The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-04-21
THE TAX ON COFFEE.
Damaging Effects of High Tsria ON Our
Export Trade.

Damaging Effects ~ . High Tsrin ON Our
Export Trade.
The effect CT the imposition OF dis
eliminating duty upon coffee imported
from certain countries under the pro-
visions of the so-called reciprocity
clauses OF the Mckinley tariff, is indi-
Gated. SO far as the quantity imported
is concerned. by tbs treasury depart
ment report as to the imports foi the
seven months ending on January 81.
The quantity OF coffee brought into
this country in the fiscal year 1891. all
of it free of duty, was about $50, 600, 900
pounds About one-sixth OF this came
from Venezuela. Colombia aud Haiti,
the three countries affected bv the
three cents pound imposed by Presi-
cent Harrison under the provisions OF
the law The official figures for the
fiscal year 1891 are as follows:
IMPORTS OF COFFEE.
From all countries, ......5ip. = ~ s9d isS1T
From Venezuela. toZliaU lOsltst
From Colombia ........... 1850 1853 2+9i 81
From Haiti. l2.ois,ht l,yssssj
s7.4oas0s siS.as5, dss
II 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 tho seven
months ending on January 81 this aver
age has fallen to . little more than
1000 900 pounds.
Pcunda Valss.
oG me1tns au"Ao.. i!.4asis r4csss
The figures for January indicate that
the imports are now very small, the
value for that month having been less
than sl5o.ooo This is the effect Of the
cyaction of a duty of 3 cents, SO far as
the quantity received from these coun-
tries is concerned
The imposition of this duty has also
had the effect, we are informed. OF in
creasing by several millions Of dollars
annually the cost of coffee to consum-
ers in this country. The duty has in
creased the cost OF the mild coffees
produced in these three countries.
which were formerly about one-sixth
of our entire supply. and has largely
decreased the quantity imported. At
the same time. because of this increase
of cost, the producers of mild coffees IN
other countries not affected by the duty
have been ena BILE toexact higher prices
for their product when sold here. 1t
is estimated that for this reason the
cost of coifees of similar grades pro-
duced elsewhere has been mere ased to
the American consumer by at least ~
cents a pound I,y his reciprocity
proclamation Mr. Harrison TINS inn
posed a cons iderablc 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 cotfees that are on the FREQ
list
The law says that after such retalia-
tory duties have been imposed by the
president they are to be cxacted 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
as to the justice OF the continued ex-
action of this tax is now to be conclu-
sive. The fact that he has called upon
the state department for Information
as to the condition of negotiations with
the three countries affected shows that
he has this question under conssdera-
ton. II it shall appear that the retail
atory duty on coffee has had no bepe-
fetal effect upon our export trade and
is burden upon the people, the JUS
tice of it will not be dearly esta5-
lished N. Y. Times.