New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-12
SOME STARTLING FACTS.
NATURAL ATTEMPT TO SUPPRESS
THEM.
WHAT THE FIGURES sHow-TARIFP REroRMERs
FALSE TO EVERY PLEDGE-TARIFF TAXES
ON NEcEssARIEs OF LIFE INCREASED
AND ON LUxURIEs REDUCED.
rnY TELEGRAPH TO THE 1RIBUNE.l


Washington. May u-Several instructive lessons
IN the science OF Democratic craftsmanship may
he learned from one Of the official publications Oh
the Treasury Departmental document which. un-
Sortunateiy Is not now. as It formerly was. easily
accessible to every person who is interested In the
movements OF the foreign trade OF the Unitcd
S,a,es II is the monthly summary, which con-
ts,ns comparative statistics OF imports and eN-
,or,s The statement for the month OF March mas
aus, been iss,red-not published. as formerly-and
some facts derived from It will be OF general IN
terest.
r.,ormers have been fond OF styling two Of their
cardinal neutrality-suspicious. which they piedseo
themselves enlbody In legislation as soon as they
should have the power TO do So One OF these
was that the "toiling masses were to De reneveo
from the unjust burden of tariff taxation under
which they had SO long groaned. which burden
vas to be shifted to the backs OF the ricn VINO
were to be compelled to pay higher tarin taxes ."
the imported luxuries consumed by them INC
other was that, by demohshing tho Chinese wall
of Protection, they would give American pro-
ducers and manufacu irers free outlet and oppor-
tunity to subjugate 1.-The markets Of the world
from which they had been so long excluded
Now. to apply tho facts as given by the free-
trade Chief Of the Bureau OF Statistics 10 the nrs
OF these principles. In March. 1884, the value OF
articles OF food and live animals imported free OF
duty amounted In round figures to *S2oooWV; IN
March, 1895, 1t amounted 10 only NS,WoVS or >is-
200 less In March. 1894. the free importations
of articles ofvountary luxuries. etc. amounted
70 S2ls00o: In March, 1896 II amounted TO $3S1OW. or
an increase of $4,000. These figures do not seem
IN Indicate any great degree OF discrimination In
favor Of the tong masses. Now. to go one step
further In March. 1894 the total value or dutiaDe
lamentations OF articles OF food and live animals
amounted in round figures to 100000; In March.
1886 Il amounted $9.ooOOoo being an increase OF
s?O00O0o or more than 800 per cent. OF the T,oOWo
Increase no less than 100000 consisted OF sugar.
which is usually considered a necessary OF life by
thu toiling masses, and $4,000 OF live animals
brought in to swell the profits OF beef com
bine." which has forced that necessary OF life to
tho highest price known in a quarter OF century.
In March, 1921, the total value OF the imports OF
articles Of voluntary use. uxuries. etc. imported
subject 70 duty amounted In round figures TO $1,000
900; in March. 1895. II amounted to ss.oo0o-an In
crease Of 81 100000 OF this increase 100000 was
contributed by silk piece goods vevets. laces. en-
broideries etc. the duties all OF which were
sharply reduced by the tariff reformers last year;
S2 900 consisted of jewelry the duties on which were
Of the articles Of luxury which contributed to these
Increased importaaions were reduced by the tarH
The total value of the importatons OF March.
1894. amounted TO seG.coooo; for March iss3 me
pears from the facts already rected. however. that
The rAere statement OF this total Increase does not
farff In their relation to the first one OF the two
'chief cardinal PRINCIPLES mentioned ,,c, rropo.es
and promised vast increase in the volume OF ex.
ports In March, 1894 the total value OF the exports
OF domestic merchandise amounted 20 Sss .VWWO; IN
March, 1895, II amounted TO $63. decrease or
100000 In a single month. The exports OF the
products OF agriculture fell of 100000 and OF man
ufactures $4,000. In the seven months since the
new tariff became operative the total imports nave
announced In round figures to NlsWO0o as com,
pared with $3Ci 10000 for the corresponding period
of the preceding year-an increase OF $H.W0.uO. and
the exports OF domestic merchandise have amounted
10 SEG 100000 as compared with SS4.00OOO for the
corresponding period OF the preceding year-a de-
crease OF $50. 100000. -
Two things are clearly disclosed by these figures:
First that the dream OF the tariff reformers OF
heavy flood OF impor ations. which as an analysis
OF the March report has conclusively shown has
added 10 the burden. OF the toing masses and sub
fracted from that Of the rich; and second that the
march OF the army Of American producers and
manufacturers 10 sub1ugate the markets OF the, the
world has not yet begun. The flood OF importations
has not been so heavy as the tarin reformers de-
aired expected. II Is true and the revenue from
customs has fallen of 10 alarming extent. but
then II must be remembered that Democratic legs-
iation and administration have diminished the pur-
chasing power OF the toling masses rs to 30 per cent
IN the last two years.