New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-21
TIE RETENrE AND TIE RONDs.

II is both gratifying and somewhat surprising
that the revenue. as yet scarcely affected by n
single provision Of The new law. which VIII TAX"
effect as TO nearly all rs clauses July !. never
tholoss keeps up so we'll 1t WAS naturally aT
nrehonded when war broke ont that ID would
10 some extent affect foreign commerce, and
NOT merely the imports from Spain and Spanish
possessions, but also imports from other points
with which trade had been mainly in American
vessels. For n short time. there did appear
distinct decrease in the amount OF Imports and
the duties derived from them. But it sounds
like a Joke IN these days TO mention the frantic
anxiety shown by shippers to get war risks at
high rates on their goods and by owners Of
buildings 10 get special insurance against bonn
barlInent II has not taken long 10 convince
the people that Spain has never had n respect
able chance Of doing harm 10 any wellfortihcd
seaport or to an appreciate share Of American
shipping Commerce has quickly resumed It's
normal volume so far that the duties on Imports
are fully up 10 reasonable expectations for the
season
When the Dingley law was first criticised
data were presented showing that II It yielded
81 600 600 daily II would little more than meet
the ordinary expenses OF the Government as
=
tanned that measure Of success within six
months after its enactment the natural eXpan
sion OF business would insure moderate sur
plus in subsequent years. The revenue reached
that point In February, and in spite Of apprchen-
siOns caused by the destruction Of the Maine
and general preparations for war, nearly the
same rate was maintained In March. During
thirty days Of April exclusive OF S2G 800 re-
o1 froy ha Soln oP tho EoDsog Pacific RQil-
way. the revenue was $50 3G1 443, and in May
II was S3O,O74 S16-not quite 81 100000 short Of
the rate required In the month after war be-
gan. In June the revenue In eighteen days
has been SIS 1871 800 and on the day the War
Tax bill was approved the revenue for the
month had been close to the desired average
S1o,4O7320 IN thirteen days having since
gained S2,7OoO0O In customs receipts for five
days
These facts may well be placed on record and
kept in mind. because they show how the Ding
ley act was closely answering the expectations
Of its trainers and supporters down to the last
day Of It's existence without modification, and
that In spite of foreign alarms and at last Of
war, affecting to some extent the course OF for
egn trade. With natural growth OF business
in harmony with the growth of population, II
Is proved that the act would have yielded BY
the end Of the fiscal year some surplus, with
certainty OF It's gradual Increase. over the OK
penses Of the Government during the preceding
four years. AS the problem To be considered
from this time forward is n very different one
both because the rate OF taxation has been
greatly changed to meet an emergency and be-
cause the expenditures Of the Government will
run far beyond the ordinary limit of recent
years - should be set down as an historical fact
that after the effect Of antcipatory imports had
messurably though not wholly passed the Ding
ley act came to yield in its later months before
alteration substantially the full amount OF revc-
nue. expected and required.
1t VIII be n much more difficult matter 10
judge of forthcoming revenue after the new
fiscal year begins with its new war taxes No
experience affords reliable indication Of their
result nor has any calculation been possible
giving other than reasonably conjectural esti-
mates. 1t is also highly probable that partly
through deliberate opposition to taxes and part
~ through negligence the penalties Of which
men will not recognize at first, the new taxes
will yield for some little time much less than
may be expected from them after the public
has become better acquainted with the pro-
visions OF the law. The country will be some
what in the dark to it's revenues and very
much in the dark as to its expenditures, which