Dingley Act

This article is about a tariff law. For the merchant marine law, see Dingley Act (shipping).

Illustration showing a troop of senators as Confederate soldiers, led by an officer on horseback labeled "Trusts", marching down a street past the house with "Barbara Fritchie" labeled "Dingley Tariff" leaning out the window, waving a flag labeled "High Protection", Puck, February 1905

The Dingley Act of 1897 (ch. 11, 30 Stat. 151, July 24, 1897), introduced by U.S. Representative Nelson Dingley Jr., of Maine, raised tariffs in United States to counteract the Wilson–Gorman Tariff Act of 1894, which had lowered rates. The bill came into effect under William McKinley the first year that he was in office. The McKinley administration wanted slowly to bring back the protectionism that was proposed by the Tariff of 1890.

Following the election of 1896, McKinley followed through with his promises for protectionism. Congress imposed duties on wool and hides which had been duty-free since 1872. Rates were increased on woollens, linens, silks, china, and sugar (the tax rates for which doubled). The Dingley Tariff remained in effect for twelve years, making it the longest-lasting tariff in U.S. history. It was also the highest in US history, averaging about 52% in its first year of operation. Over the life of the tariff, the rate averaged at around 47%.[1]

The Dingley Act remained in effect until the Payne–Aldrich Tariff Act of 1909.

  1. ^ Frank A. Fetter, "American Tariff History. Part 4," Economics In Two Volumes, volume II (New York: The Century Co., 1922).