During his administration, the second artificial valorisation (price-setting) of coffee was promoted (the first was in 1906, by the Tabuaté Agreement).

With the frost of 1918, this product, doubled in price in the Santos' Port, giving the Altino Arantes government much revenue.

With reduced production, it was possible to put the price premium into the world market, allowing the government to take control of the Sorocabana Railroad from a North-American group.

He was a member of the Republican Party, and ran for vice president with Cristiano Machado in the 1950 Brazilian presidential election, coming third with 24.4% of the vote.

Outside São Paulo Arantes is largely unknown, although his administration was amongst the more successful of the Brazilian Old Republic.