Evening star., 1898-12-06

! 81 l.a5d9a3J56 in 1897 and 81 .a3a 2fs,1 In
1892. no other years having reached the bill
| lion dollar line.
Or our domestic exports, the value Of
! agricultural products was sssS3 ti.3 $50 sur
| passing by Se4 30 33s the highest record
ever before made, that OF lSl2 Our manu-
| facturers also made their highest record
OF exports. those for the year being S2g0.-
! 69I,35 against Sa17 ~. .;9i in the preced-
ing year For the first time also in the
! history of our foreign commerce the OK
| ports of domestic manufactures were great
| er than the imports of foreign manufac-
| lures, while the total exports of the Year
were twice as great as the total imports o.
condltfon heretofore unknown. the trala
/ oatance In our favor being more than twice
| as great as that of any former year
! ne prices realized on nearly all import
ant articles OF export We're higher than I'm
the preceding year, the notable executions
being cotton and mineral oils in each Of
/ which the production In the United States
| the worlds chief producer of these articles
| mas been in the past few years phenom-
| enaily large. thus affecting the prices
| abroad. as Wei as at home
In importations the year has shown an
| equally remarkable record th.. yslue of
! foreign imports being less than in any nre-
| Nious year. with single exception 1850
| though the population has increased ~ Der
cent since that time. The total imports
| Were but sil6.ots.654 in value. against ;76t-
| tD.4l2 in the preceding year and s71g 12a
| ga year earlier The falling off was al
most entirely in manufactures and articles
!
| factures was 81 s,3 I'll against s4g l62
92 In the preceding year. of cotton goods,
Z'26f.pD. against SS4, i29. 3t} in 1897: OF
manufactures of iron and steel. 81 tis6. 43i
! against Si6Hi55 in the preceding wear: of
eafthen ware and china S. tiST a.te against
S".?a',2!' year earlier; Of glass and glass
ware, S,iS2,6i7. against s.. .Gt3 sts i'm 1897.
did OF I'm plate S.Sst l4s. against 81 344-
6oS In the preceding year
The years record Of the inports and ox
ports OF the precious metals was also an
unusual one. The importations of gold
| were greater than in any preceding wear I'm
the history OF Tie country. and the exports
| smaller than i'm any year in the present de-
cade' making the net importattons the
largest ever known. The total imports Of
gold were Sla. 39l .574 and the exports sf5-
46.39l. the net imports being sie4 aS5 2SS
the largest In any preceding year being
wv, 1856 l2f i'm 1881, while on orly twelve pre-
vicus occasions since 1850 have the years
imports of gold equaled the exports The
Importation Of silver. most of which comes
into the country in lead ore and base bull
lion. amounted to S3o.92T 7S1 In value
against aga s3o 227 in 1897, and s2s. ~ ING IN
1896. while the expectation of the year
amounted 10 So3. .l05, 80 in value against
SOL. SSs in the preceding year.
This satisfactory condition of our foreign
trade extended to our commerce with prac-
tlcally every nation and all the great geo.
graphical divisions. Our sales TO Europe
alone increased $3.50 $40 COL. while our pur-
chases from that section OF the globe de-
visions. except Oceanica. there was an in
creased sale. and from all. except Asia and
Oceanica, decreased imports. Our exports
10 Asia show 4 gratifying gain. those of
1898 having been 81, ,7o7 19l against s25
ts3o029 in 1896 and s1l GAG. 103 in 1880. thus
having quadrupled since 1880, and nearly
doubled within two years.
CUSTOMS.
Attention is invited to the recommends
ton contained in my last annual report
for the reorganization of customs districts
and the discontinuance of useless ports
Every business consideration demands that
a reorganization Of these districts should
be effected, and the recommendation is re-
newed.
During the last fiscal wear the suectal
agents have examined the conduct of GUS
toms business and the personnel of the Gus
| toms service in s6 customs districts and in
dependent ports. They have recommended
many reductions in the expense of main
taining the customs service. some of which
nave already been approved by the depart
fnent, while others still under considera-
ton. The special agents are usually called
upon to report proposed increases In
the expenses OF the service and their re-
ports aid greatly in economical administra-
ton.
Operations of the Tarin.
Domestic industrial enterprises are un-
questionably benefited by the tariff act Of
industries to increase the revenues of
the government. By reason OF the fact
that importers, anticipating the passage of
the act referred to, provided themselves
with large stocks of merchandise of every
description the tariff of 1897 cannot be re-
garded as fairly tested by the receipts i'm
mediatcly following its passage. As an IL
lGstration Of the correctness of this view
it may be stated that during The first four
months of the fiscal year 1899 the receipts
tlom customs exclusive Of the duty on tea
provided by the war-reyenue law) amounted
to So. T1G.oS0, which Is s46350 026 in excess
OF the receipts for a similar period in any
year since 1892.
A reciprocal commercial agreement has
been entered into between the United States
and France, under the provisions of sec
tion of the tariff act of 1897. and negotia-
tions with a similar object in view are in
progress with other countries.
UndervaIuations.
Special efforts have been made during the
past year to detect and prevent undervalua-
tions, and 1t is believed that much has
been accomplished in that direction The
practice which many foreign manufacturers
and wholesale dealers have resorted TO of
consigning their goods to branch houses or
agencies in this country at prices, in many
instances far below the actual market
value, has proven SO profitable that in Ger
tain lines OF goods sales have been refused
market, and they have been compelled To
buy of the consignee of the foreign house
in this country. During the past year
special officer of the department was sent
to Europe for the purpose of thoroughly
investigating the methods of manufacture,
cost of production and the manner OF in
voicing j certain line OF goods sent 10 this
country almost exclusively on consignment.
and which, there was reason to believe,
largely undervalued on Importation,
but concerning which accurate data could
not be obtained here. AS result of his
inquiries, il ascertained that the prac-
tice of invoicing the goods at prices far
below the actual foreign market value was
general among manufacturers and shippers,
and in a number of instances the goods |
We're invoiced below the cost of production.
Efforts are being vigorously made to pre-
vent the abuses resulting from the system
above referred to, which not only entails |
loss to the revenue, but results in Injury to |
honest importers.
Board of General Appraisers.
The board of general appraisers reports |
that during the past year its office received |
10 96y protests on classification. . 464 ap-