The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-17
GREAT REVENUE PRODUCER
The Wilson Bill Superior to the
Mckinley Law.
Tariff Reform indicated by Com
parison Of the Effects of Two Acts
on the Country's Welfare. Big
Revival of Business and In
creased Wages.

creased Wages.
The comments In the public press by
tho enemies of tariff reform upon the
recent decision of the supreme court Of
the United States that the schedules of
the Wilson tariff act became operative,
not ON Aug. /, 1894, as stated in tho
act itself, bat on Aug. IS, 1894. when
1t went into effect by operation of law,
show either an entire ignorance of tho
real state of affairs or else desire to
mislead tho rending public, says tho
Philadelphia Record. During the month
of August, 1894, prior to the 2Sth inst,
the only tariff net that was in effect
upon the statute books was the McKin-
ley act, and therefore, MS n consequence,
duties We're necessarily assessed upon all
imports brought into tho country during
that period in accordance with the rates
set forth in the schedules of that act.
: When, however, the Wilson act be-
came law on Aug. rs, 1894, those inn
sporters upon whose particular importa-
tions the schedules of the now tariff had
lowered the rate Of duties saw an oppor-
tuaity to save money in case a favorable
decision should be rendered by the courts
upon the question as to which date the
new act went into operation, and hence
their protests were filed against the
classification Of their merchandise under
the Mckinley act, and the cases were
takan into court, with the result. no
above stated, OF decision against their
contention.
mn
Those importers, however, who would
have had to pay higher duties under
the schedules of the new act-notably
the Sugar trust Of this country, which,
instead of getting the raw sugar for it's
refineries free as under the Mckinley
act, had. under the terms of tho Wilson
act, to pay duty OF 10 per cent upon
the value Of its raw sugar-of course
filed no protests and did not carry the
question to the higher tribunals
No matter how the courts might have
decided the question as to the date on
which the new act went into effect it
would have made no substantial differ
ence in the receipts Of the government
from customs for the IS days of last Au-
gust, as the revenue that would have
3 been lost upon the merchandise upon
which duties were reduced by the now
act would have been made up by tho
new duty imposed upon the ono article
OF raw sugar, and this would have much
more than made mp the difference had
not the Sugar trust for several months
prior to Aug. 1, 1894, accumulated n
large stock OF raw sugar i'll this country
III anticipation of the passage Of the new
act, and hence did not import very large
~ during the 2S days Of August, 1894.
The allegation, however, that the Gus
toms revenue would have been larger
since Aug. 90, 1894. if the Mckinley
act had continued in force instead of the
Wilson act is utterly without any fouu.
datlon in fact. On the contrary, the sta
tlstics show that the receipts under the
wilson act as compared month by month
With those received last year under the
Mckinley act largely exceed those do
rived from the latter act, while the
treasury deficit has been correspondingly
less Thus for the month OF May, 1895,
the deficit was $3,2S6. 1876, while for tho
month of May, 1894, it was Sc, 6S2, l46,
and while the deficit for the II months
OF tho present fiscal year up to June |,
1890, during nine months of which time
tho Wilson act has been in force, was
somewhat Less than $4,000, 900, the
deficit for the same IL months Of the
preceding fiscal year, during the whole
OF which period the Mckinley act was
IN effect, was over $40, 900, 900.
Those unfair partisan critics who com
msnt upon the treasury deficit incurred
sinoe the Democratic administration
came into Office carefully neglect to state
that about three-fourths of the whole
deficit since that time has been caused
by the failure of the Mckinley act to
produce sufficient revenue to meet the
expenses Of the governments. The Wilson
tariff act has already, in the short space
of nine months since its passage. dem.
onstrated its superiority as revenue
producer over the Mckinley act, and
with the unprecedented revival Of all
our home industries, together with the
increase OF the wages Of the workingmen
OF the country under IT'S beneficent pro.
visions. the friends Of tariff reform can
have no better vindication Of their no.
lion than by comparing in every possible
T1eW tho effects OF the two acts upon the
welfare OF the country
----------------A-
Activity In the Iron Trade.
It is arare thing totfnd the iron mar.
let advancing and booming along with
ont the aid of the raijhSoads INA +ho. :;