The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-11-01
AT HOME AND ABROAD.
Foreign Consumers In Most Instances
Pay SIS Much as the Domestic.

Pay as Much as the domestic.
Winona, Oct. 30.-Conrgessman
James A. Tawney is in receipt of ad-
vance proof sheets, from the industrial
commission at Washington of COM
pilation of foreign and domestic prices
of American products. This, it may
be remembered, is a matter in which
Mr.. Tawney has taken lively inter
est, and it was largely at his sugges-
ton that the compilation was made
after the state department had decided
it to be impracticable to obtain the
information from foreign consuls.
The information that Congressman
Tawney desired was the price of trust
made products sold in foreign countries
compared with the prices asked in the
United States, and where the foreign
price was below that in the United
States to have such explanation given
as the facts will warrant. Mr.. Taw-
ney had long conference with one
of the members of the commission the
day prior TO the time the commission
met and drew up suggestive list of
inquiries. As result of this con-
ference many of Mr.. Tawney's ideas
were embodied in the list of Questions
prepared and sent out by the COM
mission.
The introduction to the report, of
which the advance proof sheets have
been sent to Mr.. Tawney, says:
In view of the frequent assertion
that exporters of American made goods
often sell them in foreign countries at
lower prices than are obtained for
similar goods a. home, the industrial
commission has endeavored to secure
from the business interests of the
United Sttaes full and frank state
ment covering the efforts made to ex
tend consumption of products in for
eign markets. In sending out the
schedule of questions pledge was
given that the answers should be treat
ed as confidential. The question sub
mittd included the following:
Is the establishment, firm or coIpor
alton engaged in exporting to foreign
countries goods produced in the United
States?
If so, to what country or countries?
If so, to what aggregate value dur
ing your past business year?
What percentage of the total value
of your manufactured product do your
exports equal?
What class or classes of goods do you
export2
Dossyou sell in foreign markets for a
price less than that charged for ex-
actly similar articles in the United
States?
If so, please name leading specific
articles so sold and state the price re-
ceived therefor at home and abroad.
If you sell goods for lower prices
abroad, please give the reason.
What business policy or method, if
any, would you suggest to secure for
our home consumers equality of price
with that charged in foreign markets
by the same producers for the same
goods?
To the 1000 inquiries sent out 416
pertinent replies were received. APP
proximately 800 answers stated that
the establishment replying did not
have any export business, and these
answers were accordingly not consid
cred in the tabulation Of the other 416.
The great majority OF The answers in
Dictated that prices are no lower abroad
than they are for domestic consumers,
and several indicate that foreign
prices are higher. Continuing the re-
port says:
Those who state that they sell for
lower prices abroad give various rea-
sons fol. lower prices, which may be
classified as permanent reasons and
temporary reasons. The permanent
reasons to which are ascribed the
greatest Importance are those of cash
payments and large purchases in the
Foreign trade, whereas the domestic
trade is based on credits and small
purchases.
Another reason for the permanently
lower prices abroad, as stated by sew
eral establishments, is the drawback
or rebate of the tariff on imported raw
materials manufactured for export.
This is particularly notice in the sales
of cut soles and sole leather, where the
duty of 10 per cent being refunded in
case of export trade permits a lower
price in the foreign market. Also in
canned goods, where a drawback is
given on the tin plate of the cans in
which the goods are exported, and in
wire rope, where the duty on copper
wire is refunded. A somewhat SINH
lar distinction exists in the case of
bottled beer, where an allowance is
made from the internal revenue duties
in case of export goods.
Some establishments, in answering
the question as to what means they
rpo,ld 10