The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-31
VERY SATISFACTORY
NEW TARIFF LAW is PLEASING
ITS FRIENDS.
Treasury Figures Show 1t Is Product
i've of Increased Exports of Ameri-
can Products and Decreased Imports
liberalization" Measures Fails
Showing Is Gratifying.


Special Washington correspondence:
The new tariff law continues TO move
smoothly so far as relates to farmers and
also as relates to the revenues of the
Government. A document just issued by
the Treasury Department showing the
September importations points out that
there has been marked falling off in the
importations of numerous articles of farm
produce compared with September of last
year, while the expectation of the pro-
ducts of agriculture has increased very
greatly despite the insistence of free trad
ers that an increase in our tariff rates
would damage our markets abroad. The
September expectations of agricultural
products amounted to $74. 261 ,573, against
$50, 529, G6S in the corresponding month
last year. While the general eXporta-
tiOnS of domestic merchandise increased
25 per cent in September over those of
the same month last year, the increase in
farm products was even greater, being,
as will be seen by the above figures, about
40 per cent. In September of 1897 agri-
cultural products formed y per cent of
the total expectations, while i'll Septem-
Der, 1896, they constituted but 6I1a per
cent of the total expectations. In impor-
VI pIOuucIS lHeIc Has DecIl ii
marked decrease in many articles. The
September importation of unmanufac
tured cotton fell off 80 per cent, being but
bS1,9O3 pounds, against 772,629 pounds
In September Of last year. The importa-
ton of flax, hemp and other vegetable
fbers, manufactured, amounted to less
than One-third of that of last year, being
$33O,OOO in value in September, 1897,
1896. The importation of flax, which
amounted to SOS, 729 in September, 1896,
dropped to Sal $3.50 in September, 1897.
The manufactures of flax, hemp, jute,
ETC., imported in September, 1897, were
but about one-half in value those of Sep
TENDER, 1896, being but 81, 142. ia,
against 81, 139, 500. The importatons of
sugar in September, 1897, amounted to
less than $2,500,000, against over $S,-
100000 in September, 1896, while those
Of vegetables dropped from $14S.345 in
September, 1886, to $S9994 in September
Of the present year. OF course, the most
noticeable decrease is in wool, which fell
from 4,195,476 pounds in September of
last year to 2,505,673 pounds in Septem-
Der, 1897, while the manufactures of wool
fell off in a much larger ratio, being in
value but $536,393 of the present year
against $2,066, 1O1 in September, 1896.
In the matter of exports there has been
q marked increase in almost every line of
farm production. The September expor-
tatiOn of cattle amounted to $3,272, 1868, |
against $3.50, 100 in September of last
year. The value of the horses exported
was $61S, 492, against 1924 ,315 in the cor
responding month of 1896. The exporta-
ton of barley amounted to 81, 044, S22, |
against $7SS,431 in September of last |
year; corn, $4,000, 723, against $3,962, 612 |
IN September Of last year. The eXporta-
ton of corn meal increased from $47,-
b36 in value to $119, 461; oats from SPOIL
GIT to $1,641, OG9 in September, 1897: |
oatmeal from 3,O12,97S pounds in Septem-
Der, 1896, to $4,000 pounds in Septem-
Der, 1897. The expectation of rye prac-
tically doubled, being in value S319,322
An September Of last year, against $685.
14O IN September of the present year. Of |
hops the expectation in September, 1897,
was more than four times in value that of |
September, 1896, being $50, 265, against
$15,45S. Of bacon the expectations were
In September, 1897, over 100000 |
pounds, against 100000 pounds in
September of 1896. Of hams the pounds
exported In September 1897, was over
17,OOO,OOO, against 100000 in Septem-
Der of last year, while the expectation of
butter jumped from 3,494, 532 pounds in
September, 1896, to 1898, 467 pounds in
September, 1897.
AT the Treasury Department the new
law is proving equally satisfactory. The
receipts are steadily increasing, and for
the month of November average fully a
million dollars for each business day.
while there is every reason to expect that |
the Increase in the importation of manu-
featured articles and sugar which will
come with the beginning of the new wear
will add from eight to ten million dollars
per month to the receipts, thus bringing
them above the requirements for the run
ming expenses of the Government and
putting the treasury again in a position
to accumulate sufficient surplus to carry
on the business of the Government with |
safety and reduce somewhat at least the |
Indebtedness incurred under the Wilson
law by liberal contributions to the sinking
fund and the creation of such a surplus
as will be needed to meet the outstanding
bonds when they fall due.
Another very satisfactory feature of |
the operations Of the new law is found |
ga JIG 1dCl lHdC uOLnlnS Whatever has |
come of predictions made by the Demo- |
Gratis during the discussion in Congress |
of the Dingley bill to the effect that the |
enactment of the rates named in the bill |
would result In closing our markets in |
foreign countries. 1t will be remembered |
that numerous protests were made by the |
representatives Of foreign countries to |
this Government with the implied threat |
that If the increased tariff was put on |
their goods it would be necessary for the |
Governments of those countries to enact
retaliatory tariffs against our own goods |
which they had been previously buying
There were thirteen of these countries
making formal protests, and the follow |
fng tables show our expectations to the |
thirteen countries during August and |
September Of the present year under the |
Dlngley law compared with August and |
september of last year under the Wilson |
law; also our importations from those
countries in the months in question under
the two laws:
Aug. Sept, Aug. & Sept.
1886, under 1897, under |
EXPORTS to- Wilson law Dinplev law
austria Hungary :. 1929 SO1 S573. 600 |
belgium 6,149,610 lose 54O
denmark ......... 1,071 O66~ 1 2Q0 21O |