Evening journal., 1916-07-20
WAR MAKES NEW EXPORT RECORD.

IMPORTS totalng 1929 100000: exports toaling s472-
100000; balance of trade in favor S248 900 900;
average rate Of duty all imports s.s per cent This
epitomizes our foreign trade for the month Of May
1916, and all records go by the board. Each month
for the past six or eight months has marked a new
high record for imports and exports but the export
record for May overseps that Of March by
and May imports exceed those of April by S11 100000
The exceedingly low duties carried in the Democratic
tariff law account for huge IMPORTS the tremend-
shipments Of munitions to Europe and the
fact that the United States the great base OF supply
for neutral nations requiring manufactured goods.
count for the overwhelming volume Of exports The
blood of Europe nourshes the roots of export trade
that its branches reach height beyond all compar
ison while gnaWing those roots is the Democratic
commercial policy which, if not stifed, will destroy
the bole when the blood Of Europe to how
In May 1913 under the Republican, tariff law inn
ports totaled S134O0OO0O, which customs we're col
leoted the sum of $40 4S5OOO average rate Of
duty Of 1873 per cent The Democratic tariff revision
was under way at that time and foreign competitors
holding up dutabe goods in order to avail them
selves Of anticipated reductions in the rates. This
accounted for the low rate Of duty for that
month On the s229OOO0OO Of imports entering the
United states during May. 1916, duties we're collected
in the sum of s2O1S550O. 20 per cent increase in
imports May, 1916 May 1913 showed a slight de-
crease in Nearly per cent of the May 1916
imports in duty free.
During the eleven months ended May 1916 i'm
ports reached total of S1951 100000, S2690OO
600 greater than for the eleven months ended May,
1913 under the Republican tariff law, despite the
European war According TO the Daily Treasury state
ment duties collected for the 1916 period amount
ed to s1a19 900 that for the entire eleven months
the average rate of duty 9.s per cent. pointing
to the lowest tariff law enacted by an American
Congress and explaining why the Democrats were
obliged 10 "war tax" and repeal the free sugar
clause During the eleven months ended May 1918,
under Republican law. imports totaled sl6S2 000,
OO0 which paid into the Federal Treasury S294474.
oOO or an average Of duty Of IT'S per cent for
the period which protected American industries and
labor and provided adequate revenue toward defray-
ing government expenses. The Democratic law in
creased imports $3.50 100000 and decreased customs
revenues over slO2OOOOOO during the 1916 period,
compared with the 1913 Republican period.
In May 1913 our exports totaled s1s5ooooOO In
May 1914 with the Democratic tariff in full swing
our business depressed and the world at peace our
exports fell to S162oOO00O. May 1914 saw us buying
S25O0o0o more Of goods than selling For the
eleven months Of the fiscal year 1914 eight OF which
were under the Democratic tariff law, exports fell of
! S95 100000 compared with the eleven months Of the
I fiscal year 1913. The European war which was de-
cared August L. 1914 turned the tide the other way
with a rush The eleven months ended May 1915 ar
ter war orders had been pouring in for nine months
found us with favorable trade balance Of S9sS567
OOO Imports had been s22OOOOOOO with the
war acting a protective tariff law The eleven
months ended May 1916 found with a favorable
trade balance OF $19160O0 OOO exports totang sSs
OOOOOO the highest the history of the world for a
like period Added this favorable balance Of trade
the millions Of dollars formerly spent in Europe
by tourists who now remain at home
Is II any wonder that are enjoying a prosperity
undreamed Of month before the European war
broke out?