New-York tribune., 1900-06-30
EXPORTS AND THE TARIFF.

Not many men have in these days a more
congenia or inspiring duty than that of Chlef
Austin of the Bureau Of Statistics, which he
performs in his monthly returns with unprece-
dented promptness and care, as with obvious
satisfaction. It is his part to tell the people
how it is that this Nation, once so sorely debtor
in all International accounts, has become the
heaviest and most irresistible creditor. Good
times or bad tight money easy, only in
crease each month the enormous balance which
other countries have somehow to pay, and the
excess of domestic exports over imports con-
tinued, to the amazement Of many, even after
the extraordinary rise in prices here had appar
emily closed the door against foreign buyers
Nothing of the sort occurred. The exports
even of iron and steel products which had ad-
vanced most here, continued to increase beyond
all precedent. Now that yielding in these has
come the increase is only accelerated, so that
in the one month of May more products Of
which iron is the chief material went abroad
than in many full years not far away. Of iron
products alone over $12,OOOOOO worth went out,
Of agricultural implements about 81, 100000 and
of cars and cycles and scientific instruments
enough to make In an Is, ,4S4, ,073 for the month
and S139, ,5S60S2 for the-eleven months, against
$10S. .050 for the same months of the pre-
vious year. A difference of over $31, 600, 900 in
single class of products counts for something.
Yet the next two items in the list show
larger increase nearly $360OO000. The increase
in mineral oil is very heavy in spite of a de-
crease of one-seventh in quantity shipped, and
in eleven months, with practically the same
quantity sent abroad, the increase in value was
S175OO0O0 The trouble in copper is that the
whole world wants for electrical and other uses
a greatly increased supply. and the exports in
May were more than doubled. while in eleven
months an increase of 100000 pounds in
quantity made an increase of over $1SO00,O00
In value, manufactures included The exports
Of wood and its manufactures have always been
large to Cuba and the West Indies, especially
in connection with the sugar trade, but this
year the increase in eleven months has been
over $S,36O000. Not so much is gained in the
leather interest, and yet its exports have in
creased in eleven months over S3.500,0O0. The
exports of cotton manufactures have been re-
tarded by events in the Far East but have
gained over 10 per cent In a great many
minor classes, too many to be even enumerated
here, the same remarkable expansion of exports
appears, and is so great in May that the manu-
factured exports of that month have never been
equalled in any other month save one
But it is time TO halt just here and allow the
Free Traders TO explain how it is that this
tariff taxed and monopoly ridden country is able
thus to supply all the world with cheaper prod
ucts than il can get elsewhere. Is there, then
nothing but reckless fraud in the pretence
that Americans are forced to pay extortionate
prices for their manufactured products? Ger
many, for instance, has protective system of
her own and has encouraged her industries to
the utmost. and is, moreover, blessed or cursed
with more extensive and powerful industrial
monopolies than exist in any other country
But these have been breaking down, with fear
fuI in ha itV ma -ptS a11-Ho
have invested in them. This collapse, which
has kept Germany near the edge Of a general
panic and prostration for months, appears TO
be in large measure due to the prices which
American corporations are able to fix and do
fix in their sales to European customers Yet
these prices are in nearly all cases higher than
those paid by Americans, freights and other
costs being added with profits
1t is about time for sensible men to have done
with the absurd pretence that American con-
sumers and industries are hampered and plum
dered by the system which has so largely given
them command of the worlds markets. Excep-
tionai periods Of prostration are liable TO come
in any country and the lower the duties be-
tween this country and that the more directly
and severely will the prostration elsewhere
affect the course Of prices here. Repeatedly
that cause alone has sufficed to produce exten-
sive panic. If anybody can say why the United
States should voluntarily expose itself to become
the dumping ground for the surplus products Of
other countries he is at liberty to do So and the
people know how 10 reply to him at the ballot
boxes But the pretence that in ordinary states
of trade Americans are plundered by their
tariff which leaves them the command of
foreign markets for the goods In question has
become stale and Of evil odor, and may be with
drawn from the discussion
We called attention a few days ago 10 the