The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-24
WHY IMPORTS ARE SMALL.

The last months work OF the importers
Under the Wilson tariff is shown in de-
tail by the official publication OF the
Bureau Of Statistics, entitled Monthly
Summary of Finance and Commerce Of
the United States.
It shows that the importers neglected
no opportunity in that closing month to
either put money in their own pocket or
take away from the DingIey law It's earn
ing capacity during its first few months.
The importation into the United States
In the month OF July, 1897. amounted to
x5a, 100, 407, of which very large propor-
ton was made up of articles which could
come in at lower rates under the Wilson
law than under the Dingley law, which
they knew would 90 into operation by the
close OF that month.
One special feature of the Wilson law
was its effect to bring in FREQ OF duty
what Is usually termed raw material"
that ia. materials in a crude condition
for use in manufacturing The July,
1897, importation Of this particular class
pf articles was double that Of July, 1896,
while in the sev,n months ending with
July, 1897, the increase in free raw
material amounted to S55 coo, 600 or an in
crease of over fifty per cent for the entire
seven months of the calendar year 1897.
1t will be interesting to see in what
particular articles the people who were
trying to avoid paying the new duties
under the Dingley law especially dealt.
Take the matter of live animals for in
stance. The value of the live animals
imported in the month Of July, 1897,
amounted to 1854, 000, 600. while in July,
1896. they amounted to only S73, 600 600.
The cattle imported in July 1897, num-
bered 2-.740, while in July. 1885, they
mum bered only 3O7l. This was the last
chance OF the importers TO gouge the
farmers by rushing In Mexican cattle at
the low rates of the Wilson law, and by
undertaking. them, bringing them in
almost fres of duty. The number OF sheep
imported in July, 1897, was 80. 9si.
against 1918 in July of the preceding
year.
The importatiops Of raw cotton during
July, 1897, amounted TO q. Sos s0S pounds,
against 1, ,764, 100 in July of the preceding
year, this being due doubtless to the OK
pectation that the duty on cotton which
was placed In the bill by the Senate would
be retained by the Conference Committee
The increase in cotton cloths was also
strongly marked, though not as great as
In raw Gotten. the quantities imported
in July. 1897, being 2.2Sl, 600 yards,
against l, st4, $50 in July 1896. The in
crease in the duty on vegetable fbres,
such as flax, hemp, etc. stimulated the
dealers In that class of goods to unusual
activity. the July imports of this class
amounting to 81, 400, 900. against 5000, 900
of the corresponding month OF last year.
The duty placed upon hides OF course
stimulated the importation Of this article
during the closing days of July, before
the new law went into effect. The total
imports of hides. otner than fur skins
during the month Of July amounted to
81, 434, Ice pounds. against 9. 2O9, 1861 in the
corresponding month of 1896 The i'm.
ports OF hides during the entire seven
months OF the calendar year amounted
TO 80, sos 40 pounds, against "a, 3g3 Ill
pounds In the corresponding months of
tuc pfctcuiHS yoofs
The last shot that the wool importers
and wool producers of foreign countries
could get at the American farmer under
tho free-wool clause Of tho Wilson law
was shown in the imports Of wool during
July, 1897 being over %, 600. 600 pounds
rs against g. 45s, coo pounds In the cores
pouding month OF last year. For the
seven months OF 1897 ending with July,
the imports Of wool amounted 70 31G COO.
600 pounds, as against 107, OOO, 90 pounds
In the corresponding months Of the pre-.
oediug year.
The above statement showing the i'm
rtrtstion OF q few of the thousands OF
articles brought in during the closing
days and hours Of the operation OF the
Wilson law are given for the purpose Of
indicating the large quantity of foreign
goods which the Dingley law found in
the country and. which. OF themselves
must reduce the prices received by pro-
ducers, and also by way OF explanation. II
any explanation is necessary. of the fact
that the customs earnings of the Dingley
law are. and naturally must be light
during the first few months Of its oper-
alton. Indeed. the wonder IL, that they
have bsen as great as they are during the
two months In which this law has now
beer upon the statue books
Nobody blamcs tbe importers What