The Republican journal., 1900-07-26
THE DINGLEY TARIFF.

ments in the management of the
public finances and revenues under the
administration of President Mckinley
stand out with marked prominence:
First, in point of success, is the Ding
ley tariff; second, the reform in the cur
rency: third, the war loan of $685. and
fourth, the settlement of the Pacific
Railroad Indebtedness.
Perhaps never before in the history
of this country have so many important
fiscal achievements been accomplished
i'll so brief a time. With the exception
of the Pacific Railroad settlement, these
events bear, to a considerable degree,
relationship to each other. Underlying
the success of the war loan of 1898, and
the reform in the currency, was the
basis of prosperity established by prompt
and effective tariff legislation. The
President well understood the necessity
for speedy modification in the tariff
Within forty-eight hours after his in
auguratiOn he issued a proclamation
for an extra session of Congress to as
semble March Is, 1897. The brief mes
sage sent to Congress, when it convened
on that day, clearly demonstrated the
urgent necessity for prompt action.
The House of Representatives prompt
ly responded to the Presidents message.
in the House, the late Mr.. Dingley of
Maine, chairman of the Committee on
Ways and Means, introduced the new
tariff bill. Such unusual expedition
had been made possible only by the I'M
firing work of the members of the Com
mittee on Ways and Means for several
months previous.
The bill was passed in the House of
Representative March 81, 1897, less
than a month after the Inauguration of
President Mckinley and two weeks
after Congress had convened in extra
session. 1t passed the Senate July :,
1897. with amendments. Two days
later its consideration was begun by a
conference committee of the two
Z, Houses. and it finally passed the House
July 10th and the Senate July 24th.
1t became a law on the latter day,
when the President signed the bill.
Thus. within five months no other
tariff law was ever passed i'll so short a
time after the Inauguration of the Pres
ident a new tariff law was placed on the
statute books. Under it's benetcent
influence the United States has enjoyed
a commercial and industrial revival. the
greatest in its history. The hopes of
the President. as expressed in his mes
sage, have been realized: ample reye-
nues were provided for tine ordinary eX-
penses of the Government. and in
/ providing them. duties We're levied upon
foreign products so as to preserve the
home markets: manufactures have re-
vived and increased: agriculture has
been relieved and encouraged: domestic
and foreign commerce have been in
creased: mining and building have been
aided and developed, and more liberal
wages have been paid to labor.
Under the operation of the Wilson Act
from September l, 1894, to July u, 1897.
a period of thirty-tive months. there was
a total deficit of Sos. o0: 243. This de
plorable state of the revenues was
largely responsible for that lack of CON
fidence which prolonged the hard times
inaugurated by the panic of 1893
The Dingley tariff became a law July
n, 1897. Under its operation ample
revenues have been provided. as urged
by President Mckinley. During the
period OF thirty-two months between
July II. 1897, and April l. l9oo-the re
celpts OF the Government from al
sources. exclusive OF Pacific Railroad
items, We're 81 .224 326. sos. Deductine
from these receipts the Treasury De
partment's estimate of collection under
the War Revenue Act, amounting tt
SlS3, 10S. 33>. there were net receipts OF
Sl,040, SIS. go. The expenditures fol
the same period aggregated 81 .366 6ti3
4o6. and deducting the Treasury Depart
ment's estimate of war expenditure!
of s372, 100000, the net expenditure
for the period stand at 1904. $50. 4o6
leaving for these thirty-two months op
Grafton of the Dingley tariff an eXces
OF net receipts over net expenditure:
of So. 9.,4. 6ti4.
The President urged that the. new
duties be so levied as Ito revive and in
crease manufactures In the tisca
year 1897 the imports for. the consump
ton of articles in a crude condition
which enter into the various processe
of domestic industry. amounted to 500,
26>. l55. and in the three years, 1895
1896 and 1897. averaged less than 5000,
goo. 600 annually. while in the calenda
year 1899 the imports of this class
amounted to 500 1913 $50 an increase OF
nearly $4,000. 900 over the average fol
the three years of low tariff in whicl
many OF these articles notably wool
We're upon the free list. At present TIN
: importation of manufacturers materia
is running at the rate of s2s, 900, 600 pei
month"; or more than 80 per cent higher
than the monthly average in the yea
prior to the enactment of the Dingle,
law
The President also urged that the new
duties should be SO levied as Ito relieve
and encourage agriculture. That agri
culture has been relieved and encollr
aged is shown by the increased price:
for agricultural products, all of whicl
have materially advanced in the home
. market, and by the large increase il
expectation in the products of agricul
ture, which, i'll the fiscal year 1899, were
500, 100000 greater than in the tisca
, year 1897, and i'll 1898 were 5000, 900, 00(
in excess of those of 1897
, The message also recommended tina
the new duties should be so levied az
ito aid and develop mining" THAI
mining has been greatly encouraged is
amply shown by the figures relating t.
the two great mining industries-coa
and iron. The coal production of 1879!
exceeds 200 900 900 tons, against 49, 900,
600 in 1897, and III, 600. 600 in 1896, an(
has placed the United States at thu
head of the worlds producers of thi: