New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-17
THE TARIFF BILL.


The uncracous task of crticising the WORK OF
friends is always unwelcome and yet obligatory
Even with large allowance for antcipatory I'LL
norris which Chairman Dingley has not pro-
rosed any measure TO prevent. his estimates
NJ increase in revenue appear 10 be open to
some criticism There is first the question or
woollens. of which imports show that supplies
remaining in this country must be. unless all
estimates of consumption in manufacture are
far on of the way. greater by many million
mounds than the country Will require PRIOR to
Nav |. when new wool will begin 10 come FOR
word With some months left before imports
without duties the stock on hand VIII he 1ound
50 great that imports will not yield S1l.oooooo
during the first fiscal year. Nor Is there any
reasonable probability that imports of wo0len
,,oods will Weld an Increase Of Sli.Oo,oW. II
n.y stcp had been taken to prevent anticpatory
,mnor.s during the next two TO four months
,hev mioht Rut we shall be fortunate if the
X.oolen goods imports. after the proposed bill
takes effect. Weld as much revenue as was real
.zcd during the last fiscal year.
Reasons NAV he given in detail for this opin-
ION. hat If correct. ii leaves the Treasur! VIII
y promise Of only about S50.o0O'0oo more reVe-
nue 1lan il has for the current year Another
ro;rf Of large importance remains Duties Oh
SUGAR amounting to some millions nave Deeh
raid within the last week. The quantity III
,vsrehorses has been remarkably large and II IS
rat to he expected tina, the sugar monopoly Will
loi slip ary opportunity Of putting millions INTO
rs treasury by failing TO anticipate new duties
a measure to prevent such anticipation in TINS
as in other branches Of business may not nave
been practicable Chairman Dnglcy can Judge
better than anybody else. and Is not 10 blame II
he finds that II could not have been carried INFO
effect promptly. But open custom houses for
the Sugar Trust will insure delay in the Senate,
md Will cut off part of the S20oo0op0 increase
oynpctod from that source. As to all these du-
,.ps. il must nc remembered that The imports
will mn into the Treasury from one-half on some
woollens 10 four-ffths on sugars. the amount IF
revenue which they evade by anticipation. but
estimates FOR The year beginning July will not
be thereby affected
The imports Of jnte and fax products may
no increased very largely during the months in
which tariff changes are to be pending. 1t may
well be doubted whether the next year Will real
ize the expected increase from that schedule.
REGARDING tobacco there is perhaps less DOUBT,
as the supply is at present restricted ana the
agricultural schedule will affect selling prices
in Canada more than the actual shipments to
This country The lumber duties may not I'M
rrobably be met by reiallatory action in Canada,
which would cut of much Of the expected in
crease from that country. although II Is not the
less 10 be approved. But in view OF all these
considerations there seems 10 be fair reason 10
doubt whether Mr.. DIngley's Increase of revenue
will be quite as large for the first fiscal year at
least. as he has estimated. In the absence OF
any provisions regarding nnticipatory imports,
the increase is likely 10 he less than the act,
co,nparcd with previous imports, would lndl-
gate and vet there Is to be remembered the GER
tanty that general expansion OF business ana
Industries VIII tend 10 cause increasing reve-
pues from fixed rates Of duty. 1t Is not improD-