The Washington herald., 1910-04-17

Imports OF merchandise into this
country during the month Of March were
the largest Of any similar period in the
history Of American commerce. They
exceeded in value by $22,446,OoO those OF
November. 1909, the previous record
month for this country.
This is the gist of 6 statement issued
during the week by the Bureau Of Stats
tics, the significance Of the fact being
hidden amid colossal figures, possibly too
dry FOR the average reader to md it.
The volume Of imports is measured &C
cordlng TO value as appraised by the
custom houses at the ports Of entry.
Owing to the higher price of commodities
throughout the world this year the ag-
gregate in tonnage probably would not
show so large increase over previous
records. yet the greater consumption IN
this country Of foreign bought products
in recent months is very marked with
all that the fact implies.
Does Not Check Imports.
In the first place the facts show that
the new tariff bill has not served as a
check upon the importation OF COM
modities, as was freely predicted.
Whether a higher price As paid for them
or otherwise does not affect the result
when It comes 10 manufacturers and the
people generally in supplying their wants
from sources outside this country.
The immediate result OF this increased
importation is an expansion Of the gov
eminent revenues. which near the end
Of the month Of March left a working
balance in the Treasury Of more than
100000 a day, and has since that time
once or twice advanced beyond 100000,
but has fallen again in the past few
days to a point between $2O,ccoOo0 and
S3o,OOO.OOO.
The increase in imports is one Of the
chief causes for the requirement Of gold
in London and other European points
70 pay the bills Of our foreign trading
Some Of the exported gold found its way
10 South America to pay for commodities.
like coffee, rubber and hides brought
from there but the bulk Of IL went
through London as the point Of adjust
Volume OF Our Commerce.
The figures showing the volume Of
commerce in March are imposing and
are given in the report as follows:
The March imports were Sl62.955.O76 an
Increase Of S30OSl, $50 over those Of March,
1900; exports Sl43,7OO, 463, an increase Of
S4409.096 compared with March, 1909. For
the nine months ending March. 1870 the
imports we're $l,1Sl, 272l66. an increase Of
s2S5245.2S1 over the corresponding months
OF last year; exports S1.G52, 9l5. lO3 an in
crease Of $55.S5l.528 compared with the
same months of last year
The excess Of exports over imports in
the nine months ending with March. 1910,
IS $l6S, 673 81, a decrease OF $50 800, 100 when
compared with last year. In the month
OF March, 1910. imports exceeded exports
by $l9.2546l3, while in March Of last year
exports exceeded imports by s6,A7.4l
The vast sum which Uncle Sam paid
for foreign goods last month is not
easily comprehended by the ordinary
man. to whom $1,000 IS a good deal Of
money. 1t simply means that the people
OF the nation paid something over s. per
capita for what was Bought abroad. and
the increase over the previous year. was
IN the neighborhood OF 30 cents. That
the increase Of imports was not a sudden
squirt in the month Of March is seen by
a comparison Of the figures for the nine
months Of the current fiscal year
Export Trade Declines.
Another striking thing about the state
ment is the vast differences shown in the
volumes Of export and import trade, the
excess Of the one over the other suggest
ing the possibility Of America soon be-
coming a buying instead OF selling ma
ton. The situation in this respect can be
partially explained by short crops Of
cotton and grain, but not wholly so.
The growing demand Of the home
market for the products Of the soil is
making great inroads upon the export
trade, and in the last dozen years the
character Of exports has changed con-
siderably from agricultural products TO
those Of the factory and the mill.
The effects of the changes in the re-
Gently enacted tariff law are more par
ticularly shown in the following state
ment Of the dutiable imports as COM
pared with those coming in free Of duty:
Dutiable imports in the nine months
ending with March, 1910, were valued at
S599.5O2.6h against $O4. 453.112 last year.
an increase OF $95.O4s. 529; imports free of
duty in the nine months ending with
March, 1910, S5s4,769525 against S4i4. 57S. 77s
last year, an increase of s14O,195. 752.
Dutiable imports during the months OF
March. 1910, were SS6,l51, 532 against ST.
6S7,S26 in March last year; free imports
in March. 1870 S76.SOS.744 against Sc. 2ss.-
800 In March OF last year