The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1895-07-06
TRADE BENEFITED.
ffFecTS OF THE NEW TARIFF ON
THE coUNrRv's BUSINESS.

tFrcSIo Of VHE NEW TAHtFF ON
THE coUNrRv's BUSINESS.
Decided Improvement on the MoKinlsy
Law Revenues Raised Predict . Sur
plus In 1900 --Increass In kxports and
Imports--An object Lesson.
The report of the bureau Of statistics
giving tho exports and imports Of the
United States for the month Of March
makes It possible-by collating these re-
turns with previous statistics-to deter
mine approximately the practical work
ing and effects Of the new tariff law,
which did not go fully into operation
Entil JAM I, 1895.
1t is rather reassuring than otherwise
to note that the revenue raised by the
new tariff during the quarter ehding
March 81, 1895, was 446, ,898. At
this rate the total revenue Of the current
calendar year derived from customs will
be e182, ,481, ,684 and would indicate the
possibility Of surplus before 1895.
It also appears from data obtained
from the bureau Of statistics that the
value Of manufactured goods exported
from the United States during the quar-
ter ending March 81, 1895, was very
encouraging, the amount reaching e41,-
608,O04. During the corresponding
quarter Of ls92, when the Mckinley
tariff was In full blast, the total value
OF American manufactures exported was
only &88, ,99l 1898. In the same quarter
in 1898 the figures were eSe, 800, 1913.
When the overproduction Of manufac-
tured goods-which had been intensely
and disastrously stimulated by the ex-
cessively high duties Of the Mckinley
law-attained its climax, the exports in
the first quarter Of 1894 rose to 442,-
210, ,346. But this was an exceptional
and spasmodic volume of such exports.
The exports Of March were 484, ,S75,-
007, and the imports Of the same month
were 900, ,294.s07, while the customs
duties collected amounted to tl4, $685.
789. These are gratifying results. The
country may felicitate itself on the fact
that its imports were "a, 419, 800 in ex-
cess Of its exports. No doubt this excess
will be used az text for bewailing the
effects Of the new tariff by ignorant peo-
pie who still cling to the antiquated and
oft exploded balance Of trade" buga-
boo But il the increased import trade
Of the country proves nothing else it
proves that the people, having been for
81 years paying extremely high "protec-
Zionist" prices on domestic manufac-
lures, are determined to break loose from
their bondage and to encourage whole
some competition with homemade
goods, competition which can come
only through freer importations and
purchases of foreign fabrics
But. as already intimated, the imports
for March, combined with those Of Feb
ruary and January last, afford striking
object lesson upon the practical effects
Of the new tariff. The total value Of the
imports Of merchandise from Jan. to
March 81, 1895, was 81 85, 1871, 1853, upon
which the customs duties amounted to
$45, 615, ,898. The new tariff therefore
has exacted an average duty Of "a. 8 per
cent of the value Of all merchandise
(dutiable and free) imported into the
United States.
Even in Germany, with her large
army to support, the customs duties col
lected average scarcely 10 per cent Of the
value of all imported merchandise. In
the Netherlands the duties amount usu-
ally to only per cent Of the value Of
manufactured articles and are nil or
only 21S per cent il these articles are
used for the industries Of the country.
The empire Of Austria Hungary mulcts
its people in tariff taxes modest amount
only per cent of the value Of all their
imports. Italy exacts for customs only
2S. l per cent Of the value Of all her i'm
ports, while in Sweden and Norway the
total value of customs duties collected
is but 10. 8 per cent. Turkey is more lib
eral in tariff taxation than "free Amer
lea, +" the Turkish tariff admitting into
the empire all imports except salt and
tobacco at rate Of per cent ad valorem.
II now we compare the average rate Of
duty ON imports subject to duty under
the new tariff since Jan. 1, 1895, with
the average rate under. the Mckinley tar
iff for the two years ending June 80,
1892 Gin which it's operation was not
affected by the panic and hard times),
we find that the former is only 400 per
cent lower than the Mckinley rate The
government statistics show that under
the new tariff the custom house officers
are now collecting an average duty Of
4S. ~ per cent on all dutiable imports.
The corresponding Mckinley rate was
46. II In 1892 and 49. 50 In 1898.
Under the high tariff Of 1883, which
remained in force till October, 1890, the
average rate Of duty on dutiable goods
was 40. 81 per cent, 80 that the new tar
iff is not ON the average per cent lower
than that Of 1888. against which Mr..
Cleveland 3 famous message Of 1887 was
Justly Illuminated
1t is certainly encouraging todiscover
beyond doubt that the recent reduction
Of duties, though beggarly and con-
temptible, has appreciably benefited
trade Had not the original Wilson
tariff been marred and mutilated by the
senate muck greater reductions Of duty
would have Been made and very much
greater benefits would have resulted. 1t
is undeniable also that in every respect
the new tariff is decided improvement
ON the Mckinley tariff. Thanks only to
Mr.. Wilson aud his supporters in the
house, the top Of the Chinese wall with
which protectionists' had inclosed the
country has been removed, and it's foun-
dations here and there have been blown
up-New York Herald.
Reason For Democratic success.