The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-15
FOOD |MPORTAT|ONS
SHOW BIG INCREASE
UNDER NEW TARIFF
Underwood-Simmon Law I'm
questionably Has Resulted
in Broadening Food Supply
of United States.
Much Too Soon to State Amy
Definite Results Under New
Law, Says Secretary Rcdheld
in Analysing Figures for
October.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1.-THE TN
derwood Simmons tariff law has ma
terially increased the importation of
food stuffs into this country. 1t has,
according to Secretary of Commerce
Redfield unqu estionably resulted in
broadening the food supply of the
United States.
This is the deduction drawn by Mr.
Redaeld from statistics which has just
been complied by the bureau Of
foreign and domestic commerce show
ing the total imports in october last,
the first month In which the new tariff
law was in operation.
The increased importations at lower
rates of duty. however seems to have
had no effect on the prices charged
to the ultimate consumer. The Red
field statement shows that there has
been a large increase in the number
of cattle imported in the United States.
in the amount of corn. fish. fresh
beef. cream, potatoes, wheat and other
food stufs. Yet the prices, If the
general complaints OF consumers
which have recently been pouring in
on congress are true remain as high
as they were, under the Payne
Aldrich tariff law.
Imports and Exports.
The figures compiled by the bureau
of foreign and domestic commerce
include the imports and exports for
the arst four months Of the present
fiscal year.
ION the whole says Secretary
Redheld, lit Is PROFESSIONALLY true
that the food supply has been broad
ened under the present law.
THE first that WILL suggest to the
thoughtful reader Of the figures Will
lie the falling Off In imports In tho
first four months OF this fiscal year
of nearly sss.ooo.o6a. as compared
with the same periad of 1912. The
flooding OF our markets with the al
legsa cheap rts Tesf nj Europe has not
happened II should be noted that the
month of September In the table In
cludes the first three days of Octo-
Der up to the time when the new
tariff took effect. s13.6so,0o0. but
even when this is reckoned ii will
still appear that September by Itself
was the largest month of the four
for importations and that October,
during which the flood gates were
supposed to be opened, showed no
such rnsh OF !mportations as some
have both threatened and feared.
Increase Encouraging.
ION the other hand the growth OF
nearly s6S.00o.o 900 liz both surprising
and encouraging If we examine the
details of the exports 1t win be found
that the same growth in the exports
OF manufactures which marked the
last fiscal year is continuing now.
1T is. OF course much too soon to
state any definite results under the
new revenue laws: yet. II 1t be we'll
to open new supplies Of food that has
unquestionably been q result: because
imports of foodstuffs show IA marked
increase under the new tariff law. De
tails of the imports of October. just
compiled by the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce, shows increases
in "A large proportion of those classes
OF foodstuffs In which the duty was
reduced or removed by the new tariff
law which began its operation on
October 4th.