New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-07
i between this and other countries Is no

account between this and other countries IL ho
longer even approximately known. for 10
impOssbe to Judge how much certain slea'
classes Of imports have been undervaiueu' in'
extensive substitution of adj valorem for speclhc
duties in the Wilson tariff has not merely SUM
u!ated imports, but has operated poweriuiiy
to increase the consignment OF foreign soouS
through socalled houses here, which are, III iac''
mere clerks or agents Of manufacturers Or hief-
chants abroad 1t is this which has driven
great many American firms out Of the Importing
business. because they find 1t not possible 70
compete with mere agents whose pretended IN
voices bear no relation to the actual value OF
goods imported.
Without enumerating large share OF the
dutiable articles, it would not be possible 10
give a correct conception Of the great change
made in this respect by the new tariff. All
know that woollens, of which imports exceeueo
SEQ. 900 in value last year, are enormously
undervaued, but the same is true OF SILKS ex-
ceedng x31. 100000. of linens and of some kinds
of cotton goods each exceeding $2O,OOO,OOO, OF
earthenware about $7,OOO,000, Of gloves about
$5.OOO,OOO, Of cut glass and cutlery each about
S.. 100000, Of coal-tar dyes, mating ana Oil
cloths, cattle and sheep, barley and macaronl
mate based on past experience Is OF any value
whatever regarding the present undervaiuatiohs
Of such goods When duties were mainly spe
cihc it used to be reckOned that undervaiua-
tons were about 10 per cent on all dutlaDie
imports. but it Is now known to be far greater
as respects many Of the most important classes
and the dutiable imports exceeded $4l0,VV'VV
In value last year. Somewhere from soo'ooV
600 to S1OO.OOO,OOO. and perhaps even more
must be added to the reported value or imports
In any calculation intended 10 ascertain even
approximately the real balance on merchandise
account
In this way it came to PASS that. although
merchandise exports exceeded the nomlnai vaiue
Of imports by S23,OOO.OOO in 1890. there were
also net exports Of S720000O0 gold and over
$4,000 900 silver. Of which a large part was
required to balance the fraudulent underyalua-
tions of imported goods Each month the same
difficulty presents itself March showed an ap-
parent excess Of $90OO0O0 exports, but 1t Is
not ut all certain that undervauations In that
one month were less than that amount The
only thing positively known Is that the country
is now paying several millions each month more
than its official returns indicate for foreign
goods imported because these goods, in order
to cheat the Government ont Of part OF the
greatly reduced duties. are fraudulently under
valued. In some recent cases Of large impor-
lance appraisers have raised the value Of entire
classes Of goods % per cent and yet no one
conversant with the business believes that the
worst frauds have yet been brought to light
This Is one of the most important consequences
of the change Of tariff. and 1t Is one which must
affect to an unknown extent the financial con-
dtion Of the country. until Republican prin'
ciples have been restored in the adjustment Of
duties.