Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-17
INSUlAR FREE TRADE,
British Blue Book Issued DEALING With
That Subject.

lelh' contained in the pamphlet on In
sular Free Trade" advance sheets or
which We're issued, last night, came the
long promised and much demanded
government statistics dealing with that
SUBJECT lEey We're issued, this morn
1nS' ny the Board of Trade, in the
shape OF Blue book of nearly 500
pages OF pewildering tables of figures
showing the various aspects of British
and foreign trade and the industrial
conditions. No deductions were drawn
though the publication teens with in
teresting notes upon what are regarded
as points OF fact. The reference to for
elgn TRACE was chiefly confined to
France, Germany and the United
States.
The Pail Mall Gazette says it under
stands the cabinet has concluded the
consideration of its fiscal position and
its policy IN regard thereto, that no
further cabinet meetings will be held
| for the present, probably not until late
| in the autumn, and that in the mean
| while Colonial Secretary Chamberlain
will proceed with his expository pro-
gram. The paper adds:
1T Will probably be found that he
has modified his views so as to bring
them in harmony with Mr.. Balfour's
views as set forth in the pamphlet.
The main feature of Mr.. Chamberlain's
notifications will be the disappearance
of all suggestions in the direction of
further taxation of foodstuffs and raw
materials. Consideration of the war
commissions report is resumed for
future meetings of the cabinet"
The newspaper believes it is still
possible that there will be more than
one resignation from the cabinet.
One of the most important phases
dealt with in the Blue book are imports
and exports The tablets show that
exports from the United Kingdom to
the United States declined from $l45,-
100000 in 1880, to $97500,0 900 in 1892,
while the imports rose from $4So,000,-
Geo to $635.O00,000. The total exports
to all foreign countries declined in the
same period $900O0,OO0, though when
the colonies are included the decline
amounts to only $5,000,000.
The proportion of the United King
dom exports as between protected and
unprotected countries in the markets
vi tiiN WI III HIS bttIl IcNtlScu Slice
| 1850. Then it was Sc per cent to the
protected countries and A per cent
to the others. In 1902 the proportion
was AZ per cent. to the protected coun-
| tiles and So to the Others
| A valuable explanation is given Of
| the much quoted excess of imports over
| exports which has so often been held
| to be a sign of British trade decline
| The Blue Book says that while the ex-
cess yearly averages about $780, 0OG
| the income receivable from foreign in
vestments is calculated at $751;, 500 O0l
| added to the earnings of the British
| merchant fleet engaged in foreign
| trade, calculated at $3.50, 900, 600 sis
| probably more than sufficient to ac-
| count for the average excess of i'm
ports.'
Such estimates have never before
| been included, hence the misleading
| character of the usual figures.
| Americans have made large invest
ments in the United Kingdom of recent
years and American repurchases OF
railroads and other securities are adj
mitted to have to some extent affected
| the fiscal figures, "but they are not
| likely 10 IOIlll IL serious factor. Mucf
| attention is devoted to the tin plate
| industry and the effect of the Dmgley
and Mckinley tariff. These figures
show that the total exports of tin from
| the United Kingdom have declined only
| a little over $5,000.000 since 1897, with
| a marked increase in the quantity pro-
duced and in the value of q number OF
mills since 1898. Dealing exhaustively
| with the tariffs of all nations, the Blue
| Book says the American system OF
| drawbacks necessarily results in
| equality of treatment and may yield
an export bounty to the best equipped
| manufacturers while others sustain
| loss
| In table showing the ad valoren
| equivalent to import duties levied by for
cign countries on the principal articles OF
| British export, Russia comes first will
| 131 per cent; tho United States next will
| 10 per cent. and Austria follows with 3;
| per cent. Though Germany comes sixth
! it is pointed out that her existing tariff
| is so effective as to be more highly pro
| tcctive against Great Britain than the
percentage shows.
Before the trade of the United Kingdom
| and any of the colonies could be reserved
| to British vessels the board of trade stat
ed that the existing treaties with Austria
Greece and other countries would have tC
be denounced.
The table shows that the United King
dom is most dependent on imported
wheat. the United States being wholly in
dependent
The question of wages and the cost Of
living. especially the price Of food which
has figured 50 largely in the recent Cham"
berlain agtation takes up pages and is
summed up as follows: -
"The average level of wages in the
United States is ~ times greater than in
the United Kingdom, while in Germany
wages arc only two-thirds. and in France
Y of the average prevailing in the Unit
ed Kingdom"
The percentage of family incomes. talk
ing Now York as the capital of the Unit
cd States, is estimated Con the basis Of
100 per cent. for the kingdom) for the
United States, 123 per cent; for France,
81 per cent, and for Germany, SO per cent.
The mean weekly rate of wages in skilled
trades in the United States is estimated
at 179 per cent, and in the United King
dom at 100 per cent.