The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-05-21
TIE REVENUE OUTLOOK.
Financial Security Establishes -
Republican Policy the Ma
tlOnal Bulwark.

It Is encouraging that the revenue
holds up SO well, in spite OF the natural
restriction of imports on account OF the
uncertainties of war. Although i'm
ports should be much smaller than
year ago, when they were greatly
swelled by anticipation of new duties,
the decrease of 80 per cent. in four
weeks OF April at this city is evidently
due in part to some preparation for
avoidance of war risks earlier, and to
some hindrance of imports since HOSTILE
ties became inevitable. Ii only small
part of the $l6,4i0,000 decrease in i'm
ports at New York alone during these
four weeks of April was due TO this
cause, a corresponding decrease of rev.
enue would account for much more
than the decrease in customs revenue,
comparing with 80 days of March. The
aggregate receipts, over $33,OOO.OOO in
30 days of April, were not all from taxa
ton, for $2,651 500 must be deducted
for receipts from railway sales on the
9th and 10Th. so that the actual revenue
has been 0,36l,I a gain slightly
more than the $1,000, 600 per day which
would cover all the ordinary expenses
of government. The customs receipts
were S655,35 smaller than in 30 days of
March, but internal receipts were much
larger.
The checking of imports just at the
time war breaks out, in order TO avoid
risk at sea, does>not necessarily imply
any decrease whatever after conditions
have become known. Under the rules
promulgated by the Spanish govern
ment, all imports in neutral vessels Will
be safe unless contraband of war, and
imports owned by neutfals in American
ships. The ordinary imports into the
United States include no article Of con-
sequence which is contraband. Ameri-
can owners of goods in distant ports
can avoid risk by shipping in neutral
vessels, and American vessels in distant
ports will be able to take cargoes eX-
clusively of neutral goods without eX-
posing such goods to seizure. While
the carrying trade by American vessels
will doubtless be diminished, there is no
reason to suppose that the movement
of goods to this country will be in any
degree reduced in consequence of hos
tilities. unless the general prosperity
and consumption Of the people of this
country are unfavorably affected, Even
Of Spanish products, any needed guam
tity could be procured through English
buyers and shippers, though in all the
imports from that country were in
value only ST., 631 900 last year.
Evidence that the condition of the
people has not been unfavorably af-
fected thus far is seen in the heavy con
sumption of articles bearing internal
taxes, for in April the internal revenue
has been 14,7GG.4 ASS, whereas it was $l2,-
$50, 423 in 80 days Of March, and only
ST. ,4i7,273 in the full month last year.
The war revenue act when it goes into
| effect may cause some decrease in con-
sumption of tobacco, and Of beer also
where dealers attempt to raise prices.
But the entire increase Of taxation pro-
posed, if as much as $100,000,00O, will
not be a very burdensome matter to
people whose annual earnings certainly
exceed $4,000, 100000, and whose an
nual increase of wealth is probably not
far from $4,000 000, 900. National de-
preston certainly cannot be expected
TO result from taxation relatively SO
| light. Nor has there yet appeared any
! evidence that the general activity of in
dustries or the rate of wages will be un-
favorably affected by war, after the first
apprehension OF its uncertainties has
passed.
The customs receipts, presumably
owing to the cause already considered,
have fallen slightly below those of
March, but il the general prosperity is
not checked large imports and revenue
may be reasonably expected as soon as
the embarrassment of providing against
war risk in shipment has been over
come. IL the country wants and is
ready to buy as largely of foreign goods
as it has done in past months there will
be no difficulty whatever in arranging
shipments so as to avoid the risk of war.
With Europe heavily indebted to this
country on every months merchandise
transactions. and an enormous balance
still due, Notwithstanding gold imports
of unusual magnitude, it is not TO be ex-
pected that there will be any difficulty
in finding foreign houses to supply this
country with AN that its people want,
and by such carriers as to avoid risks
in consequence Of WARN. Y. Tribune.