New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-30
THE GROWING REVENUE.

There ia usually talk Of the need Of revenue
revision whenever Congress Is about to as
semble. This year. however, such talk is main
ly begotten by various plans for radical change
of the currency, since the present revenue law
has not been in force long enough as yet 10
show what may be expected under its operation.
The opinion Of Treasury officials, as quoted In
Washington dispatches on Monday, by no means
gives countenance TO the idea that a change VIII
be found necessary On the contrary. it is be-
ueved by experienced officials that early next
year the revenue will reach an amount sufii-
Gent to cover the expenses OF the Government.
1t is true that the increase in November has
been comparatively small, not continuing the
rate OF gain observed in previous months, but
an obvious explanation is that goods for the
winter trade had been previously imported, and
the condition Of nearly all important markets
was such that prices FOR the next season could
not be anticipated far enough to encourage large
imDorta tons II Is a period Of waiting and test
ing for foreign even more than for domestic
manufacturers The same causes which pre-
vented in November large new orders for do
nestle products that could not be delivered I'M
til January or February have naturally checked
importatlons also, so that the increase IN Gus
toms revenue over October has been compare
tively small The gain in internal revenue has
continued and the total revenue for the month
will probably exceed S250ooooO
The movement Of sugar is generally smallest
in the months Of November and December, and
the heavy imports in anticipation OF the new
tariff would naturally lead to the expectation
that the movement this year would be even
smaller than usual IN those months. But in
four weeks Of November the value Of sugar
imported at New-York has been Sl,S42424,
against So 10S357 in the corresponding weeks
last year, when the total imports OF sugar, In
GLIDING Hawaiian duty free. were IN value
S3625,OOO. against S3.406,000 in November
1895 and So COS 900 In November, 1894. 1t may
be inferred that supplies obtained prior to the
enactmen, Of the new tariff hinder further i'm
portation less than was expected possibly be-
cause Of the condition OF foreign markets. 1t
Is therefore not improbable that the imports
NAV continue 10 increase in December and jan
uary and, as this article Is expected to yield as
much as a quarter of the entire customs reve-
nue.. the gain may be most instructive IS re-
spects the aggregate revenue to be anticipated.
With only moderate increase OF imports over
those Of November, the revenue from sugar
alone would be 81 100000 a month more than
year ago.
Another element Of great importance cannot
vet be measured The consumption Of the PEG.
Die IS increasing, with fuller employment and
better wages, as the returns Of internal revenue
prove. Few other products vary in consump
ton more readily than sugar in answer to
changes in the condition Of the people, and after
an increase of about 80 per cent in eight years
from 81 pounds per capita in 1883 TO GO II
1S91-the consumption declined TO less than &;
pounds per capita in 1895, although the for
egn cost with duty was in that year not hlghe
than the foreign cost without duty had been IL
nearly all previous years. The increased out!
this year would tend to lessen CONSUMPTION. bu