The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-14

confined to America, nor 10 it limited
to countries where the protective prin-
cdple prevails. Every government Of
Europe approves 1t and all. save one.
encourage It George Paish, editor Of
the London Statist. perhaps the largest
economic journal published in the
English language, was my guest a. De
Witt. Iowa. during the Campaign OF
1904. introduced him TO my audience
and b. sat upon my platform. During
the discussion Of this subject I made
the statement that every foreign gov
eminent except England encourages
the sale OF manufactured products
abroad cheaper than Al home. and add
ed that was not certain as TO the
English policy and asked Mr.. Paish for
information. Promptly did he reply:
England does not encourage II. but
our people practice IT." The practice
is frequently referred TO by writers on
political economy as the English Ger
man policy.
The law requires merchandise to- be
entered st the foreign market value and
ad valorem duties are leT.ed thereon
Tn importer has the right. OF courss.
to buy abroad as cheaply as possible.
bue he must paw duty on the full To-
eign value. All importers are reQuir-
ed to file their original invoices and
when they buy below the regular for
eign market value they mus d -
this invoice an amount equal 10 the
difference. This is technically known
as adding 10 make market value"
When the importer fails to add 10
make market value his duties are in
creased TO the extent Of his underval-
udtiOn. During the last fiscal year. a.
the port of New York alone. upward
Of l. 900 invoices. covering mor than
S21. 900. 600 worth Of merchandise. were
filed and thereon the importer made
voluntary advances a~ggregating aver
a million and a half. This is proof
positive that there was sold for eXpOr-
tatiOn TO his country during the last
fiscal rear S27. 200. 900 worth of mer-
chandiSe, at an average of I per cent
below the price at which 1t could have
been purchased for consumption in the
country OF production.
So general has this practice become
that a large number Of New York inn
porters appeared before the Ways and
Means committee at the recent session
of 10 urge an amendment to
the customs administrative law under
hich it was proposed to levy n col
lect ad vdIorem duties not, as now, on
the market price in the country
whence exported, but on the price at
which the producer might De willing
to sell for export to the United States.
These importers know, better than
others, thar the price or nearly every
kind of merchandise is from 5 to 25
per cent cheaper when sold for export
to the United States than when sold
for local consumption, and they sought
in this indirect way to effect a material
reduction in our tariffs.
The treasury department has many
confidential agents in Europe, and |
officially meet a large number of peo-
pie, many of them importers, who an
nually go to Europe on business.
Through these two sources / have
sought to find what. if n articles of
American production can be purchased
abroad cheaper than at home, and in
cidentally have accumulated abundant
evidence to disprove the claim of our
opponents that the practice OF dump
ing. as it is Called throughout Europe,
IS. general.
But what stran be said of this prac-
tice as a policy? Is the practice bad
per Sc? Who suffers because of it?
Does the American labOrer? Go ask
the man who produces these exported
wares thus dumped abroad. I have
been criticised for saying that I would
prefer to have the American manufac-
rurer sell his products abroad cheaper
han at home rather than have the
foreign protucer sell his wares in
America cheaper than at home. This
is the same as saying that | would pre-
fer to have the products Of our facto-
ries close foreign shops rather than
have the products of foreign shops
close our factories. | wish all the
world we'll, bat II anyone has 10 be out
of employment. If there must be suffer
ing somewhere. then | will use my best
efforts that II come not nigh my coun-
try. If, to accomplish this. IL shall be
necessary that | pay more for my
clothes. for my shoes, more for
my sewing machine, more for my type
writer, ore for the barbed wire used
on my Iowa farm tina is paid for the
same articles in Europe, then | will not
object so long as the products OF Amer
lean farms feed, and the products OF
American looms clothe. and the pro-
ducts of American b. generally
supply every need of, those who pro-
duce these things thus SOLD abroad ar
reduced prices I will consent to Va
a little more than otherwise would be
necessary t o the end thar the products
OF American labor shall be put on for
Gig markets.