The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-04-07
CO NARRATIVE REVENUE FIGURES
Effective Manner in Which the Dingley
Tariff is Doing Its Work.
American Economist:

w ~. VI, AuoiSh w, lCVS
This is a favorable time for calling
attention to some comparative figure
on customs receipts which shall be 81
effective in showing how handsomel,
the Dingley tariff is doing its worl
that not peg will be left on which tn,
free traders may hang their pet thee
ries.
January and February of this yea
made marvellous records in customs re
ceipts No free trade grumbler about
the Dingley law has been able 10 NEE
the showing of those months with any
explanation of his former claims thai
the new protective tariff law sis not
producing sufficient revenues"
March excels all previous records
Although the figures are not yet com
pleted. the returns up to this time, and
estimates based on the results thus far
during the month, indicate that the
customs receipts for March will be
more than S2O,OO0,00O While, as is
well known, March is generally the
month of largest importations, and con-
sequently larger customs receipts, some
facts should be adverted to in connec-
ton with the record of the month Just
closing, being worthy of special notice
as proving many things in connection
with the customs revenue under the
present protective tariff law.
First, should be noted that, with
the exception of March, 1897, when the
customs houses were crowded with for
eign goods imported in anticipation of
the increased rates of duty under the
then pending Dingley Tariff, the month
of March now closing shows the great
est volume of customs revenues re-
ceived during any corresponding month
since 1890, or just before the Mckinley
Tariff was passed. The steady rise in
the volume of customs receipts during
the past few months is proof conclusive
that under the Protective system the
largest volume of revenues is to be
obtained. Some quotations from the
records will bear out this assertion.
Just previous to the passage of the
Mckinley law, or in the months of 1899
and down to October, 1890, the volume
of customs revenues was excessive. 1t
was one of the declared objects of the
trainers of the Mckinley law not only
to equalize customs revenues on Pro-
lection lines, but also to reduce the vol
ume of revenues. This result was
achieved in large measure by the re-
moval of the customs duties on sugar.
During the years previous to the
changes in the customs laws effected
by the Mckinley Tariff the customs re-
ceips ranged from $4,000, 600 to 800
OOO, 600 a month. In March, 1889, a
year before the Mckinley law was
adopted, the receipts from customs ag-
gregated $40, III 600. In March, 1890,
the receipts from this source were $50
300. 900. During the remainder of that
year, up to October, the month in
which the Mckinley law went into eff
feet, the receipts increased to S23,000,-
600 in July, mainly on account of antic-
ipatory importations of wool and other
goods on which it was expected the
Mckinley law would increase rates of
duty. From the date of the passage of
the Mckinley law down during the
wears 1891, 1892 and 1893. the monthly
receipts from customs ranged from
Ga. OOO 900 to S21, 100000. During no
month of March in those years did the
receipts from customs rise above 3d.
600. 00O except in 1893, when the re-
ceipts for March in that year were 49,
90O, 900.
Then came the Wilson-Gorman
Tariff reform act" concocted by the
Free Traders under the leadership of
Mr.. Cleveland, assisted by Chairman
Wilson in the House, with the finishing
touches placed on the, bill by Mr.. Cor
man and his colleagues in the Senate.
That law was passed in 1894. During
no month of its existence in 1894, 1895
and 1896 did the FreeTrade law pro-
duce more than S17, 100000 in customs
revenues. The March customs receipts
in 1895 were s14, 929, 900, and in March,
1896, the customs receipts were s13, 344, :
600. showing decline in the one year.
instead of an increase in the receipts
from customs sources. Although bust
ness conditions had improved some
what after the depression of 1893 and
1894. the second full year OF the life OF
the Wilson German act, being the year
1896. showed no months receipts from
customs above s16,OOO,OOO except jan
nary of that year, when the excess of
hose figures was but s3sO,OOO. The
average monthly receipts from customs
during 1896 was about Gil 800, 600, the
range being from 100000 month
to 12,OoO,0Oo
Then came the elections of 1895,
which resulted in such sweeping
ovartbrow of the Free-Trade party and