Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-11-02
SHOW UNDERWOOD
TARIFF HFAILURE
Analysis Proves That 1t Has
Given Neither Protection
Nor Sufficient Revenue

| washington. D. Can analysis of the
reasons for the failure of the Under
wood tariff law. made by Senator Pen
rose, of Pennsylvania, prior to the
close of Congress, has just appeared
In the Congressional Record. Included
In the analysis are tables showing the
trade of the United States before the
Europec war and during the during
the European war, monthly statements
of the treasury and the revenues and
expenditures of the Federal Govern
fnent under Democratic and Republi-
can administrations.
Senator Penrose shows the failure of
the Underwood law, not merely from the
standpoint of protection, but as a reve-
nue. producer. The most important part
of his analysis deals with the first
thirty months of the operation of the
Underwood law, and says in part:
1T has been asserted by the Demo-
cratic administration that falling reve-
nues were due to the decrease in i'm
ports brought about by the European
war. The official figures furnished by
the Democratic administration do not
confirm this contention.
Imports the Real Test
'The real test of this issue is shown
from the actual record of foreign mer-
chandise imported and consumed in the
United States. The periods considered
are by quarters. or three month period
OF the year. Hero are the official fig
ures:
During the first nine months of the
Underwood tariff under peace conditions
october, 1913 to July, 1914, imports
Tor consumption amounted to s1,466,-
100000, as compared with $1,277, ,000,-
600 OF imports during the last nine
months of the Payne-Aldrich tariff"
During the first three-quarter years
OF the European war period. July, 1914.
to April, 1915, imports amounted to
s1,205. 100000.
For the second nine months period
under European war conditions, April,
1915, to January l, 1916, imports for
consumption amounted to $1,377,000,-
000."
For the third nine months period
OF european war conditions the official
figures are available only for the sew
enth war quarter (from January to
March, 1870 when imports for con-
sumption amounted to $5S6,00O. 900
This quarter (January to March, 1870
establishes a record for the highest
number OF imports taoin aaooo 10000
volume of imports coming into the
United States, as compared with any
previous quarter. in the history of the
United States. And under European
war conditions at that"
For the first thirty months of the
Underwood tariff (from October 4, 1913,
to March, 1870 imports for consumption
amounted to $4.633,543,42S, as com
pared with $4.2O9,711 ,2s7 of imports
for the last thirty months of the Payne
Adrich tariff (from April !, 1911, to
October 8, 1910"
The monthly average of imports dur
ing the first thirty months of the I'm
derwood tariff was $154,540, 900, as COM
pared with monthly average of $140-
$4,000 of imports during the last thirty
months of the Payne-Aldrich tariff.
In other words there has been an av-
erage monthly increase of $14, 126,00o
OF imports since the passage of the
Underwood tariff. thirty months ago.
Decrease Of Revenues
Revenue collected from imports dur
ing the first thirty months of the I'm
derwood tariff amounted to $553,244,-
7S5, as compared with $777,9S1,365 of
revenue collected during the last thirty
months of the Payne -A1drich tariff"
Figures of imports. revenues and
rates of duty are given showing that
the trouble with the Democratic tariff
from revenue standpoint is on ac-
count of the low rates of duty. as at
no time during the high records of
imports under that tariff has the rev.
enue collected been anywhere near
equal to the revenue collected by the
protective rates of the Payne-Aldrich
tariff during the low record of imports
under that tariff"