The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-07-22
THIS rs REMARKABLE
THE TARIFF PASSES UNDER
ADVERSE CONDITIONS.

The importers Are Still Rushing For
eign Goods Into This Counary-For-
eipn Farm Products Are Coming in
From All Directions.
EFF. PARSONS, Special Correspondent.
The tariff bill is passed, and under
phenomenal conditions. Nobody OF
this generation ever saw the like.
That tariff bill should pass congress
whose senate is controlled by parties
whose interests and principles and
am EDITIONS are absolutely adverse to
those of the party in control OF the
senate and house is remarkable, but
that it should do so in less time after
the Inauguration than any tariff bill
ever passed since the first congress, is
more than remarkable-it is phenom-
email Indeed, the wonder is that with
the Republicans in an absolute minor
ity in the senate they should be able to
pass their bill at all, especially in view
of the party strife and bitterness which
the campaign last fall aroused.
Meanwhile, the importers are not
idle. The rush of foreign goods into the
country to evade the increased duties
which the new tariff law is expected
to impose seems likely to continue up
to the very day upon which it goes in
to effect. The June receipts OF the
treasury averaged over million dollars
a day and importations were heavier
than in any preceding month except
those Of April, which were more than
100. 900, 900 in value. The prediction
made by Chairman Dingley months ago
that the importers would have nearly
years supply of certain classes of for
eign goods in the market before the
new tariff could 60 into effect seems
likely to be realized.
The effect of this enormous importa-
tion of goods upon which duties are to
be collected under the new law will be
felt the moment that act goes into
effect by suspension of importations
of that class of articles and subse
quent falling off in the customs reve-
nue. 1t is the articles which pay high
rate of duty under the new law, that
the importers are giving their atten-
ton to now, and the consequence will
be that the class Of goods from which
the largest revenues are expected un-
der the new law will have accumulated
in this country in such enormous guam
titles that importations of revenue-pro-
ducing articles will almost entirely
cease until the stocks of these goods
now lying in warehouses by hundreds
of millions of dollars in value shall
have been exhausted
A statement just issued by the treas
ury department covering the importa-
tions of the month of April, gives some
idea of the abnormal importations now
going on and the effect they will have
upon the revenues when the new law
goes into effect. While there has been
disposition of Democrats to assume
that the tariff on agricultural produc-
tions is humbug and does not affect
importations at all, it is nevertheless
fact that 130,868 bushels of wheat
were imported in April Of the present
year, against 6,4S1 in April of last
year, and that the quantity of barley
imported in April, 1897. is double that
of 1896. Another striking illustration
in regard to farm products is found in
the fact that while the class of cattle
which now is, and is Likely to remain
on the free list has not increased at all
in importations, the number of dutiable
cattle imported in April, 1897, was
nearly five times as great as in April,
1895, being in numbe 62,849, against
13,411. In the item of ''crude tartar"
now upon the free list, but likely to
be placed upon the dutiable list by the
new law, the April importations more
than doubled the cores spending month
of last year. The quantity of chicory
root imported in April, 1897, in view
of the prospective i'm position Of duty
upon it, was nearly six times as much
as that imported in April, 1896. The
prospects that certain grades of raw cot
ton are to be placed on the dutiable list
is already being felt, the April impor.
tations being nearly 10000 600
pounds, against 100000 pounds of
last year. The prospect that hides
would be placed on the dutlable list
has also had marked effect in increas-
ing the importatioas of this class of for
eign products, the April importations
of hides amounting to 1897, 406,
against 9,67O,702 pounds in April OF
last year. The importstions of leather
and manufactures from leather also
doubled. Our Chinese and Japanese
friends, who seem to have been on the
alert with reference to our tariff gem
orally, evidently took the alarm early
in the year, for the quantity of rice inn
ported in April amounted to over 2O,-
100000 pounds in the dutiable class,
against 100000 pounds in the CORE
spending month of last year. The
prospective imposition of duty on tea
also had its effect. the number of pounds
imported in April being 5.372, 900
against 1851 TAI in April of last year.
The importations of cigar wrappers in
April. 1897, was 1,477,068 pounds.
against los, 5s7 pounds in April, 1896.
The value of wooden goods imported in
April, 1897, was in round numbers
SO, 900. 900 gaainst trif1e over 81, 0O0,-
600 in April of last year, while dress
goods, carpets and other articles of that
class increased in like proportion. The
importations of beet sugar in April,
1897. were 325, 1858, 1888 pounds, against
60, All, III in April, 1896.
The tariff bill is likely to be good
deal more easily recognized by mem
beers of the house when it comes bacl
to that body than was expected at first.
The important changes which the