The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-08-01
FIVE YEARS OF DINGlEY TARIFF.
Blessings Showered Upon the Coun-
try BY the Great Act of July "a,
IQQZ

From the American Economist;
Five years ago yesterday, July "a,
] 1897, the Dingley law went into opera
| ton. In about four months it had
been framed, debated, amended, passed
| by both houses of congress and signed
by President McKinley-a just scien-
tific and equitable measure, having the
| Endorsement of the entire administra-
ton and the approval of the great
mass of protectionists throughout the
country. This was in marked contrast
to the months of dallying and patching
of the Wilson German bill, which final
ly became law without the signature
of the President, and which met with
the approval Of no one, least of all the
men who framed and voted for it.
MOST PERFECT TARIFF MEASURE.
The Dingley law has been an IN
qualified SUGGESTIVE most perfect tar.
iff measure ever on our statutes, while
the Wilson German law was a complete
failure and the most pernicious law
ever enacted.
After reading the splendid and ex-
hanstiye speech of Senator Gallinger
on the results of the FIVE years work
J ing of the Dingley law it would seem
as if there was nothing more to be
said, and yet sort Of recapitulation
will not be amiss at this anniversary
time; and then, too, the benefits and
advantages of Dingleyism seem limit
less. Year after year new records are
made, only to be broken as each month
and quarter demonstrate the potency
and possibilities of the tariff law I'M
der which we are now living.
REVENUE.
If it were asked, What is the great
est benefit bestowed by the Dingley
lawf" it would at first seem hard to
answer. One might be inclined to say
it was the ample revenue, as revenue
is supposed to be the primary essential
of tariff law. The receipts from Gus
toms during the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1902, were $254, 456, 927, the
largest of any year in our history.
Our customs receipts are now nearly
a million dollars day for each week
day and are constantly increasing.
This great revenue from indirect taxa
ton enabled US to repeal over 800, 00O,-
600 of direct taxation, and the expendi-
lures of the government are met with
out burdening or bothering the people.
AGRICULTURE.
| Perhaps 100000 or more of the
people would say that the greatest
benefit bestowed by the Dingley tariff
was upon our agriculture. There is no
disputing the fact that our farmers and
their families have been amazingly
blessed by the law and that the benefits
already derived are incalculable. The
increase in value Of products and ami
mails and property can only be meas
ured by billions of dollars, and the out
Y look for 1902 and the future is most
favorable.
There are other millions who would
no doubt vote that our manufacturing
industries were the greatest beneficial
ries of the Dingley law. The increase
in value of products from seven or eight
billions in 1896 to fifteen billions in 1902
is certainly marvellous testimony, with
all the kindred and supplementary
benefits
RAILWAYS.
Then there are quarter of million
stockholders and over million EN-
ployees who would assert that the
Dingley law had proved of greatest
benefit to the railroads of the country,
and their claim could be we'll substan.
tiated. There are over 5000, 900, 600 in
wages being paid annually now in ex-
cess of the wages paid in 1896, and
900, 900 more employees. Then, too,
the prosperity of the railroads can be
seen from the following tables:
In hands of receivers
Mileage. Miles. Per cent
lsse.......... lso'6sa 1855 2oS6
Total outstanding In hands Of receivers
stock ana sooas A%SSnt Per ssn
, 1902. -. 1880, 100000 6i,OOOOoo o54
4
During the past six months there was
not single railroad for which a receiv'
er was appointed and continued, and
the outlook is only obscured by lack Of
l locomotives and freight cars.
SAVINGS.
There are 100000 savings bank de
positors who might point to their SO,
600, 900, 600 of deposits as proof that the
Dingley law was most effective il
enabling the people to provide for tn,
future. Then there are other billions
of dollars invested in insurance, il
Q homes and education and other advan
tages that can only be INDUCED in afte,
lifes necessaries are provided.
EXPORTS.
A look at our export figures nigh
persuade some that one of the mos
wonderful results of the Dingley Law
was in our increased sales abroad. Thi
is shown in peculiar way by the fol
; lowing figures: