Fergus County argus., 1902-10-15
BENEFITS OF TARIFF
BLESSINGS ENJOYED DURING FIVE
YEARS UNDER DlNeLEY LAW.

The Measure Has Proved nm IncaI-
culable benefit to American Wage
Farmers, TO Industry, Trade, Trans
portation and Commerce.,
Five years ago, July "a, 1897, the
Dingley law went into operation. In
about four months 1t had been framed.
debated. amended, passed by both
houses Of congress and signed by Pres
ident Mckinley, just, scientific and
equitable measure, having the lndorse-
ment Of the entire administration 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 finally be-
came a 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 ii.
The Dingley law has been an unqual-
ified success-the most perfect tariff
measure ever on our statutes, while
the Wilson German law was com.
plete failure and the most pernicious
law ever enacted.
After reading the splendid and ex-
haustive speech Of Senator Gallinger
ON the results of the five years work
ing Of the Dingley law II would seem
as IL there was nothing more to be
said, and yet sort of recapitulatlon
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 un-
der which we are now living.
IL 1t were asked, ''What is the great.
est benefit bestowed by the Dlngley
lawT 1t would at first seem hard to
answer. One might be inclined to say
II 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 1854, 4,456,92T, the
largest Of any year in our history. Our
customs receipts are now nearly ST.
100000 a day for each weekday and
are constantly increasing. This great
revenue from indirect taxation enabled
us to repeal over $100,000000 Of direct
taxation, and the expenditures of the
government are met without burden.
Ing or bothering the people.
Perhaps 30,000,000 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 bene.
fits already derived are incalculable.
The increase In value Of products and
animals and property can only be
measured by billions of dollars, and
the outlook 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 S7,000,O00,.
600 or $4,000, 100000 I'm 1896 to $15,-
OO0,OO00O0 In 1902 Is certainly a mar.
velous testimony, with all the kindred
and supplementary benefits.
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 well substan.
tiated. There are over 100000. 900 In
wages being paid annually now In ex-
cess of the wages paid In 1896 and
100000 more employees. Then, too,
the prosperity of the railroads can be
seen from the following tables:
In hands of receivers.
Mileage. Miles. Per ct.
| 1S96....... lso.65I 3I.S5o p.yo
1902. 2OO.OOo l,3lV o'o'
Total outstanding In hands Of receivers.
stocks and bonds. Amount. Per ct.
1885,. $500. 100000 $2,2i5.Ooo,Oo0 1881
1907. ll.25O.OOo,OOO 6l.Ooo.0Oo 0.5a
During the past six months there
was not single railroad for which a
receiver was appointed and continued.
and the outlook is only obscured by
lack Of locomotives and freight cars.
There are 100000 savings bank de-
positors who might point to their 3d.
OO0, 100000 of deposits as proof that
the Dingley law was most effective In
enabling the people TO provide for the
future. Then there are other billions
of dollars invested In insurance, In
homes and education and other advan.
tages that can only be INDUCED in aft.
er life's necessaries are provided.
A look at our export figures might
persuade some that one of the most
wonderful results Of the Dingley law
was in our increased sales abroad
This is shown in peculiar way by the
following figures:
Excess of exports from the
| foundation of the govern
ment to enactment Of Ding
| ley law .........,.....,.......... $SJo. .ouoozA
Excess of exports since en-
actment Of Dingley law..... 81, $50, 900, ,0O'
Nightly eloquent figures those! And
with the big crops of this year they
will be maintained IL not surpassed.