The San Francisco call., 1897-04-24
IMPATIENT FOR
BETTER TIMES
People Who Cannot
Wait for the Tide
of Prosperity.
Dingley Explains the Business
Stagnation of the
Country.
Tariff Bill Is Still Under
Discussion.

WASHINGTON. D. c., April 23.-Mem-
bers of Congress are receiving letters from
various parts of the country indicating
impatience because the prosperity which
was promised as result of the election
OF Republican Congress and President
has not already made itself apparent.
IHE CALL correspondent had talk with
Mr.. Dingley tonight. who said:
81 do not think it possible that any con-
siderable number of the people of the
United States have any such thought. OF
course the enemy is doing what it can to
foster that idea, but it is so entirely un-
reasonable that l cannot believe that any,
body who gives the matter moments
thought can suppose it iustifiable.
What has been done? To be sure the
people deposited their ballots in favor of
the Republican party and its protective
theory in Novemb ber; the President whom
| they elected has been inaugurated and
one branch of Congress has passed the
tariff bill But that cannot possibly have
any effect in the way of improving the
| situation, SO far as relates to the manu-
| featuring industries of the country or the
other industries which would be affected
by their improvement"
Rather the reverse, would it not?"
asked The CALL correspondent.
"Momentarily, yes. The fact that new
tariff measure is pending and that it pro-
poses to increase the rates of duty on
many articles has the effect of tempo
rarily unsettling the business operations
OF the manufacturers. Prices are based,
OF course, to certain extent upon those
named by foreign anuiacturers who in
wade the market and our own manufac-
turers are uncertain as to what they will
themselves have to pay for such raw ma.
terial as they will import for use in their
manufacturing after the new law goes
into effect. In that particular, at least
the tendency OF a new tariff law unsettles
the business operations of the manufac-
turers in this country and makes IL i'm
possible for them TO make contracts or
push their business. The greatest injury
to their business, however, lies in the fact
that such enormous quantities of foreign
goods are being imported and forced upon
the market.
''Of course 1 do not mean that the moral
effect OF the election which insured the
stability OF our currency and assured the
people that they are to have the protec-
ton which once gave them prosperity,
failed TO have an imme ediate effect in
some degree. l think it is generally con-
ceded that business did improve and has
improved since this assurance was given;
but it is not reasonable to suppose that
the improvement resulting from increased
manufactures and the consequently in
creased business for those affected by
their activity can be felt before the bill be-
comes law, or even Immediately after
yard. Improvement in business always
comes slowly. A business depression
may occur in a day, but Improvement
never comes suddenly. Certainly it can
not be expected tha: it will be so in this
case when it is remem bered that practl-
cally a years stock OF goods will have
been brought into the country from
abroad before the tariff bill becomes
law"
"a years stock, Mr.. Dingleyf
In many cases, at least, yes. That
may seem like broad assertion, but very
few people realize, think, the enormous
quantity of goods now being brought in
and which have come in in the past few
months. The customs receipts upon duti-
able goods alone have doubled, and if you
will examine the reports of importations
of non-dutiable goods you will find that
they have increased enormously. / OBJ
serve by paragraph in a recent number
of a Boston paper that fourteen vessels
laden with wool arrived in that city in
one day last week. When you remember
that the bill has yet to be considered by
the full Senate committee, by the Senate,
where there is unlimited debate, and by
conference committee, it is apparent
that weeks and probably months must
yet elapse before it gets upon the statute
books and into operation. / hope, how
ever, to see it a law by July 1. During all
this meantime 1 suppose the food of for.
Ell n importations will continue to a
greater or less extent, as many of the i'm,
porters had ordered goods prior to April
/, and will continue 10 bring them in.
This is especially true with reference to
wool, which is imported in great quanti-
ties at this season of the year.
"These facts" continued Mr.. Dingley in
conclusion, fought to show the people
who stop to consider them the imp posi-.
billy OF business i'm provement SO far as re-
iates to increased activity in manufactur-
ing and its reflex influences upon other
lines of business until the new measure Is
not only upon the statnte-books, but. has
had time to make itself felt and time is
given for the absorption of the enormous
quantity of foreign goods now being forced
upon the market. / believe the people
will see prosperity when the bill has had
time to produce its natural effect, but it is
not reasonable to assume that it could ac-
complish these results in advance of its
existence as law, or even in the first few
weeks or months OF its operation