New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-03
TILE EIRST STEP.


Tho fret question for the extra session of
Congress TO consider. when 1t meets III March,
is whether the desired relief OF the treasury.
of trade and of industries shall come fuiiy 'his
year or in 1898. The settled ana sohd pros
peritv for which the country longs cannot tuliy
arrive as painful experience has taught, uh'll
the labor of the country is fully employed al
fair wages so that the millions are enabled 10
buy freely. But that cannot come until excess
sivc competition with cheaper foreign labor mas
ceased to deprive American works OF halI tue
American markets in some branches, anu III
others to deprcss prices and wages toward the
foreign level Lawmakers can bring ABOUT
that result at once. or by mistaken judgment
NAV fix things so that American markets snail
be occupied during nearly the whole year 1871
as largely as they have been with foreign prod
ucts.
The good people Of this country are not usually
bobind other nations in practical methods for
protecting their own interests. But they are
far behind Great Britain and some other coun-
tries in suffering foreign competition to take
advantage Of coming changes OF revenue laws
while those changes are pending The Shaping
and enactment of a tariff bill cannot be CON-
pleted in week or month. WIN SENATE
closely divided, and nearly half its members
eager for partisan reasons TO delay the return
of prosperity, or in the interest OF importing
constituents to defer legislation until American
warehouses can be crammed with foreign
goods. a tariff bill is liable to be delayed two
months or more in the Senate. In two months
foreign competitors can place in this market, at
present low duties enough goods of many kinds
TO meet six months consumption. This point
was not covered in 1890. and in the two months
June and July about S1l0.0OO,O0O worth of du-
table foreign goods We're brought in. though in
the subsequent years 1891 and 1892 the dutable
imports for each entire year fell below $50
100000
The Tribune discussed some weeks ago two
methods of preventing this partial defeat Of
legislation 10y anticipatory imports. The tom
porary or permanent withdrawal of warehouse
facilities would work hardship 10 many Amcri-
cans not in the importing trade, and would
10 a large extent fail 10 meet the difficulty.
A material pert of the importing in some
branches much the greater part. is now done
through consignment to concerns here which
are in fact mere agents or clerks of foreign cs-
tablishmcnts. No payment need be cXactcd
from them for goods forwarded. taken out of
warehouse and stored until they can be sold.
In effect the foreign manufacturers could pro-
vide the capital for paying the present low du-
ties and carrying goods until profits could be
realized.
The other method of prevention would be eff
fcctlvc Congress could declare by n short
bill. which 1t should not take week 10 pass,
that il was about to make Il general advance
Of duties in order TO raise an adequate revenue
and 10 give better protection 10 industries. and
therefore that all goods thereafter imported
should be taken out of custom houses ware
houses only upon bond 10 pay the additional
duties when fixed by Congress. BY this pro-
codure the coming determination OF Congress
as TO rates needed on particular goods would
go into practical effect nj once, and the evasion
of expected duties by antcipatory imports would
be avoided. Imports for immediate sale. within
the two or three months possibly required for
the maturing and enactment of n new tariff
would be no more embarrassed than under the
prevailing method while n tariff bill is pend
ing. while imports for future distribution under
new duties when enacted would not be embar
raised AT all. The home markets would be to a
great extent secured TO American producers
and the demand for American labor would AT
once be stimulated.
1t is said at Washington, where this subject
is under consideration. that the fact that
Great Britain adopts Il similar method may
have some weight Put no foreign precedent
| IS needed for the measure. If il is plainly cal
culated, to secure for the Treasury a revenue
Of which it would otherwise be deprived by
anticiratory imports. TO secure the home mar
ket 10 American producers this year instead
Of next and 10 hasten the full restoration of
| u,It i.b cub in
| cal business men Of all parties have been pray
| ing. 1t does not yet appear that any objections
| or Inconvenience involved 10y this measure are
| of weight in comparison with the great advan-
| tageS Ia be gained.