The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-07

price as estimated from the figures OF the
bureau OF statistics OF illuminating oil
were 90 per cent. higher In 1895 than
in 1894, those OF naphtha 40 per cent
higher In 1895, while those OF many other
articles were also increased, thus swelling
the total receipts far beyond the actual
Increase In the expectations of the manu-
factured articles themselves. When II is
remembered that these articles, In which
this increase in price Is tho entire cause
of the increased receipts, are the very
ones which furnish the bulk in the in
crease in the total values of manufac-
tured exports, 1t will be seen that the
assumption that tctual expectations had
increased under the Wilson law is not
only erroneous but misleading.
The gentlemen who are insisting that
the low tariff has caused an increase in
expectations of manufactured articles
do not seem to have looked further than
the past two years to see whether there
has been a corresponding increase in ex-
portation. Of manufactures under protec-
tion. Had they done so they would have
found some figures which would have
spoiled their theories. For instance, Sen
ator Vest, who recently called special at
tention to the increase in expectation of
manufacture of iron and steel. would
perhaps be astonished to find that the
expectation of bar iron increased from
1892 to 1894 under ele Mckinley law 1874 per
cent. while from 1894 to 1896 under the
Wilson law, it increased only 1S per cent.
The expectation of iron plates and sheets
increased from 1892 to 1894 under the Nc
Kinley law e72 per cent, and from 1894
to 1896 Under the Wilson law fell off rs
per cent. The increase of expectation of
steel plates and sheets increased from
1892 to 1894 under the Mckinley law, 47o
per cent, and from 1894 to 1896. only 80
per cent The expectation Of steel rails
and bars increased from 1892 to 1894, 96 per
cent. while the increase from 1894 to 1895
was but a per cent. The expectation OF
wire increased from 1892 to 1894, Il per
cent, and from 1894 to 1896 only IS per
cent.
The above figures relate to pounds, not
values. The figures relating to many
other articles of export are equally inter-
esting. For instance, the expectation of
mineral oils Of all kinds increased from
1882 to 1894 2S per cent, and fell off under
the Wilson law 1 per cent, yet the in
crease in receipts as shown above, was
enormous, owing simply to the fortunate
fact that prices abroad for mineral oils
advanced. The expectation of vegetable
oils increased 21 per cent from 1892 to
1894, under the Mckinley law, and fell off
5 per cent. under the Wilson law in the
pigments increased 16 per cent. under the
Mckinley law and only 6 per cent under
the Wilson law. The expectation Of par
rafin from 1892 to 1894 under the Mckinley
law increased 46 per cent. and only IL pe~
cent. in the corresponding time under the
Wilson law. The expectation of distilled
spirits increased from 1892 to 1894 1876 per
cent and fell eff 70 per cent. from 1894 10
1896. Candy and confections increased 13i
per cent. under the Mckinley law, and
but per cent. under the Wilson law. The
increase in sailing vessels sold to foreign
ers from 1892 to 1894 under the Mckinley
act was 40 per cent, while under the Will
son law the decrease was 50 per cent. In
wooden carpets the increase from 1892 to
1894 was 2,400 per cent, while under the
Wilson law in the two years which fol-
lowed, it was only IS per cent.
It is apparent from these and many
statements of the official publications OF
the treasury department that the in
creased expectations are due not only to
the crow6ng out of our own manufac-
lures by II enormous inpouring of for
eign manufactures, but also to the fac!
that the figures showing values do not
represent the growth in quantities which
have been much less, while the percentage
Of gain under the present law has not
been as great as in other years under
the protective tariff.