The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-05-27
THE TAX ON COFFEE.
Damaging fcmocts OF . Nigh Tsrin on Our
Export Trade.

Dana eiae 1cnects Of Nigh Tsrin on Our
Export Trade.
The effect OF the imposition of a dis
Grimm ting duty upon coffee imported
visions of the so-called reciprocity
clauses of the Mckinley tariff. is indi-
Gated, SO far as tho quantity imported
is concerned. by the treasury depart
ment report as to the imports for the
seven months ending on January 81.
this country in the fiscal year 1891. all
of it free of duty, was about $40. 600, 600
pounds. About one-sixth of this came
from Venezuela, Colombia aud Haiti,
the three countries affected by the
three cents a pound imposed by Presi-
dent Harrison under the provisions of
the law. The official figures for the
fiscal year 1891 are as follows:
IMPORTS OF COFFEE.
From al countries. ss$ 8: .es g:s:
:$$
s7,4oe,e0a ti5,2a5, o2s
It will be seen that the monthly av-
erage in that year for the three
countries affected was nearly 1900 900
pounds.
The report shows that for the seven
months ending on January 81 this aver
age has fallen to little more than
1900. 600 pounds.
~ Pounds Talss:
5ssss;s :sss.s :s; :ss,s
The figures for January indicate that
the imports are now very small, the
value for that month having been less
than $3.50, OO0. This is the effect of tho
exaction of a duty of 3 cents. SO far
the quantity received from these coua-
tries is concerned.
The imposition of this duty has also
had the effect, we are informed, of in
creusing by several millions OF dollars
annually the cost of coffee to cousum-
ers in this country. The duty has in
creased the cost of the mild coffees
which were formerly about onc-s;xth
of our entire supply, and has largely
deere ased the quantity imported. At
the same time, because of this increase
OF cost, the producers of mild cotfees in
other countries not affected by the duty
have been ena bled to exact higher prices
for their product when sold here. 1t
is estimated that for this reason the
cost of cOfces of similar grndes pro-
duced else where has been increased to
the American consumer by at least ~
cents a pound BY his reciprocity
proclamation MIR. Harrison thus inn
posed a considerable tax upon the peo-
pie of the United States, not only with
respect to the coffees imported from
the three countries directly affected,
but also with respect to large quanti-
ty of the coffees that are on the free
list
The law says that after such retalia-
tory duties have been imposed by the
president they are to be exacted ''for
such time as he shall deem just" The
president who imposed these duties
has been succeeded by Mr.. Cleveland,
and it is Mr. Cleveland whose opinion
US to the justice of the continued ex-
action of this tax is now to be concl,,-
sivc. The fact that he has called upon
the state department for inform alton
to the condition of negotiations with
the three countries affected shows that
he has this question under considera-
ton. fit shall appear that the retail
atory duty on coffee has had no bene-
fetal effect upon our export trade and
is burden upon the people, the JUS
ticc of it will not be clearly estab-
lishea Y. Times.