The Republican journal., 1898-04-21
Our Washington Letter.

nently before the public mind IN Washing
ton during the past month, it may be in
teresting to turn aside for moment to
consider that subject which, at this time
last year, was engrossing public attention,
the new tariff.
1t is subject which will specially in
terest the farmers just now, for the new
law, having been in operation for more
than a half year, it is practicable to begin
to measure its effect upon all classes, and
especially upon the great industries of
agriculture and manufacturing.
The Treasury Department has just issued
a statement covering in detail the opera
lions of the new law during the first half
year of its work, also showing the impor-
tations and xpoItations for January of
the present year. 1t is specially inter-
esting to the farmer because it gives him
an insight into the work of the new tariff
law compared with that which preceded it
and particularly as to its effect upon his
own industry.
Some facts relative to the first six
months work Of the law have been al
ready alluded to, but it is well enough in
this connection to point out the fact that
the total importations of articles of food
and live animals in the first halfyear of
the new law fell nearly $50, 900, 900, as
compared with the corresponding six
months Of the preceding year under the
Wilson law
1t is proper to assume that the new law
had come into fair working order by the
time it reached its sixth month, and as the
Treasury report just issued covers the
sixth month of its operation in detail, we
will consider that alone, comparing it with
the corresponding month of the preceding
year under the Wilson law. The sixth
month under the new tariff law is Janu-
AIRY, 1898.
The articles of food and live animals
imported in January. 1898, under the
Dingley law amounted to SIP, 1913, AS in
value, against So, 400, 295 in value in the
January of the preceding year under the
Wilson law.
Now for details: The importation of
horses in January, 1895, under the Ding
ley law amounted to only SO, 97S in value,
against 81, 364 in January of the preced-
ing year under the Wilson law Meantime
the exports of the horses in January, 1898,
amounted to SOP, 40 as against 1898, 2J5
in the preceding January, thus showing
reduction OF 80 per cent. in the importa-
ton Of horses under the new Law and an
increase Of so per cent in the expectation
of horses. The importations of sheep III
January of the present year were $40, 265
against S31, 319 in the corresponding
month of last year. OF barley the i'm
portations in January We're only Is, O30
bushels against 161, 625 bushels in the pre-
ceding January under the Wilson law. Of
oatmeal the January, 1898, importations
were only !, 40 lbs. against IS, 322 lbs in
the corresponding month Of the preceding
year, while the expectations of oatmeal
increased from 3, III, 7SS lis. in January,
1897, to I, l49, 302 lbs. in 1898. OF chioory,
the January, 1895, imports were only
3, 055 lbs. against ga ,035 in January of
the preceding year. There was slight
falling oil in the importation of eggs, the
number being in January last, 20, 297
dozen against Il or dozen in the preced-
ing January, while the exports in Janu-
AIRY, 1888, were 1863, 06S dozen against 90
SIS dozen in the preceding January. OF
lax, the January, 1898, importations were
2SS tons against 40 tons in January. 1897.
OF hay, the importations last January
We're s6 tons against s. 934 tons in the pre-
ceding January, while the expectations of
hay increased from S74, 922 in value in
January, 1897, to 994, 210 in value in Jan
uary, 1898. The importatons of dairy
products last January were 1927, 754 in
value against SlSS, 923 in the preceding
January; those of wool, II 1910, 1926 lbs.
against 20, 7S4, 800 in January of the pre-
ceding year, and sugar, ISL, 4O3, 623 lbs. in
January, 1898, against 21S $50, 1913 lbs. in
January, 1897. The importation of fruits
in January, 1898, amounted to SOL, POP
against 1922, 524 in the preceding January,
while the exports of fruits amounted, in
January, 1898, to 1886, $50 against $685.
239 in the preceding January, showing a
gain in exports and a reduction in i'm
ports.
The following table shows the January
importations of articles of farm produc-
ton under the Dingley law compared with
those of the preceding January under the
Wilson law. Importations of articles of
farm production in January, 1898, under
the Dingley law, compared with January,
1897 under the Wilson law
Jan 1898. Jan. 1897.
Horses (valuel Observation-Disclosures. S10,97S S21 1854
sheep (value). ..,..... S19,265 S31 ,319
Barley (bushl,. .........,-... 5000 l6l 625
Oatmeal obs $40 81, 1922
Chicory Qbs)--... ........... 3,055 944 O35
Eggs (doz1 -.................. 20,297 81 O12
+ lax (tUnS 2SS 40
Fruits (vaiue) ..... S651 ,292 1922 524
Hay IONS ct 1894
Hops Obs. ............. go. 533,246 947
Malt (hushl........- ........ ...... 1874
Dairy products (value).....- sl27,754 S1os 1913
Wool Obs. 1,070126 20,784 s29
sugar Obs .... Isl 4C3623 21S, 4St 1853
A r. nf