Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-19
War Makes New Export Record.

0uty Oh dA4 AAAAPSA - Wv ~ ~~--'
epitomizes our foreign trade for the
month Of May, 1915, and all records go
by the board. Each month for the past
six or eight months has marked new
high record for our imports and ex-
ports, but the export record for May
overtops that Of March by se1,0o0,ooo.
and May imports exceed those Of April
by $1,000, 900. The exceedingly low
duties carried in the Democratic tariff
law account for our huge imports; the
tremendous shipments Of war NUM-
tons to Europe, and the fact that the
United States is the great base Of sup
ply for neutral nations requiring man.
ufactured goods, account for the over
whelming volume Of our exports. The
blood Of Europe nourishes the roots Of
our export trade SO that its branches
reach a height beyond all comparison
while gnawing at those roots is the
Democratic commercial policy, which
II not stined. will destroy the bole when
the blood Of Europe ceases to flow.
In May, 1918, under the Republican
tariff law, our imports totalled s134 ,o00,-
900, on which customs duties were col
lected in the sum of $40 435 600. or an
average rate Of duty Of 1873 per cent.
The Democratic tariff revision was I'M
der way at that time, and foreign COM
petitors were holding up dutiable goods
| in order to avail themselves Of antici-
pated reductions in the rates. This &C
counted for the low average rate of
duty for that month. On the 1929, 000,-
900 Of imports entering the United
States during May, 1916, duties were
collected in the sum Of $2o,1s5,5oo. A 20
per cent increase in imports. May, 1915,
over May, 1913, showed a slight de-
crease in revenue. Nearly 66 per cent
of the May, 1916 imports came in duty
free.
During the II months ended May,
| 1916, our imports reached a total of
over 81 1851, 200, 900, or s269, 00o, 900 greater
than for the II months ended May,
1913, under the Republican tariff law,
despite the European war, According
to the daily treasury statement the du
/ ties collected for the 1916 period
amounted to s191 1851 900, so that for the
entire IL months the average rate of
duty was 9.s per cent, pointing to the
lowest tariff law ever enacted by an
American legislature, and explaining
why the Democrats We're obliged to
enact a war tax and repeal the free
sugar clause. During the IL months
ended May, 1913, under the Republican
law. imports totaled 1885,, 900, 900, which
paid into the Federal Treasury 1924
474 900, or an average rate of duty of
175 per cent for the period, which pro-
tected American industries and labor
and provided adequate revenue toward
defraying Government expenses. The
Democratic law increased imports
1853 900 900 and decreased customs rev.
enues over s102 goo, 900 during the 1916
period, compared with the 1918 Repub-
lican period.
In May, 1918, our exports totalled
s1e5 100000. In May, 1914, with the
Democratic tariff law in full swing, our
business depressed, and the world at
peace. our exports fell to s162, 900, 900
May 1914. saw US buying s2,50o,0 0C
more Of goods than we We're selling
For the II months of the fiscal year
1914, eight Of which were under the
Democratic tariff law. exports fell off
s95 0oo, 900, compared with the IL months
of the fiscal year 1913. The European
war, which was declared August l
1914, turned the tide the other way
with a rush. The eleven months ended
May, 1915, after war orders had been
pouring in for nine months, found us
with a favorable trade balance OF
1885,, ooo Imports had been de-
creased 1920, 900 with the war acting
as a protective tariff law. The eleven
months ended May 1916, found US with
4 favorable trade balance of 81, 916, ooO,-
900, exports totaling sS,ss7 zoo, 600, the
highest in the history Of the world for
a like period. Added to this favorable
balance Of trade were the millions OF
dollars formerly spent in Europe by
our tourists, who now remain at home
Is it any wonder that we are enjoy
ing a prosperity undreamed Of one
month before the European war broke
out?
And now two questions for your con-
sideration, please: With all this ire
mendous increase in imports at vastly
reduced revenue therefrom, necessitat-
ing hundreds OF millions in direct
war" taxes, have you noticed any cor.
responding reduction in the cost OF
those things imported? Then what be-