Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-04-13
THE COFFEE TAX.
Damaging Effects of High Tariff on Our
Export Trade.

The effect CT the imposition of a 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 the treasury depart
ment report as to the imports fol 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, 900, 600
pounds. About one-SiXth of this came
from Venezuela, Colombia and Haiti
the three countries affected by the
three cents 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.
Pounds. TdEue.
From all countries .5l9 5as, 4S2 500, 123 "a
From Venezuela 6o2i1SSU 10,SI4SI4
From Colombia ..-.- l5.S4sl 10y ,49l 81
s7.4oe. ee2 s15,295 ,62s
1t will be seen that the monthly av-
erage in that year for the three
countries affected was nearly 1900. 600
pounds
The report shows that for the seven
months ending on January 81 this aver
age has fallen to little more than
1000, 900 pounds.
Pounds. Value.
Coffee, dutiable, seven
months -. IA, 4s5 17s s.. 476, SOS
January S3o,S45 f49,99l
The figures for January indicate that
the imports are now very small, the
value for that month having been less
than $50, 600. This is the effect of the
exaction of duty of 5 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 coun tries.
which were formerly about one-sixth
of our entire supply, and has largely
| decreased the quantity imported. At
| the same time, because of this increas
| Of cost. the producers of mild cofees in
other countries not affected by the duty
have been ena bled to exact higher prices
| for their product when sold here. Ii
| is estimated that for this reason the
| cost of coffees of similar grades pro-
| the American consumer by at least ~
cents a pound. BY his reciprocity
| proclamation Mr.. Harrison thus i'm
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 quaint
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 'fo1
! 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 upor
the state department for information
as to the condition of negotiations with
| the three countries affected shows tina
he has this question under considera
ton. If it shall appear that the retail
| atory duty on coffee has had. no bene
| fetal effect upon our export trade ant
is burdesl upon the people, the jus
| tice of it will not be clearly estab
lished IN. Y. Times.