Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-28

ers, manufacturers and laborers are
getting the markets and the jobs OF
American producers and the consumer
is not reaping any of the advantages OF
| lower foreign prices. 1t is actually
| true that the prices of necessities re-
quired to make up the living of the
average American family, are higher
than ever before.
II is useless TO deny or to quibbie
prices are actually higher to consur-
ers, much lower to American produe
ers, foreign goods are rapidly increas-
ing in quantity Of arrival, and Ameri-
can jobs are Iessening in number and
value.
Read these figures and ponder:
Importations during the three
| months of March, April and May show
the effects of the Underwood Wilson
tariff on the industries of the country.
During these three months 1921, 900, 900
worth of foreign merchandise was i'm
ported into the United States, an in
crease of 20 per cent. over the impor-
tations for the same months of 1918.
For March and April the increase was
IS per cent; for May 1t was 20 per
cent.
The largest increase in importations
was in the wooden industry. Imports
of raw wool during this quarter in
creased 164 per cent, clothing wool in
creasing 202 per cent and combing
wool 116 per cent. Wooden cloths in
creased nearly 400 per cent and dress
goods 1877 per cent. Wool waste in
creased from practically nothing to
$416.0o0. Wooden wearing apparel
has increased Is per cent and the i'm
portation of carpets 13 per cent.
Large increases are recorded In the
importations of cotton goods. Cotton
hosiery has increased So per cent; knit
goods other than hosiery 720 per cent.
There is an increase of 81 per cent. in
the general classification of cotton
cloths, colored cotton cloths having In
creased 80 per cent; bleached cloth IS
per cent, while unbleached cloth shows
a decrease of 80 per cent. Yarn and
thread importations increased rs per
cent, laces and embroideries per
cent.
The steel industry depends upon
general prosperity for its growth and
development. During periods of de-
preston there is sharp decline in the
demand for manufactures of steel and
iron. People must have clothing but
building operations can be postponed
to more fortunate times. Production in
domestic steel plants decreased from 40
to so per cent. and in certain special
ties as much as 80 per cent, but i'm
portations showed only slight de-
crease, the decline in the imports of
steel products for the three months
was about 100000, that is from s9,-
100000 in 1913 to ss.5oO.ooO in 1914. But
there are startling increases in many
branches of the metal trades. Cutlery
imports increased per cent; steel
rails IS per cent: structural steel 81
per cent; tin plate so per cent.
Importations of chemicals, drugs and
dyes have decreased owing to the in
rlapraccion
This fact illustrates the workings of
a protective and a competitive tariff
Under a protective tariff domestic
is encouraged and ma
terials for use in manufacturing are
more extensively imported. Under a
tariff, the finished goods
are imported, our mills and factories
work from hand to mouth and the de-
mand for materials for use in manu-
featuring declines.
Importations of earthen, stone and
china ware show very little change.
A comparison Of imports for various
other industries follows:
Manufactures Of vegetable fibers and
textile grasses in 1918, s2o,522.0oO; in
1914 $21, S57, 900, percentage 7.
Wood, and its manufactures in 1913
s1a,47s,0O0; in 1914 $14,4s3.0o0, per-
centage Z.
Oils in 1918 s10,1ss.O 900; in 1914 $11,-
$4,000, percentage Is.
Silk manufactures in 1913 s6,27S,000;
in 1914 $7,s01,00 percentage "a.
Paper and its manufactures in 1913
s5,42S.o0O; in 1914 $7,1s4,0Oo, percent
age 32.
Leather and tanned skins in 1913
50, 115,000; in 1914 s4,675,000, per-
centage 121.
Glass and glassware in 1913 $780,
900; in 1914 s2,162,0o0, percentage So.
Gloves in 1918 $1,409,000; in 1914
81, 7S1, 900, percentage 26.