The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-03
worth to the country ten times what
!. costs TO the individuals who back Vt.
JuGG1.ING rnE r1GuI,Iss.


The Federal Bureau of Statistics is
doing It's duty by the Aldrich tariff
and is striving hard to keep tho old
bark a1oat. 1t is rowing against the
tide, and its boat is pretty leaky but
no man can say the expert oarsmen
of the Federal service are not stick
ing TO their post in the days of storm.
The bureau gave an example of It's
party loyalty on SATURDAY. when 1t Is
sued a report showing how the coun-
try vas prospecting under the hldrich
tariff According to the statisticians'
the tariff is working wonders for
American Industry. IT is planting pros
perity In every fence corner, and 1t Is
bringing happiness to every man who
has n dollar or makes a dollar. We
are told by these veracious scientists
that during the first eight months OF
the new tariff. ending March 81, 1910,
Imports of manufacturers material
exceed those for the same period pre-
ceding the enactment of the tariff by
thirty-tlrec per cent. There was
likewise an increase of twcn'y-siS per
cent. in finished manufacturers mate
rials ard an increase of three per cent.
in brcadstuffs ION tho export side.
reads .hc report on the subject, manu-
features show large increase for
the same period manufacturers mate
rails considerable gain. and food
SUITS a marked reduction"
This is sent out as serious infor-
nation and It Is intended to be
1ieh. TIC all men, but so far as 1T con-
tains any definite information for the
benefit of the public, it might as well
not have been compiled 1t looks well
enough on its face. \ thIr:S-three
per cent rise in manufacturers ma.
terial' sounds promising. and AN in
crease of twenty.six per cent, in FIN
ished manufactures is beautiful. They
are specific increases, we are told,
attributable, of course, TO the blessings
Of tho next tariff and brought about
by the foresight OF Senator Aldrch.
AS matter OF fact, this specious
presentation OF so-called statistics
means absolutely nothing in its bear
ing upon actual trade conditions
What ere the manufacturers mate
rails in which there have been so
great an increase and what are the
finished manufactures" which have
come in such quantities? Nobody
knows, outside of the Bureau, and no
body will know. unless he choose to
make patient search of the schedules
when detailed trade summary APP
pears The increases may be In the
Importation of those articles which arc
most needed by manufacturers and by
the public, but 1t is much more likely
that they are increases in the impor
tation of products which come to the
consumer at still higher prices in the
end.
Besides, why are there no figures TO
show the large increase" in the man
ufactures exported. and how great is
the considerable gain in the amount
of manufacturers materials exported
What is the marked reduction in
tho foodstuns exported? How Will the
balance of trade stand If accounts be
evenca and the increases in imports be
charged against the decreases in the
exports
To these questions, which will arise
in the mind of any one who really
examines the jugglery of the bureau
there is no answer in the report.
though upon them depends the whole
righteousness or injustice of the tariff
We arc as much in the dark as eve,
and We have TO take the figures as
they are, or leave them. The bu-
reau is not in business to give all the
! facts Ii simply intends to do its duty
as "a part of the Republican machine
and TO give out such facts as will ben
eft sweating congressman OF the Re.
publican persuasion vixen theY try t.
answer their constituents question:
! this fall
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