River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-10-27
TIE "DUMPlNG' POLICY.
1t Prevents Depression and Keeps
Our Working men EmpIoYed.

0AN AAGh aAm pAOyGAs
Democratic writers and speakers fire.
Quently try TO make political capital by
claiming that the protective tariff is re-
sponsible for the fact that our exporters
in some cases sell their merchandise at
less than prices charged in the home
market
lit is the very root of success in all
commercial ventures to hold what YOU
have and gain what you can. and this
is the same in all highly advanced COM
mercial nations, including England. where
free trade prevails Whenever manu-
facturer has produced more goods than
he can dispose of in the home market,
without disastrously affecting prices, it
is always good business policy for him to
! try to get rid of his surplus abroad rath-
er than TO reduce his output and Incl
dentaly the number of men he employs
and the wages he pays them. This
/ dumping policy, as the Dei Gratis call
! it, has again and again serN Il TO pre-
vent depression in our home markets and
| has saved millions of dollars in wages
to American workingmen. 1t is lnlinite
~ better that the foreigner should occa-
sionally get goods cheaper than they
can be bought at home, rather than not
have such surplus sold at all, and Ameri-
can mills be forced into idlcness and
American workingmen into serious loss
| i'll wages.
How British manufacturers pursue
this dumping policy just the same az
| American manufacturers will 10 when
| the necessity arises, is shown in recent
consular reports. (See circular No. 2067,
Department of Commerce and Labor)
Samuel NJ. Taylor u. s. Consul at Glass
gov, Scotland says:
Manufactured steel for export is sold for
to 10 per cent less than for domestic use,
and even ut Il greater reduction. In other
words the cost of transportation to foreign
| countries where competition is brisk is
largely assumed by the British exporter or
manufacturer by means of this reduction.
| Even England is treated rs foreign by the
| Scotch manufacturer and gets reductions
neither expects nor receives the Same profit
on his exports to foreign countries that he
obtains at home. In Scotland comDina-
ton of prices exists which fixes the prices
of steel plate for the whole OF Scotland, ana
gives the members of the combination
power to sell in other districts than Scot
land, at whatever prices they choose.
may mention in this connection that an
American sewing machine company which.
in addition to having large works In the
United States. has works in Scotland sufh-
Client to supply the European trade, makes
British consumers pay more for machines
manufactured in Great Britain than Amer
lean consumers pay for those manufactured
in the United States.
Rufus Fleming u. S. Consul at Edin-
burgh. Scotland says:
1t is the policy of British manufacturers
to maintain prices in the home market Mt
the highest possible level ana to make what
| ever concessions may be necessary In for
| eign markets. Al all times, even when
general rade conditions at home and abroad
are excellent, it is the rule in British in
dustry to quote lower prices to foreign buy
| erS than to the average domestic trader
The difference in favor of the foreigner or
exporter ranges from to 6 per cent.
have seen invoices of Il British firm OF steel
wire manufactures to German buyers III
which the prices were fully 2O12 per cent
lower than the prices quoted to home Gus
toners. This reduction was not due to an
extraordinary surplus, but principally to a
determination to put Il certain line OF goods
into competitive markets In most trades
the one fixed purpose Is not to reduce
prices to British customers until forced to
do SO.
A prominent brewer, an ex-member Of
Parliament, said:
/ have been dumping ale and beer on for
eign markets all my life, whenever ] have
had Il surplus. Practically every manufac-
| turer in this country sells his goods abroad
for the best price they will bring, when
his stock is too heavy to be unlohded at
home in a reasonable time without break
ing the market
James Boyle, u. s. Consul at Liver
pool, England says;
The most interesting instance of dumping
| in this Consular district of which | have
| knowledge, was that of Drummer, Mond IL
| Co., chemical manufacturers of NOrthwich,
| Cheshire. The products involved were SODA
| ash and bicarbonate Of soda 1t was II dis
| tinct policy of this firm to sell their prod
UctS on the American market at rate
| which not only urdercut the American
| product, but was less than the price III Hng-
fish markets. This went on for some time
| until the firm effected an arrangement with
| parties, both American and foreign, inter
| ested in the sale of chemicals III the united
| States, and then, as | am informed, became
part owners In chemical factories in syria
| cllse N Y, and In Michigan. / believe 1t
| is true, even now, that occasionally certain
chemicals and particularly bicarbonate OF
soda, produced III this neighborhood, are
| sold cheaper In the United States than IN
tbis market | am informed that certain
| other manufacturers, like the well known
firm of Nettlefolds Qimted) Of Birming-
| ham which makes iron and brass and
wooden screws, often sell abroad cheaper
than at home.
III. Clay Evans, Consul General at
London, England says: Il find that man
ufacturers here endeayor to maintain
home markets, but when they can find
, a foreign market, they will bid for it.
get it if they can without too great a
loss, and thus increase the demand for
their output and reduce the cost Of pro
dnction without demoralizing Aome