The times., 1899-07-08
STATISTICS AND POLITICS.
How the Treasury Bureau UphoId'
the Republican Policy.


tFrom the New York Evening Post-)
The outgivings OF the Treasury Bureau
of Statistics are not without an amusing
side. to which attention may occasionally
be called with profit. This bureau was
originally what its pame implies-a bureau
of statistics. It occurred, however, to in
iluential party leaders. just after the pres
ent Administration came into power. thst
II was great waste Of money and energy
for the Republican National Committee to
maintain literary bureau, and employ
men to work out arguments in behalf OF
high protective policy when all this could
Just as we'll be done at Government ex-
pense by literary bureau already in op-
Grafton So Mr.. o. p. Austin. whom Sena-
tor Hanna had employed during the cam
paign to prepare copy for the Repubu-
can newspapers, was transferred from the
service OF the party to the service OF the
government. and the machinery of the Bu-
feau Oh Statistics placed at his disposal
Inc new chief has labored consistently
10 prove by statistics that all the mer-
chaht ships which leave our ports are
heavily loaded. but that all are obligeI to
return stark empty. Week after week the
bulletins have made announcements OF this
condition, first in one form. an6 then in
another. The number OF changes that
have been rung on few simple figures
show the infinite resourcefulness of stats
ticai information. To illustrate, here are
the opening sentences OF the Iates, bu.Ie-
tin, or the latest chapter in the story OF
now nation can permanently sell and
never buy:
A study Of the details OF exports from the
United States during the fiscal year Just ended
shows that every part of the world has evinced
an increased desire for American products Ei-
rope is the only part Of the world which has
failed TO increase the amount Of money paid
to us for our products, and this is solely due to
the plentiful supply OF brcadstufs in that part
OF the world in 1850 compared with lsss.
and the consequent decrease in price paid per
bushel, thus making a slight reduction in our
cash receipts Eom that part OF the world To
Asia, to Africa to South America to Mexico, to
Canada, and to the Hawaiian Islands and oceaniea
our sales have increased in quantity and in value
as compared with the phenomenal year Of 1855
the only grand division from which our receipts
have been smaller this year than last being
Europe. and even there the reduction is con-
fined to the four countries, United Kingdom.
France, Belgium, and Spain, and, as already
indicated, is due TO the fact that a large home
supply of breadstuffS has reduced their payments
to US for this class OF products.
1t will be evident to the most casual
reader that Europe is an exception Of eou-
siderable Importance, for according to the
cent OF all our exports, even in this year OF
her decline. The bulletin is like farmer
who says there has been a great improve
ment in the health and number OF his
sheep, all except the white ones. With
this exception figures are most gratifying.
But even the European exception is not
without its impressive lessons, for the
latest bulletin offers such explanations as
these:
The United Kingdom has also reduced her
purchases of live cattle about s. eco coo in the
eleven months of 1899 compared with the cor
responding months of lsos, due, ii is believed,
largely to the increased price which the dealers
of the United States enabled 10 demand be-
cause OF the increased consumption at home
consequent upon greater business activity and
better wages among consumers.
AS fact, this is doubtless true Its real
Importance lies, however. in the exhibition
it affords Of the adaptibility of all eco
nomic conditions to the new bureau chiefs
needs. IL We had exported more live cat
tie to the United Kingdom than in the
year before, he would have cried out in
undisguised Joy, Great is Diana of the
Ephesians," for it would have shown how
we could sell and not buy; and now that
We are exporting less he likewise shouts,
Great is Diana of the Ephesiansi" for
it shows that We are so prosperous at
home that We cannot let the cattle go; we
are bound to eat them ourselves.