, 1921-06-05
APPLYINc THE PREvENTIyE.

Importers of foreign merchandise are not going to
be able to jockey the permanent tariff law as they
no doubt have been preparing to do. That is, not if
Mr.. Longworth can prevent il, by the resolution he has
introduced which provides that the ways and means
committee when reporting a bill which imposes any
new customs duties on commodities, may in its dis
erection, incorporate in such a bill an emergency clause
requires the immediate taking effect of any or all
such new customs duties" Meaning that the duties
IN the bill as it becomes a law shall relate back to
the date of the introduction of the measure.
The purpose of such legislation is plain. It is to
prevent the importation of vast cargoes of cheaply
manufactured foreign goods before the general tariff
is passed. which would result in a period of depres-
sion in domestic industries as well as an immense loss
of revenue to the government. =
For instance, during the interval of five months
elapsing between the reporting of the revenue bill of
1897 the protective measure superseding the Wilson
German free trade act, and the date of its effective
ness, imports valued at S243, 600, 900 came in. The
difference between the revenue secured from these
imports at the rates actually in force in the law of
1894 and the revenue that would have accrued at the
rates Of the act of 1897 had these been in effect was
The Payne-Aldrich revision was taken upfin Novem-
Der, 1908, following the elections, and was passed in
August, 1909. During. tie eight months of that year,
January-August, imports totaled seas, 000, 900 COM
pared with 700,000.000 for the same eight months
OF the previous year, or an increage of over S5 per
cent.
During the campaign of 1910 there was a great
deal of loose talk INDUCED in charging the Repub-
lican party with having been false to its platform
pledges in that it had revised the tariff upward in
stead of downward, as it was alleged had been prom
Used. That the foreign importers had read no such
promise into the 1908 platform is evidenced by the
fact that, comparing the first eight months of 1908
with the similar period of 1909 imports of bread
stuffs increased SO per cent, chemicals SO per cent,
copper 81 per cent, cotton manufactures rs per cent.
precious stones nearly 400 per cent, fiber manufac-
lures 20 per cent, hides 90 per cent, iron and steel
manufactures 40 per cent, leather goods 4s per cent,
silk manufactures 80 per cent, vegetables so per cent,
wood manufactures 80 per cent, and manufactures of
wool 40 per cent, imports of raw wool increasing from
Sic, 00o,o 600 to SAL ,000, 900. The importers were lay
ing in supplies and beating the bill to the ports.
Conversely, there was a falling off of imports when
the present Wilson-Underwood act was in course of
becoming law. 1t was known, of course, that the
Democrats would adopt low rates of duty and great
ly extend the free list, consequently the importers
held up shipments to this country until the measure
became effective and they could take advantage of
the reduced customs duties.
Contracts are taken care of under the Longworth
resolution by a provision, that any person who, prior
to the date determined for the enforcement of the
rates, shall have entered into a contract to deliver any
article is, authorized and empowered to add to the
contract price of such article so much money as will
be equivalent to the duty subsequently, imposed" and
he shall be entitled to be paid and to sue accordingly.
The Longworth resolution introduces no novel or
Evolutionary idea in legislation. Great Britain, Aus