New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-18
POSSIBLE RETENUE IND IMPORTS.

The probable revenue under duties imposed In
the Senate bill could not be- accurately antici-
patcd. There was first The question how far the
consumption Of the people in their crippled in
dusirlal state would b" restricted much Of
certain products. whether foreign ar domestic,
they would he able to buy. Then there re-
manned the question what part Of the total con-
sumption would he supplied by foreign instead
Of domestic goods In scarcely any branch Is 1t
possible 10 answer either question with much
accuracy. The aggregate volume of dutiable
goods imported during the fiscal year ending
June 80 was S2I3l93,li5, against S42l,s5G,711
I'm the previous fiscal ycar-a decrease Of 34.S
per cent The decrease In payments through all
clearing houses during the same fiscal year was
somewhat smaller proporiionatcly- 2T.3 per
ccnt-and this statement covers even for the
last year payments I'm value more than one hun
dred and sixty times the value OF the imported
dutablc goods. doubtless exhibiting more near
~ the general change Ia the consumption Of the
people. But whether II will continue a quar-
ter 10 n third smaller than il was two years ago
it is difficult to Judge
There Is first the fact that wages have been
reduced. and reckoning the difference In hands
employed. I'm time employed. and In rates paid.
probably quite as much rs the reduction I'm
clcarlngs. But there Is the further fact that
this production has been progressive. and Is not
likely To cease u,idcr the tariff now proposed
Moreover. the habits Of a nation Of workers
do not alter AT once, but gradually. and multi
tudcs exhausted their savings or ran into debt
before they came 10 realize that wages would
not be soon restored, and that the scale Of cx-
pcndturcs must be lowered Having these
things In mind. II appears not unlikely that the
consumption Of The people may. for time AZ
least. be- smaller rather than larger than 1t was
last year. The loss of n large part Of the corn
crop and Of pastures at the West tends to in
crease this probability.
As to the proportion OF the total consumption
which imported goods will supply, it is even
more difficult to form any conception Much il
said Of the larre accumulation Of goods in
warehouse, but the value June 30 was only
$43 1S2,922. about S4,3OOOO0 larger than year
OF wool which the pending bill would admit
free leaving about $36OOOOOO Of other dutinble
articles. From April 30 to June 30 there was
a decrease In quantities Of tinplates. wire rods.
bar iron, cotton cloths and woocn cloths, held
In warehouse, and but moderate Increase In
dress goods. The increase in all manufactures
VI NVo Dim NV'''h, h"" anu NUS
not large enough TO strengthen the idea that
unusual quantities Of goods had been brought
In to anticipate changes Of duty. much more
important matter Is the accumulation OF goods
In foreign works and warehouses. OF which there
Is abundant testimony. That great quantities
have been prepared and stored. ready TO be
rushed into this market soon as the tariff
has been changed. indicates what foreign COM
pctitors are expecting 10 do, and perhaps they
best know what they may be able to do.
In some important branches the decrease Of