The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-04-25
TARIFF BILL BECOMES
CENTER OF ATTACK

A concerted attempt on the part
of the opposition press is already
in evidence to discredit the tariff
bill as reported to the senate. This,
of course, was to be expected. Al
though southern interests have dur
ing the past year rallied to the
cause of protection as never before,
many of their representatives in
congress have long since become
too mentally indurated to permit
of change, while many of the papers
which will oppose the bill are un-
doubtedly influenced by the large
amount of advertising space which
they sell to the importing interests.
Editorial opposition begins with
the time-worn assertion that the
rates proposed are outrageously
high-higher than was dreamed of
in the Payne-Aldrich law, declares
one paper. This will no doubt be
the main point of their contention
for some time to come.
Let us examine it for a moment:
The average ad valorem rate of the
Payne-Aldrich law, during its entire
life did not exceed 20 per cent.
In its last year it registered IT'S
per cent. That is to say, during
the fiscal year 1913 we imported
$1,813, 100000 worth of foreign
goods which paid into the federal
treasury, 1913, 100000 in customs
duties, or an average rate on all
imports as stated. Fifty-four per
cent of the imports of 1913 were
free of duty.
Treasury actuaries estimate that
the bill now before the senate will,
as now drafted, yield from $780,
100000 to $3.50. 200, 900 of customs
revenue, or 1926, 000,O0O as a mean
Notwithstanding less than was
realized uring the first full year
0910) of the Payne-Aldrich law.
But it is to be expected that even
under protection we will not return
to the pre-war protection figures
with respect to imports. From
1898 to 1908, under the Dingley
protective tariff our imports grew
froms616, 100000 to s1,194, 600, 900
an increase of 81 per cent. This
was natural growth and so regu
lated as not to disrupt American
production. In 1920 imports
reached the peak of $5,27S, 000, 900
under the democratic law. For the
fiscal year 1921 they totaled So
654,0 100000, On May 27, of last
year the emergency tariff law took
effect and this curtailed greatly our
imports of products competing with
those of farm, besides materially
lessening dye imports. We closed
the year 1921 with $2,509, 900 900
of imports.
But 1921 was a hard year for
our foreign rivals. Industrial strife
in England hit her export trade a
hard blow; Germany was very far
from enjoying her normal export
trade; Japan was handicapped in
dustrially; and SO were France and
Italy. Austria-Hungary had almost
ceased to be a factor in competi-
ton with US. Considering these
facts, is it too much to expect that
even with the Fordney-McCumber
bill in effect our import trade within
the next year or so may be esti-
mated at two possibly two and one
half billions? On that basis, if the
revenue estimates Of the treasury
actuaries are approximately correct,
1t is apparent that the average ad
valorem rate will be Is, perhaps,
ID per cent. In other words, lower
than the Payne-Aldrich ad valorem.
The pending bill raises the rates
on practically all products compel
ing with those of American agricul-
ture. The duties on manufactured
products show general reductions
when compared with the Payne
Aldrich law. The duties on cotton
clothes under the Payne-Aldrich
law averaged 43 per cent in 1912,
while the rates in the present bill
ranges from 10 to 40 per cent
most of the steel manufactures
show reductions; SO do manufac-
lures of wool, aluminium, earthen-
ware, automobiles, glass, and others.
1t is to be presumed that, in gen.
eral, these rates on manufactures
are agreeable to the interests con-
cerned, since they were given am
pie opportunity to present their
statements.