The times., 1897-12-05

Nelson Dingley, OF Maine, wasthe latest
name scrawIed on the register OF the
Hamilton late yesterday afternoon. The
author OF the tariff law that was enacted
during the extraordinary session OF Con
gress comes back TO Washington in good
health and good spirits. There is aoth
ing OF the pessinist about him, and he
discusses the tariff law in a way that per
nits OF no doubt as to his belief in the
fact that it Will be a Il that was promised
lot 1T when existing conditions have passed
away.
Recently there has been some
criticism OF that law FROM Republican
sources, one OF the most noted structures
being the statement OF Representative
Walker, OF Massachusetts, who said that
the bii would be inadequate to meet the
expenditures. When Mr. Dingley's at
tel tiol. was called TO this he declined
To discuss the views of Mr.. Walker. He
did, however, talk enthusiastically Of the
law and the way ii is now working
Il have not the least doubt said Mr..
Dingiey THAT the present tariff law v i'll
BE- ample in its revenue yielding capacity SO
soon as we have passed the period when
the importations in anticipation of the pas
sage OF the new law shall cease ID be
factor. No man in Congress, certainly no
man who looked at the subject from an ur-
prejudiced standpoint, believed that the
Law would give US sufficient revenue until
We began TO get its full benefits. We
lost millions of dollars by these antici-
patory importations, and We win derive
n > revenue from any of those articles until
they have entered into consumption and we
begin to levy taxes On the same goods ander
the new rates.
Il stated on the floor OF the House
that there were S34,OOO,000 of revenue
credited 70 the month OF July last that
ought 10 have been credited 80 the new
law, for the reason that that duty was
paid on goods in excess OF the usual de-
n.ande of trade brought in to escape the
paYn. .ent OF duty under the new law. Then,
thert is a loss OF at least S5O, 900, 900 on
goods imported prior TO the new law, of
merchandise that was either free or very
much lower than existing rates. This V as
largely made up Of anticipatory importa-
ti0ns Of sugar and wool, both OF which
were free under the Democratic law.
''Since the first month, the res enue has
gradually climbed upwards. II is pro-
Guessing at the rate OF about $4,000. 900
a month. 1t Is in the neighborhood OF
SGT, 100000 month now, and VIII con
tinue tC increase. December and November
a-a both poor months, but when January
cones we shall see a marked increase.
Sugar will begin to bring in revenue by
the March mportations, and from ttat
time or we shah have $4,000, 90 a
month from that source. I have every
confidence in the world that by the end
OF the fiscal year the present law viii
give as plenty OF revenue, and that we
VIII be taking in the S3l,0eO,0 ,0o0 a
montli, that are necessary to meet the
expeI ditures OF the Government.
TT has been stated somewhere that the
expenses OF the Government were $780,
900 600 a year, and that that amount
would be- required from the revenae law.
The expenses OF the Government have
never been that amount. Last year they
amounted TO S365 900 600. There vas So
900 600 nlote than this that particular
year, owing TO the postponement Il the
settlement OF some accounts that ran ever
from the last month in the previous year.
They have never approached the half
billion mark, and no tariff bill that has
ever been framed, or that could be con-
ceived. could raise that amount Of money
with our present population.
We are now getting about six millions
year mo-e from internal revenue owing
TO two amendments made to that n when
we passed the tariff bill. The rescnue
bil is doing all that was promised Cor it,
and, as have said, by the eni Of this
fiscal year we shall he receiving revenne
sufficient 10 meet tie Expenditures IF the
Government Meanwhile, 0 f cour sc,
there should be economy in appropriations
1 would adv ocate that, however mach We
might be getting in the shape Of reTeHue,
Congress cannot afford To be extra agan;
IN its appropriations and viii not be-