New-York tribune., 1908-08-20
BIG CUSTOMS RECEIPTS
Amounted Tuesday to s820, ,654-
Fozcler Forecasts HeaUy Business.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington, Aug. 1s-As a harbinger of return
ing prosperity Edward S. Fowler Collector OF the
Port of New York. brought the news the Treas
ury Department to-day that the customs receipts
of Tuesday, August ls had amounted $50 .s54, an
Increase of than $500 coo the previous day
and the greatest sum which has been received in
that way since the financial furry last fall He
informed United States Treasurer Treat that Tues
days receipts could be considered normal. and said
that from the last vestiges of the currency
trouble would be obliterated and that he pros
poets TO- year OF customs revenues, de-
spite the fact that the purposed revision of the
tariff would probably exercise deterring effect
on importers.
The primary object OF Collector Fowler's visit TO
Washington TO hold conference with Treas
ury officials regarding the detail work under his
supervision. He accompanied by Henry c
Stuart, the deputy collector. and J. H Langier.
the custodian. The matters under discussion were
OF a purely routine nature, and involved the man
ner in which reports should be made, blank forms
should be standardized and other questions OF
similar nature. After two hours conference with
Mfr Treat and time spent with other officials.
the party returned to New York this afternoon
In discussing the great increase in customs duties
Mr.. Fowler told the Treasurer that he had not ex-
pected return to normal conditions until the mo
Gle Of September If then, and that from the pres
outlook the receipts would continue TO increase
until they reached larger sums than in former
years He attributed the large collections on Tues
day to the fact that merchants were beginning 10
take their goods of bond and were preparing
for 8 Dusy fall He also pointed out that
the importers had begun to have large shipments
made TO this country, owing TO the constantly
growing demand, and that when the fall trace set
in the customs staff would be busy taking care
Of the vast volume of business
He said that the middle Of November might see
a slight decrease in customs duties owing TO the
assurance that the Republican party would pesih
preparations for revision of the tariff. and ne ex
plained that this only natural in view OF the
uncertainty which always attended any contef
plated change tariff schedules The American
merchant he said would not keep any more I'M
ported goods on hand than are absolutely neces-
sary at any time, and the eve OF tarlI re-
great amount of his product until he ascertalneo
how the tariff rate would affect the COMMONLY III
which he dealt For the same reason, the importer
would not ship as much of his goods tc this coun-
try for fear an increased duty would make IL I'M
possible for him compete with American manu-
facturers.
Another reason for the present great increase III
receipts which Mr.. Fowler gave was tnat the
merchants had allowed their imported stock 10 run
down while the demand was constantly increasing
especially since the Southern and western buyers
had begun to invade New York. The merchahts
he said were forced 10 import vast amount o.
goods at the last minute in order 10 meet the
urgent needs OF the market