The Globe-republican., 1897-05-27

II anybody is in doubt as to the &C
curacy of the recent statement Of
Chairman Dingley that years supply
Of foreign goods will probably be in
the warehouses of the country by the
time the new tariff bill can get upon
the statute books, let him examine the
following figures showing the customs
receipts since the election of McHln-
ley and a protective congress. They
are as follows: November, 1896, So
s30.3S5; December. $10,779, AZ; Janu-
airy, 1897, $11,276,S74; February, $11,-
5S7,260; March, $22, 1885, 1856; April, $24.-
1884, 51. When it is remembered that
these figures relate only to the duti-
able goods and that there has been an
especial rushing in of non-dutiable
goods likely to be transferred to the
dutiable list, it will be seen that the
Good of imp0rtations now passing
through the customs house of the
country is something enormous. For
eign manufacturers and importers con-
tinue to rush their goods into the coun-
try in the face of the retrospective
clause Of the Dingley bill. The Gus
toms receipts in April were $24.454, 351,
or two and a half times as much as
those in the month in which McKin-
ley and the protective congress were
elected. This gives something Of an
idea of the enormous quantity of for
eign goods being brought into the
country. When it is remembered
that these figures relate only to the
dutiable goods and that all non-duti-
able goods likely to 60 on the dutiable
list under the new tariff are also be-
ing rushed in and in still greater num-
bers, the disadvantages under which
the manufacturers of the country are
now attempting to operate and must
operate for many months, will be real
lied. Importations of foreign woods
continue at every port of entry and
from every wool producing country.
In April Philadelphia received over
eight million pounds in four weeks,
New York over twenty-four million
and Boston apparently over sixty-fve
million. People who criticize the pro-
position to place a duty on hides
brought into the country will perhaps
be interested in the fact that the value
Of hides imported since 1890 is in ex-
cess Of the importations of wool upon
which the vast majority of the
people of this country agree
that there should be duty.
The importation of hides from 1890 to
1896 inclusive, amounted in value to
$176, ~, 1O7 white the value Of the wool
imported in that time was $13S, 362.-
S44.
Tho Tariff Bill.
The tariff bill has been completed so
far as relates to the senate finance
committee and is now ready for con-
sideration by the senate. How long
It will be before that body cannot Of
course be foretold, but the outlook for
q reasonable degree Of speed in its
consideration appears to be good. and
there is good reason to believe that
It will be upon the statute books by the
end of the fiscal year. Members of
both parties are recognizing the fact
that nothing so disturbs the business
conditions of the country, both among
the manufacturers and others as the
tendency of a tariff measure Of any
sort, because of the fact that business
contracts and undertakings cannot be
entered upon without definite knOwl-
edge as to what the prices of import
ed articles or the rates of duty will be.
These facts are leading men irrespec-
tive of party to desire for prompt
action since they know that bust
ness revival cannot be expected by
anybody until the tariff can be put
into operation and the immense stock
of foreign goods now coming into the
country disposed of and the market
opened to our own manufacturers.
The Farmer and the Senate.
The farmer is likely to be well taken
care Of by that dignified body, the Unit
ed States senate. The tariff bill, re-
ported from the finance committee of
that body, has added a duty of 11s
cents per pound on hides, increased the
rate on wool of the third class, and
cut out the clause in the house bill
which exempted Hawaiian sugar from
duties, thus reducing that competition
with beet sugar. The duty put on
hides, tea and other articles which
were formerly on the free list will i'm
prove the opportunities for advanta-
geous reciprocity treaties for which
the senate will provide, and which will
greatly benefit the farmer. It is be-
lieved the house rates on woods Of the
ASst and second class will be restored
by the senate or conference committee.
Cheering News for Farmers.
The Department of Agriculture is re-
ceiving very gratifying reports from
the farming community. The contin-
uation Of higher prices for wheat, the
unusual foreign demand for corn and
<ho activity among farmers IN nronar.