The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-08
EGGS IN THE TARIFF.
They Appeared Nowhere But On the
Free List Until 1890.
From the New York Post.


From the New York Post
Before 1890 the only mention of eggs in
the tariff was TO be found In that single
word in the free list. All eggs. no mat
ter what kind or condition, were admit
ter free Of duty. In the law Of 1890, when
the country was ransacked for articles to
levy a duty for protection, the American
hen was put forward as proper beneh-
ciary. More than 100000 dozen eggs were
imported each year. and almost the en-
tire import was of Canadian origin. From
China 114O0O dozen, from Denmark q, 900
dozen, and from Mexico $500 dozen were
received In 1880, out of a total of l5,O62, 196
dozen, representing a value of about 81
10000. A duty would therefore iall more
Immediately upon the Canadian product.
and this was the intention Of the franz
ers Of the duty. The rate determined
upon was one Of five cents a dozen, or
more than 40 per cent. ad valorem, which
proved sufficiently burdensome to reduce
the import from 100000 dozen year to
less than 100000. In 1898 the imports
from China were 10000 dozen and from
Mexico LII dozen, Canada stu supplying
the larger share. Thus a trade OF more
than s.. 10000 year had been reduced to
one of less than 800, 900 and was tending
to diminish each year as the weight Of the
duty Increased for In 1890 the import price
was IA cents a dozen, and In 1893 only il
cents.
The Wilson tariff bill reduced the duty
10 2 cents a dozen. The Importation, after
enjoying a squirt upwards in 1875, has de-
creased since and In 1897 stood AZ lower
polnt than has been recorded II Is not the
duty that has given the results, but the in
crease Of domestic production incident 10
the development Of "A poultry interest All
duties on eggs might be removed without
leading 10 AN import as large as or even
approaching one OF 100000 dozen. Yet II
ls not at all surprising 10 find a duty OF 8
cents restored in the new tariff. and grave
assertion made that this will increase the
revenue from that article by iwo-thirds.
This Is only one instance where the Ding
lev tariff pays no attention TO an economic
change in domestic conditions rendering a
duty for protection entirely nugatory.
There is another feature Of this subject
Of eggs and the tariff requiring notice.
proving the gradual extension Of tariff
provision under the plea Of scientific prin-
ciples. The law OF 1880 making eggs"
dutiable enumerated IN the free list eggs
OF birds fish and insects" Here was n
discrimination incident 20 the placing of
a duty on ordinary eggs. The trainers OF
the tariff Of 1884, sought 90 make all eggs
free Of duty. and inserted In the free list
ash and Insects" In this way the bill
nassed the House. The amended bin pre-
pared by Senator Jones OF Arkansas
struck out eggs and yolks Of, and IN
passing through the Senate provlso was
added. This Gree lisp shall not be held
10 include the eggs OF game birds. the Inn
portauon OF which rs prohibited. except
specimens for scientific collections"
In looking for the reason Of this prohibi-
ton Of the eggs Of game birdie recourse
was had 10 the treasury decisions that
monument Of ingenuity applied 10 tariff
Interpolation. In 1891 caviare was declared
10 b. nah eggs. and therefore free Of duty
though the collector urged that cavilro
ln tlns "asslmilatcd 10 prepared fish" and
should be dutiable In the same year the
appraisers decided that dried, sailed. and
smoked eggs Of hsh did not deprive the
eggs Of their IDENTITY, and therefore ad-
mlited them free Of duty, A. late aa
January. 1895. the same question arose
and was decided IN The same manner So
Tar ar nsh eggs are concerned clean rec
or1 can be shown. IN the Same way tho
baked eggs of ants were declared free.
2hls brings tho record 20 che recently