemption OF the ~
per cent bonds.
II is not my purpose 10 enter at any length
into discussion Of the effects of the legislation
10 which have referred, but a brief eXamina-
tion Of the statistics OF the treasury and a gem
eral glance at the state OF business throughout
the country will think, satisfy any impartial
inquirer that its results have disappointed the
evil prophecies Of its opponents and IN a large
measure realized the hopeful predictions OF its
friends. Rarely, II ever before, in the history
Of the country has there been time when the
proceeds Of one days labor, or the product Of
one tarmed acre, would purchase so large an
amount of those things that enter into the liy-
ing Of the masses Of the people. believe that
full test will develop the fact that the tariff
act OF the tifty-first congress is very favorable
in It's average effect upon the prices Of articles
entering into common use.
During the twelve months from Oct. l, 1890,
TO Sept 30, 1891, the total value of our foreign
commerce imports and exports combined) was
sl,lfI sO04Oj, which was the largest Of any year
IN the history Of the United States. The larg-
est In any previous year was in 1890, when our
commerce amounted to Sl,641, ,l3a, ,O93, and the
last year exceeds this enormous aggregate by
over one hundred millions. Il 4 interesting,
and TO some will be surprising 70 know that
during the year ending Sept. 80, 1891, our inn
ports OF merchandise amounted 20 S62i, ,Il5 40,
which was an increase of more than eleven
million dollars over the value Of the 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 imports OF merchandise for the
ten years from 1881 10 1890 was sG.2 ls5, ,5s2 and
during the year ending Sept, 80, 1891, this an
nual average was exceeded by slsl2, SIS. .i6s.
! The value OF free imports during the twelve
g
more than the value Of free imports during the
corresponding twelve months OF the preceding
l year, and there was during the same period a
decrease Of Sl0d, B508 In the value OF imports
OF dutiahle merchandise. The percentage OF
merchandise admitted free Of duty during the
l year 10 which have referred, the first under
| the new tariff, was As.ls, while during tho pre-
ceding twelve months, under tho old tariff the
percentage was 3i.27, an increase of 1891 por
cent. II we take the six months ending Sept
| ~ last, which covers the time during which
sugars have been admitted free Of duty, the
| per cent. OF value OF merchandise imported
/ free Of duty Is found 90 be 55.37, which Is d
! larger percentage OF free imports than during
any prior fiscal year In the history Of tho gov,
! eminent.
II we turn to exports Of merchandise the
| statistics are full OF qualification. The value
] Of such exports OF merchandise for the twelve
months ending Sept 30, 1891, was sax, ,0gl ,l38
while for the corresponding previous twelve
months IL was SsdO,lU,ll5, an Increase Of SOC.
] Bl4UGl, which is nearly three times the averag,
annual increase Of exports Of merchandise foi
the preceding twenty years. this exceeds IN
amount aud value the exports Of merchandise
during any year In the history Of the govern
ment The increase in the value OF exports OF
/ agricultural products during the year referred
TO over tho corresponding twelve months OF
the prior year was sli,si0,l8, while the In
crease In the value OF exports OF manufacturer
a.
] There Is certainly nothing In the condition
OF trade, foreign or domestic, there is certainly
nothing in the condition OF our people Of AM
class 60 suggest that the existing tariff anl
/ revenue legislation bears Oppressively upon IN,
people OF rotards the commercial development
Of the nation. II may be argued that our con
I dition would be better II our tariff Legislation
were upon a free trade basis; but Il cannot b,
/ denied that all the conditions Of prosperity
and Of general contentmeut are present IN /
! larger degree than ever before in our history
and that, too, just when il was prophesied thel
/ would be IN tho worst state. Agitation fo
radical changes IN tariff and financial legisla
/ uou cannot help, but may seriously impede
business, 20 the prosperity OF which some dc
gree Of stability in legislation Is essential.
i think there are conclusive evidences tha
the new tariff has created several great indus
tries which will within few years give EN-
ployment 10 several hundred thousand Ameri
can workingmen and women. In view OF th
somewhat overcrowdod condition OF the lab0
market Of the United States every patrioti
citizen should rejoice az such a result
The report OF the secretary OF the treasurl
shows that the total receipts OF the govern
mont from an sources for the fiscal year end
ing June 90, 1891, wero ei5s. .5li gll08. while tn
expenditures for the same period were siel.
00i ,f70.tG, leaving a surplus Of s2I g3q. .7G2 81
Tho receipts OF the fiscal year ending Jun
90, ls92, actual and estimated, are sl33O0.m
and the expenditures eilo.m000 For the ds
cal year ending June l0 la3 tho estimated ro
esipis gIg fi5,EA,llo aud tho expenditure
til,lW0A
Tho Silver laws.
Under the Law uf July ll laao The aaorotar
OF abe treasury has purchased Isiuca Aug. n