Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-04-18
o,a Prominent Prediction of the
Free Traders Quickly Comes
to Naught
zxrorts of Domestic Merchandise
Actually on the Increase OF
Late.
prophets of Reform Placed in q
Fad Light by Fresh
Facts.

The new tariff was especially denounced
br lis opponents on the ground that 1t
r,oud iniure our foreign commerce. 1t
5s. now been in operation long enough to
ts.t this prediction by the actual results.
A. TO exports of domestic merchandise
.bs roport or the bureau of statistics shows
hat the, have increased, and for the seven
Months ending January 81, 1891, they
amnrpte2 to S54l ,09l sos. This is $685.
I'D S94 larger than the average of the
anne months for the previous five years,
9rd about IS, 600, 900 larger than for the
anne months in 1890. For the two
months ending February %, 1891, our ex-
norris Of merchandise amounted to 1888,
BID EOS. and for the same months in 1890
tbay amounted to Sl45, 6S8, 9o4. 1t is evl-
danr that as to exports the effect of the
new tariff has confounded the predictions
Of it, opponents.
II is interesting to note that among the
articles exported there is a large increase
IN manufactured goods, which, according
to free trade theories, we should not be
able to export in competition with other
Countries During the seven months
ending January 81 the export of carriages,
cars. etc., was twice as large as the aver
ace of the same period in the preceding
Eve Years. and amounted to S9.l2S,668
The Experts On chemicals, etc, amounted
10 n. l09, 500, which is about 20 per cent.
larger than the avera ge of the preceding
Eve years. The export Of iron and steel
and manufactures of same we're $26, $780,,
$50 or about 80 per cent greater than the
average Of the preceding FIVE years The
eyports Of leather and the manufactures
Of leather were 81, 564, 1865, which is 25 per
cent larger than the average of the pre-
oeding FIVE years Our exports of manu-
featured tobacco were 81, 43o, lSl, or about
q per cent larger than for the preced-
ing f,e years. OF wood and manufactures
Of wood We exported SIS ,373, 526, or 20
per cent more than for the preceding
five years
Ia all these instances the period of
seven months only Is considered.
If now we turn to our imports, the re-
suit will be ~ less disappointing to the
false prophets Of reform. For the seven
months ending January 81, 1891, the to-
tai merchandise imports amounted to
S474.555. 847, which is ST., 865, AIS larger
than the average for the same months in
the preceding FIVE years, and about $33,
1890
But as it may be alleged that the volume
Of imports was unduly large in anticipa-
ton OF the operation of the new tariff, 1t
is welIto compare The the two months, Jan
uary and February, 1891, with the same
months in 1890 The imports this year
for the same months they were 1926, 49,
923.
There seems to be no indication in these
Of any injury done to our aggregate for
eign trade by the tariff of 1890.
tits however, to be noted that marked
change has taken place in the character of
imports One of the prominent features
Of the Mckinley bill was the transfer to the
free list Of many articles heretofore on the
dltlaba list, thereby, Al was claimed, in
aeasing the aggregate Of free goods from
about 32 per cent. to yearly 50 per cent. of
the total importations. This change is
clearly marked in the statistics of the
seven months ending January 81, although
the uew Jaw had been in operation only
tour months, and as to certain articles,
sugar for example, had not begun to
operate. For those seven months the pro-
portion Of free imports was 3715 per cent.
ltsLgar had been entered free, the proper
ton would have increased to As per cent.
In the corresponding seven months of
1880, it was 80 per cent.
It we compare the months of January,
1881 and 1890, the effect of the new law is
stiI, more apparent.
January, 1891 January, 1890
gree Imports .... S2I, 5sj, gj1--44 Sl9,THS l5-3l
uE!lab'e Imports. 4,16J7 52-5G 43,44l 27-69
Total, ....... So, 2S6,7O3 S63, 222932
THE imports of sugar in the month of
January, 1891. amounted to 1897 ,859,
and are included among the duitable i'm
ports. if these are added to the free inn
ports, as they should oe to show the effect
OF the new tariff when in full operation, it
would increase the volume of free imports
TO f9923 SO, which is one-half the total