Evening journal., 1915-06-12
RESULTS OF UNDERWOOD TARIFF.

n ORE imports and less revenue Less work for
I1 American workingmen, more competition for the
American farmer. and less money for the American
treasury.
These are the results Of the Underwood "competi-
tive" tariff Neither war emtargoes a decrease in
ocean tonnage sufces stay the food OF foreign
ducts which low tariff is sluicing into the American
market AT the rate OF increase shown during the
last three months the temporary revival Of GER
tain industries the influx of orders will
not Offset the effect of the lower duties in the Under
wood law.
The figures for April 1915 just made public by the
Department of Commerce, show that the total value
of imports for that month in round numbers $780,
576OOO compared with s159,677OOO in July, 1914 the
last peace month during which the Underwood law
in operation. and with s146194OO0 for April 1913 un-
Republican tariff Imports for March, 1915, to-
tailed s15s 0OO compared with S155,445OOO in March
1913 Imports under Democratic law for March and
April. 1914, we're Sis2,555,OOO and $17S.762O00, re-
spectvely
In October 1913 the first month Of the Underwood
law imports amounted to s132949OOO or s27 500
less than April just passed. while exports for that
month amounted to S27l S61 OOO and for April 1915.
to 1924 47O OOO an increase of s22,6OSOOO.
The Jump in our export trade in September and Oc-
tober 1918 indicates that exporters speeding
up and making all the trade possible before the eff
ecs of tha Underwood law began to be felt Thus, Oc-
ober 1913, favorable trade balance Of SiSs,-
$4,000
Secretary Redheld April last the greatest
trade month in the history of the country and yet the
balance in our favor that month $50000O0 less
than il was in October 1913 which would seem TO in
dicate that the Underwood law degeneratng in spite
Of the abnormal conditions which giving 1t so much
assistance.
The enormous aid to our export trade attributable
war orders is indicated by the Government figures
comparing April 1914 with April, 1915 which show
increases in exports on breadstufs, meat and dairy
products etc. of from $50 to 500 per cent, and manu-
sactures of munitions of war will doubtless show even
greater increases. In some instances manufacturers
in this country have gone far as TO remodel thei
plants to meet the demands from abroad for war ma
terais and in order to keep their aborng forces EN-
ployed
Another noteworthy fact is that the revenues are no
keeping up proportionatey with the mporations. III
to March 1915 the average ad vaorem duty on all i'm
ports under the Democratic tariff about 49, pc
cent In March this dropped to H. per cent and II
April Just past il went as low O. per cent, or
reduction OF % per below the prevailing ad val
orem rate This would indicate that foreign producer
OF food are taking advantage of the duty free PROV
sions of the Underwood law to get into our marke
| to an ever-increasing extent
That this view is Justified is proved by reoen
| statement issued by Collector Malone OF New York
II shows that the increases in North American i'm
ports into that port were S2SO0OOOO against $4,000
600 year ago Imports from South America increas
ed ssOOOOOO and Asiatic imports increased 100000
for the month The reports issued by the Department
Of Commerce show that the imports Of food products
particularly fresh meats from Argentina ncreas
ing at an astonishing rate. These countries expoi
food products chiefly