New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-03
TIE EXCEPTIONAL IMPORTS.

Twenty.fiye wears ago, in August, 49,, GUS
.or,s rooo;nts wore larger than during the month
srs+ closed AT that time A. T. Stewart paid in
81. 600 900 on a single entry August L. anu
S26 37S. $50 was collected IN the mohth from
duties on S51 S12 541 dutiable imports. Inc WIFI
drawals from warehouse in that moh'h were
nearly s39,OO0,OO0, and in July and August ABOUT
5000. 600 There have never been such receip'S
from customs In any other month before vi
since, though in October, 1880, the month Tic
Mckinley act went into effect the receipts were
S24934114 During the month or April 1885,
the receipts have been S24,454.32l a. Ihese
three months surpass all others in the history OF
-fbe country, and on the Both, the last DAY Oh
Anril the receipts at New-YOrk alone were
50 4OS 500 AS the Treasury report for that DAY
Is smaller than the New-York receipts Tor that
day. the official return for the month propao!
throws over into May some OF the receipts OH 'ne
last dav as part OF the receipts on the last day or
March seem to have been thrown into April.
The unmatched receipts Of August 1877 were
caused by material reduction of duties erected
nv the act of June 6, which reduced by ~ per
cent all duties on manufactures of WOOL, cottoh'
iron and steel, other metals. paper, indla-ruooer
glass leather Except gloves, ana on WOOL iron
and leather, also making other special reduc-
lions and putting many articles on the free list.
THE imports in July and August exceeded SlZo'-
100000. and goods In warehouse were reduced
about S31. 600 900 in those months: over S2',ooo-
O00 in specie went abroad, and in the year
ending with June 1873, more than SS4,OOO,Ooo,
merchandise imports exceeding exports by
$4,000. 600 Then came the panic, the prostra'
tjon of industries and business, which lasted
for more than five years, and involved losses
which. to a population of 3S.3O0O00 then reck-
oning their wealth at S24 0O0, 900, 900 gold value
might relatively even compare with those in
Cured in consequence of Democratic success
four years ago
II was the purpose Of the House of Repre-
sentatives to check excessive imports in an
,icipation of new duties by the provision max
ing those duties apply to all goods imported
after April l. But the outcry Of importing in
forests against what is called the injustice OF
such a provision, and the publicly avOwed will
irpness of some Senators to give up that pro-
vision. have in a large degree deprived 1t CT its
,rnvenfiye force and the enormous imports OF
Anril indicate clearly what may be eX-
nected in succeeding months If the Senate falls
70 act on the pending measure speedily. 1t Is
commonly thought probable that the new tariff
may not be passed before July. If so. there is
much reason to anticipate that the dutiable
imports and the imports Of wool and other
articles on which duties are likely to be I'M
nosed NAV approximate more or less closely
70 n whole years consumption. 1t has already
been shown that Of wool the imports in April
alone were probably more than half the great
est quantity Of foreign wool ever consumed In
n year by this country and nothing except the
retrospective clause seems likely to prevent
that quantity and much more going into Amer
lean markets free Of duty.
It is a relief to the Treasury to have surplus
for the month instead Of deficit But the i'm
mediate relief is purchased at high price. The
goods most largely imported Of late are those
unon which duties are likely to be increased
most. On most woollen goods the House bill
would about double the duties; ON sugar 1t
would raise the duty from Al 10 II per cent,
and ON tobacco the increase would be over one
half II q years supply Of these three classes
and of wool should be brought In under the
nreseut tariff the Government would indeed,
receive quickly about $67SO0O00 In duties,
Int would in consequence fail to receive duties
which. II the same quantities were imported,
would amount to Sal, 100000. The perform
ance is very like selling gold dollar for 90
cents.
The question whether such heavy imports can