The Washington times., 1902-12-31
Representative Burton Tells
Scientists That the Great
Disparity of Exports Over
imports in the United
States Cannot Continue
Inevitable Tendency OF
Wealthy Nations ID In
crease Purchases Abroad
Chief Austin on Tropical
Development.

ence was the heaviest, in amount OF
work done. Of any thus far this week.
The ten different sections began work
early. They will be busily engaged un-
til late this afternoon. Several Of the
sections will probably adjourn at 4
O'Clock in order to enable their mem
bers to attend the lecture this after
noon on Volcanoes Of the West In
dies" delivered by Prof. /. H. Russell,
of Michigan. who was a member OF the
expedition sent to Martinique by the
National Geographic Society.
Mr.. Reed Eulogized.
Al the usual meeting Of the council
Of the association this morning prior
I to the assembling Of the sections. reso-
lutions we're presented by President
Gilman, Of the Carnegie Institution. OF
this city. eulOgizing the life and work
OF the late DR.. Walter Reed. discOyerer
Of the yellow fever germ. who died sew
erai moths ago in Washington
Prominent among the papers read
this morning before the section on So
cial and Economic Science was one by
the Hon. W W Rockhill. Director Of
the Bureau OF American Republics. cn
the Pan-American union.
Mr.. Rockhiil was unable TO be present
and his paper was read by C. ". Fox
chief clerk OF the bureau.
Exports and Imports.
The Relation Between Exports and
Imports" was the subject OF an address
by Representative T. +. Burton. Of Ohio
He said in part:
.In determining the wealth or pros
perity Of a country nothing is more gen
orally noticed than the relation between
exports and imports. the so-caIled bal
snce Of trade An excess OF imports il
regarded as indicating prosperity. Yet,
independently considered, nothing could
be more misleading.
In order 10 ascertain the significance
OF this relation II is necessary 10 con-
slider a number Of circumstances chief
among which are the condition OF the
country in question. whether a debtor or
creditor country, in which connection the,
income derived from loans and invest
ments iu other countries. as well as
from shipping engaged in international
carrying trade must be taken into ac-
count; the stage Of development: the
quality Of imports and the uses TO which
they are applied, particularly whether
they be raw material to be utilized in
manufacture. or other material 10 be
employed in increasing the productive
power Of The country.
"The phenomenal excess OF exports Of
the United States in recent years can
only be explained by realizing that we
have gained a new position as the pur-
veyor Of the worlds wants 1t is i'm
possible that this great disparity Of ex-
ports can continue There is an in
evitable tendency whenever a nation OBJ
tains great accretions Of wealth 10 in
crease purchases abroad
Tropical Development.
Mr. Burton was followed by O p
Austin. chief Of the Bureau of Statistics
OF the Treasury Department. who spoke
on Tropical Development a Necessity
Of World Progress"
Tho principal suggestions OF Mr.. Aus
inns paper were.
That the increasing population OF the
world end the increasing facilities for
transportation require that its various
sections shall contribute their proper
proportion 10 the requirements Of man.
That the world, and especially the
temperate zones, is constantly increas-
ing it's demands for tropical and sub
tropical products
That although the belt lying between.
the thirtieth parallels OF north and
south latitude contains practically half
The land area Of the world. ia contributes
but onc-siXih Of he exports Which en-
ter into the international commerce Of
the world
That the development Of comparatively
recent years has brought practically all
Of the tropics. except tropical America
Under control Of temperate zone coun-
tries thrs facilitating the application lg
thc tropics o. The capital and energy os
temperate zone man.
The Consular Service and Fo-cipu
Trade was the title Of another paper
read before the Section on Economic