New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-13
THE LATEST THEORY.

Az the times change the fashion OF Free
Trade theory changes with them. The air has
scarcely ceased 10 echo the falsehoOd that tin
plates were not made IN this country and could
not be- and that no industry ever had been or
could he established here by taxing. II was
utter nonsense the closet theorists said in those
DAYS. to pretend that by pilDg additional bur-
dens on the people their industry could be ex-
rapded. But the practical expulsion OF I'M
ported tinplates from American markets. which
has become so complete that only 125,S29,612
bounds were imported in the last half OF 1895,
and those almost wholly for export in the form
of cans whereas over 700, 900. 900 pounds were
formerly imported. has pushed the Free Trade
fabricator to q new flight Of fancy. Now his
favorite fiction is that Protection is killing itself
by creating new industries so rapidly that 1t
Is no longer possible to raise the requisite reve
nue. by duties imports The confession that
protective duties have been magnfcently eff
fective In developing Industries and taking
home markets from foreign competitors Will not
he overlooked.
The objection that duties effective for Protec-
ton may presently render such duties impotent
for revenue is regarded by their advocates with
much composure. That blessed result has not
vet been reached in all branches OF business,
ror in enough TO prevent the raising OF as much
revenue from customs as has been required In
any year 1t is true that duties on iron and
steel products, which once yielded $23,OOO,Ooo
In a year, have by the progress of home indus
t,y been rendered less fruitful, so that McKin-
lev rates would not have produced S5,JO0,OOO IN
the last half year. But on imported ores, cut
lery some forms OF machinery and many other
Droducts Of iron and steel duties will yield lib
orally for some time to come. The cotton manu-
facture with duties averaging 46 per cent. still
did not prevent imports amounting TO $4,000
600 in the last half year, and the amount would
have been much larger if general prosperity had
prompted more liberal buying Of imported
clothfng laces and embroideries and the finer
and more expensive cloths. This schedule
would again yield revenue exceeding $4,000
600. as it did under the Mckinley tariff, If du
ties were adjusted 10 that end. The whole
linen schedule which has paid duties exceeding
S11,OOO.O0O in a year, would yield even more
than that sum with welladjusted system OF
duties. Nor is it necessary again to refer tc
the woollen schedule, which under either Of the
bills now pending will yield heavy revenue.
But, without dwelling upon details, it may BIZ
laid with safety that all the customs revenue
required could now and for many years TO come
be raised by duties following the general lines
If the act of 1890. That tariff yielded about
s10S.OOO,OOO without any duty on sugar. The
development of the tnpate industry has cut Of
almost wholly q source Of revenue amounting
toSl3.OOOOOO in that year, and in other branche'
Of manufacture there has been such progress
,bat probably somewhat more revenue has beef
ont off I'm the aggregate; but II there had beeI
as much as s3O,OO0,00O thus taken from revenue
Welding sources, the duties now needed TO de
yelop production of beet sugar would suffice
The possibility Of successful beet culture having
been demonstrated under the bounty systen
and the present duty, there is perhaps no othe