The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-31
Swelling Commerce.


The department Of commerce dlscloses
some very interesting figures as to our
export and import trade for the last nscal
vear showing the enormous aggregate OF
s2445,s1O,417, as compared with s2'oAo'-
s37,15s In 19O0,. in which the, largest pre-
yious record was made. Imports were
larger than In any previous years record
assregat1ng s1,o25, e1s. 127-an increase OF
1874 per cent during the past decade, While
in the same period exports have increased
67.5 per cent -
The increase in imports has been spe-
cially noticeable during the past few years.
and the fact seems to have made some OF
the organs Of extreme protection nervous
and apprehensive lest the tariff wall De
in need of repairs. But a large proportion
of the imports seems to have consisted
of manufacturers materials; at least 90
rper cent of the whole were articles In a.
crude condition and. articles wholly or
partly manufactured for use in the man
ufactures and mechanic arts. About 80
per cent Of these materials have paid
duty, the duty raw materials being
a, handicap on our manufactures. Under
our tariff system or revenue laws, draw
back or rebate Is allowed on the customs
duties paid on imported. materials used
in the rnanufa cture Of goods exported.
This drawback is very positive advan-
tage to our commerce; a direct benefit to
our manufacturing interests. The draw
back law provides for a rebate Of 80 per
cent on the regular duty, but it requires
that the imported materials entering into
exported articles must be surely 1dentl-
fed. This Is practically impossible In In
dustries where the process Of manufacture
is too intricate for the positive identifica-
tion of the imported material used. Thus
many manufacturers are unable to reap
the benefits Of the drawback I. OF 50 per
cent and the bill introduced during the
last session of congress by Mr.. Lowering
provided that positive Identification should
not be required in cases where the manu-
Featuring process is too intricate to reach
such identification, provided that mate
rial Of the same value is shown to have
entered into the exported article. Last
year over a million dollars worth of man
ufacturers' materials was imported each
or partly manufactured material entering
into the manufacture Of exported goods
have ranged from $2,3SS,00O in 1898 to
between $4,000, 900 and $6,0OO,0OO In 1900
and 1902. Tin plate has had drawback
advantage for the last twenty years and
more, while drawback Is allowed on raw
sugar, hides, burlaps, lead, alcohol, lead
Leaf
1t was shown, at the last session o.
congress, that the difficulty Of identify
ing materials imported which enter into
the manufacture Of goods exported, has
placed many manufacturers at a disad
vantage. The matter presents case o.
unjust discrimination which should be re-
moved. 1t has been argued that the gov
Nernment cannot afford to increase thu
remission of duties to the extent Of 8
. iper cent on more manufacturers materia
Imported, and that there is danger of Civ
ing the rebate advantage to manufacturer
who take advantage of the law simply t.
get their material practically duty free
and can buy the same material in thi
country from home producers. The draw
back system, in its present form, was 1
feature of the Mckinley tariff Of 1896
Extreme and moderate protectlonist
voted for that tariff The drawback de
Woe is practically tariff reductions It
reduction which would come with reel
procity treaties. The protected manufac
turers recognize drawbacks as Of genu
Inc advantage to themselves. It mean
tariff reduction Of 90 per cent. What in
consistency for sugar manufacturers, 70
instance, who get drawbacks on raw suga
used in their exported goods amounting t
80 per cent, to howl dismally over littl
reduction: of rs per cent on Cuban sugar!