Courier Democrat., 1904-08-04
Manufactures Are Sold Cheaper
Abroad Than at Home.
D1sroRTs FACTS AND FIGURES.


usual free and easy manner.
In his Chicago speech he reeled off
figures, some Of which may be true,
but many of which certainly are false,
and made some admissions on the sub
jest of export prices which. coming
from such high Republican. are most
refreshing. Thus he said:
"Our opponents lay much stress upon
the fact that some American manufac-
lures are sold abroad cheaper than at
home. Our friends sometimes deny
this, and they sometimes apologize for
It, and few in times past have Joined
our opponents in recommending re-
moval Of the tariff from all such arti-
cles. It is useless to deny and in my
judgment unwise to apologize and a
little short of foolishness to attempt to
remedy the assumed evil in the man.
ner proposed by the opposition"
He then proceeded to quote from the
industrial commission, which reported
that ''$$44 100000 worth Of merchandise,
the product of American factories, is
annually sold abroad cheaper than in
the domestic market He then said
that as I'VE manufacture S13,Coo,O00,-
600 worth per annum our exports sold
abroad cheaper than at home are only
thirteenth Of per cent Of the out
put OF our factories
Secretary Shaw is either Il novice
with figures or he is entirely willing to
fool the voters with big statistics
which he knows are not true. 1t is
hardly possible that our secretary Of
the treasury does not know that we do
not produce $4,000, 100000 worth Of
for final consumers or anything like
this amount Our census statistics Of
manufactures contain many duplica-
tions. Thus we have manufactures Of
cloth goods and Of clothing, of iron
and steel and Of foundry products,
machinery, ETC.; Of lumber and of fur
niture, of leather and Of boots and
shoes. In these few industries the du-
plications amount to $2,O0Oy000,O00 or
$4,000, 100000. Were it possible to take
out the duplications-that is, the prod
ucts Of one mill that are sold as raw
material to another mill-it is probable
that the total value of finished manu-
factured products would not be more
than half of $4,000, 100000. Whether
or not our census figures have been
stuffed in order to make great show
ing for protection can only be sur
missed.
The statement that only $4,0OO,O00
worth Of our manufactured goods are
sold abroad cheaper than at home is
ridiculous. It is entirely safe to say
that ten or twenty times this amount
Of iron and steel goods alone are sold,
abroad at prices from 10 to 60 per cent
below the prices at which they are
sold in this country. In fact, there are
single items in our exports Of iron and
steel sold abroad at lower prices which
amount to more than $4,O00,00O. Thus,
during the ten months ending April 80,
1904, we sold for export 2O2OOO,OOO
pounds Of wire valued at $4,777,O0O. It
is reasonably certain that every pound
and every dollars worth of this wire
was sold abroad at prices below those
prevailing in this country and that the
average difference was not less than
25 to 80 per cent. Similar statements
might be made in regard to the items
Of builders hardware and sewing ma
chimes. All, or practically all, are sold
to foreigners at bargain counter prices
Nearly 100000 worth Of steel rails
were sold abroad during these ten
months at an average price Of about
$40 per ton, the trust keeping the price
in this country steadily at $2s. Mil
lions Of dollars worth Of structural
iron and steel, billets, bars, ETC., were
sold abroad at a price probably aver
aging $40 per ton less than the domes-
tie price. Ship plates have been selling
abroad at $26 to $50 per ton and in
this country at $3S to $40 during the
last year. Secretary Shaw quotes the
report Of the Industrial commission.
He evidently had not read the testi-
mony Of Mr.. Charles NJ. Schwab, pres
dent Of the United States Steel cor
poration. before the industrial COM
mission, May II, 1901. Mr.. Schwab
told the commission frankly that all
kinds Of iron and steel goods were In
variably sold for export at prices lower
than home prices. When asked SIS it
o fact generally true Of oil exporters in
this country that they do sell at lower
prices in foreign markets than they do
in the home marketT' he answered,
'"That is true; perfectly true"
The secretary will find thia testimony
in volume 13. pages 44S4s7. It may
interest him.
The secretary says that while our
people complain Of this practice think
It defensible. But whether defensible
Or not know that foreign producers
do the same thing"
It Il not denied that the practice Of
selling goods for export at prices far
below domestic prices prevails. n near.
u al higAly psotscted countries. It.ls &
q part q ~ pEoeoct3vo elloan. -
IS q q sW1oognhla. IN II. Nul y