Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-05-23

ESSARTES OF LIFE INCREASED
AND OK LUXURIES REDUCED.
Several instructive lessons in the
science Of Democratic craftsmanship
may be learned from one Of the
official publications of the Treasury
Department. document which, an
fortunately, is not now, as it formerly
was, easily accessible to every person
who is interested in the movements
Of the foreign trade of the United
States. 1t is the monthly summary,
which contains comparative statistics
Of imports aud exports. The state
ment for the month of March has just
been issued-not published, ms for
merIy-and some facts derived from
it will be of general interest.
At She outset, it may be well to
recall what the tariff reformers have
been fond of styling two of their
cardinal principles principle which
they pledged themselves to embody
in Legislation as soon as they should
have the power to do so. One of
these was that the ''toiling Masses
were to be relieved from the unjust
burden Of tariff taxation"under which
they had so long groaned, which
burden was to be shifted to the backs
of the rich, who were to be compelled
to pay higher tariff taxes on the i'm
ported luxuries consumed by them.
The other was that, by demolishing
the "Chinese wall of Protection'they
would give American producers and
manufacturers a free outlet and OPP
~portunity to subiugate "the markets
of the world" from which they had
been so long excluded.
Now, to apply the facts as given
by the free-trade Chief of the Bureau
Of Statistics to the first of these prin-
cIples. In March, 1894, the value of
articles of food and live animals i'm
ported free of duty amounted in
round figures to S32,000,0 600; in
March, 1895, it amounted to only
SIS, 0,0O0' or $l9,0O0,O0 less. In
March, 1894, the free importations
of articles of voluntary use, Injuries,
etc, amounted to $21S,000; in March
1895, it amounted to $4,000, or an
increase of $4,000. These figures
do not seem to indicate any great
degree of discrimination in favor of
the t%oiIing masses, Now, to go n
step further. In March, 1894, the
total value of dutiable importations
Of articles of food and live animals
amounted in round figures to 1000
600; in March, 1895, it amounted to
$9,0O0,00O, being an increase of 81
000, 900, or more that 800 per cent.
OF the 100000 increase, no less
than 100000 consisted of sugar,
which is considered a necessary of
life by the toiling masses, and $l25,-
600 of live animals brought in to
swell the pockets of beef combine"
which has forced that necessary of
life to the highest price known in a
quarter of a century.
In March, 1894, the total value of
the imports of articles of voluntary
use, Injuries, etc, imported. subject
to duty amounted in round figures to
$4,000. 900: in March 1895 it amount
ed to $1,000, 009-an increase of
$4,000, 900. OF this increase 5000
600 was contributed by silk piece
goods, yelyets, laces, embroideries,
etc, tie duties on all of which were
sharply reduced by the tariff reform
ms last year; $4,000 consisted of
icwelry, the duties on which were
reduced Is per cent; and so on,
The dugics on all Of the articles Of
ioxury which contributed to these
Increased i~nlporb,tions were reduced
.by the tariff reform Congress
The total ysiae Of the inportations
"a March, 1891. amounted to $685.,
100000; for March, 1895, 100000.
-9"o an Increase Of $3,0o0,0Oo. 1t
appears from the facts already re-
cited, however, that the mere state