New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-05
THE PROSPECT AS TO REVENUE.

THE PROSPECT As TO REFENUE.
Imports of wool and sugar were large in No
venber as was suggested some weeks ago. so
that in these important items the prevention Of
revenue by the antcipatory imports has nearly
ceased In November the imports Of wool at
three chief ports were TO- 1913 pounds, and
although 1t was presumably almost all carpet
wool as the returns show the imports Of 1,124,
231 pounds were In October. yet the duty under
the new tariff probably amounted to 100000 or
more The imports Of sugar in the same
months amounted 10 S3.355,731 in value, Of
which about third free of duty under
the Hawaiian reciprocity treaty, but the rest
probably paid a duty exceeding S15oOOOO
though It is not yet definitely known from what
grades from what points the bulk came
When 1t IS considered that the imports Of sugar
may be expected TO range from 100000 TO
S1OOOOOO0 in value during the early months
Of this year, paying at new duties from $4,000
600 to S7,O0O000 per month, II will be realized
that the full power Of the new law as revenue
producer has not yet appeared.
A Democratic correspondent usually trust
worthy makes one mistaken suggestion IN say
ing that the increase Of receipts from the whis
key tax Is due 10 the advance in rate by the
Wilson bill On the contrary, receipts from that
raised, and so much that high officials have
been disposed to recommend lowering the rate
In order to secure more revenue. In 1892 with
the tax at the old rate, receipts from spirits
were S2G 62S in the three months October
December. Inclusive but in 1895, notwithstand
Ing the large increase In rate and the note
worthy. though not lasting, Improvement IN
business In the later months of the year the re-
GENTS In the same months were only S23.23l,-
600 Such improvement ds appears In this
branch of the revenue may fairly be charged TO
the general progress In condition and cOnsump-
ton of the people which caused larger receipts
also from tobacco and beer in October than in
the same months of 1896, 1895 or 1894, not
withstaudlng the heavy payments on beer OF tax
In advance before the new law went into effect
From this cause further increase may be
confidently expected il the condition OF the peo-
pie continues 10 improve. Consumption is
rising but is not yet nearly up TO the old rate
of prosperous years. The beer consumption
during the last fiscal year was not as large ms IN
1903. Notwithstanding the increase In population.
The consumption of spirits was from 11,OOO,VO
to 2OOOOOO0 gallons smaller than in 1892 or
1893 and OF cigars about J0O,0OO,OOO smaller,
or IL per cent notwithstanding an Increase OF
more than IL per cent in population. Consump-
ton Of these articles per capita tends to in
crease yearly but not counting upon any such
gain there would be more than IL per cent In
crease. as a result Of the gain In population,
II the condition OF the people were such as TO
permit the free expenditures Of 1892. Such an
increase would mean an addition Of about $ls
100000 to the present revenue from spirits with
out reckoning the advance in rates, about
s3.5OO.000 10 the revenue from beer, about
s4.5OO.0O0 TO the revenue from cigars and cigar
cites. and S15OOO00 10 the revenue from to-
bacco 1t Is not possible TO Judge how much
Of such gains may be realized In any year. and
part OF them is undoubtedly prevented by the
increased tax on spirits which causes much
greater evasion OF the law but the knowledge
that a large gain In revenue Is to be expected
when business fully revives goes far TO JUSTIFY
those who framed the existing law, though the
fact is constantly ignored by its opponents.
In some measure n corresponding increase In
customs receipts may be expected, notwith-
standing the duties designed TO restrict importa-
tons of some classes Of goods. The general I'M
proyement IN condition and Increase In con-
sumption will affect importations of silks and
laces. luxuries and fancy articles, on which an
addition to the cost Ii but little felt, and also