New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-22
THE SWELLING IMPORTS.

II Is possbe that no other item. in all the wide
| range and variety of National affairs. Is as i'm
| portant as the steady increase in imports Of
| manufactured articles, and especially Of drySo ods.
! Each week and each month the returns show
change which is relatively large. But most
readers do not notice these returns, or grow
| familarlzed by habit with an increase the effect
Of which is not entirely realized. II may help
| 10 comprehend the situation If it is stated that
! fer ten weeks the increase in importations Of
| drygoods alone has been at the rate of SAi0OoOoo
year at New-York. and in January and Febru-
airy the increase in all dutiabe imports was at
the rate OF sl76 900 900 year. Whoever stops TO
consider how that increased indebtedness is to
be paid will perceive that the matter IS of the
utmost Importance.
The imports Of drygoods at this port alone
from January to March l.. were S}S 636 245
against S2f.5j6.96l last year. the increase being
about SO per cent. The imports of drygoods at
New York last year were about s9o0oo,0Oo, and
| at all ports about $06 900 900. that a similar
increase continued through the year would make
tho aggregate In ports ~ drygoods about $3.50 -
100000. These figures are Of imports alone, and
do not include the Withdrawals Of wooiien goods
from warehouse after the new duties went into
effect January /. which in seventeen days Of that
month amounted to S30li6s1. The wooens
brought into port since January have been in
value ST. 353 $50. against s3.659.o00 in the same
weeks last year the cOttons s79OS,53o. against
1851. 900 last year. ana other drygoods about
SIS 600 600 against sl3O00.0Oo last year When a
great increase occurred Immediately after
change Of duties it properly considered in
some sense experimental and not likely 10 con-
tinue unless foreigners found that they could
sell their goods in competition with American
products But 1t does continue. and without
| abatement: last week the imports Of drygoods
were 1885, 900. which is more than a tenth of the
total for ten weeks Continued through the
wear this Increase would make the value Of dry
goods imported nearly as much as the entire
value Of 60000Q0 bales Of cotton exported last
year.
The dutiable imports Of all kinds in January
and February were $67 96i 600 against I46
last year an increase Of 90 per cent At the same
rate the increase in all dutiablc imports for the
whole year would be nearly SIG OO0 Some
allowance may be made for the fact that sugar
worth 81 800 900 was included as dutiabe. though
free last year. while wool and other articles
worth about 81 900 900 We're included as dutlable
last year. though now free. Omittng these, the
Increase in other imports was 514 per cent, and
at that rate the Increase for the year would be
| about sl6S 600 900 This increase alone would be
more than the entire value or DreadstuilS ana
oil exported last year 1t may help some to real
tie the situation better If they consider that
three sales Of bonds in little over n year ending
February g. increased the National debt Sl62.OoO.-
600 but 10 that great deficit would be added
another still greater merchandise account. II
the Increase In dutiable imports should continue
at the rate Of January and February.
Tho exports of merchandise In those Two
months were about Ss.3oO,OOO less than last year.
No gain is to be expected until new crops here
and abroad are substantially known. Large
crops of the great staples, with the heavy stocks
in sight would runously depress prices while
small crops would nor leave enough margin for
increase In exports 1t is therefore reasonably
questionable whether the country can export
during the calendar year az much as it exported
last year, while the imports are Increasing ms
Is the natural and. deliberately intended result
of the new tariff. which so far cut down duties
as 10 stimulate imports Of foreign goods The
effect of the increased competition upon home In
dustres Is not here considered. but only the
question whether the country can AFFORD to take
from abroad this year more goods by Sl6S.WoOOo
in value than 1t took last year. when the Gov
eminent had to borrow nearly as much. II the
merchandise sold does not pay for the merchan-
disc imported and for undervaluations. interest
due abroad ami differences In freight charges
besides we shall have To send abroad either
gold or securities to pay the balance, and mean
while the President has chosen to run aHalrs
untN next December If he can, without any
change Of the laws.