The San Francisco call., 1910-02-13

ference, first. TO whether IT is a re-
vision downward. and second. as to its
ca pacity for producing revenue, for 1T
must be borne in mind that the passage
of the law was demanded not only for
the purpose Of changing rates In their
effect upon the industries of the coun-
try. but also for the purpose of in
creasing trade revenues. and the sue
cess of the measure is TO be judged by
its results in both these respects.
The bureau of statistics is authority
for the statement that during the hrst
six months of the operation OF the
Payne law, which has just ended, the
ports was 21.9 per cent ad valorem.
The avera ge rate of duty paid on all
imports for the same six months Tor
the four preceding years under the
Dingley law was 24.3.
Amount of Reduction
This would show that the reduction
in the Payne law is 2.94 per cent of the
value of the goods or the reduction be-
low the previous tariff rates is II per
cent. showing a downward revision to
this extent in those goods which are
dutia bic.
But this is not all. Under the Payne
law SIS per cent of the gross imports
for the last six months have been en-
tered free. while under the four years
preceding for the same six months the
free list amounted TO 45.46 per cent or
the total importations; so there was
not only a reduction of duty on duti-
able imports of about II per cent, but
also an enlargement of about the same
percentage of the free list.
For the production of revenue the
Payne law is even more an improve
six months that the Payne tariff was
in force, from August $ TO the nlght
of February 5. the customs receipts
amounted to s166,002,s56.54
Comparison of Averages
Under the Wilson German tariff the
semiannual average was SS3,l4l,62 80.
Under the Dingley tariff the semiannual
average was si30.265.s41S4 Under the
Wilson tariff the monthly average was
sI3,s57 9S765. Under the Dingley tar
iff the monthly average was S2l,1l0,-
1854: while under the Payne tariff the
monthly average has been $21.677,-
1878 or 100 per cent greater than
the monthly average under the Wilson
tariff. and rs per cent greater than the
monthly average under the D1ngley
tariff.
of course. as the country increases
in population the customs receipts IN
crease. but even considering the popu-
lation the increase in the tariff receipts
has been marked. Under the Wilson
ceipts per capita were s2.3s; under the
Dingley tariff, 1928; while under the
Payne tariff they are SS.71.
Best Customs Law Passed
For the six months that the Payne
tariff has been in force the total re-
ceipts both from customs and internal
revenue have been 1929, 231. 81, while
the disbursements have been S332,7S
2s3.os, showing that the expenditures
exceeded the receipts by only SS.SS4,-
O51I7, with no collections yet from the
corporation tax. For the correspond
ing period last year the expenditures
exceeded the receipts by over $4,000
600 This showing indicates that un
der the present customs laws the def
cit will be promptly wiped out and that
TO meet our normal expenditures we
shall have ample revenue.
| therefore venture to repeat the
remark 1 have had occasion to make
before that the present customs law is
the best customs law that has ever
been passed and it is most significant
in this that it indicates on the part of
the republican party the adoption of
policy to change from an increase in
duties to a reduction of them, and to
effect an increase of revenues at the
ccy