The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-09-19
REPUBLICANS URGE PROTECT
I'VE TARIFF

Washington, Sept. 18-Citing in
creasing imports and decreasing Gus
toms revenues in support of its argu-
ment the Republican Publicity Asso-
citation, in a statement issued by the
president of the organization, Ho.
Jonathan Bourne, Jr., urges restora-
ton of protective tariffs. The state
ment says:
cover 70 per cent of our entire inn
portations, amounting to $3,096,OO0,OO0
in value, came in free of duty during
the fiscal year ended June 30th last.
The democratic free list gave passes
to something over $2,230,0O0,000
worth of foreign goods. oh, these
were all crude Materials say the
Democrats, TO be used by our mills in
manufacturing goods But they were
not. Crude materials accounted for
but one-half that enormous free list;
while foodstuffs, manufactures I'M
finished and manufactures ready for
consumption made up the other half,
or S1,113,000,000 in value, and these
are the three classes of production
which give us greatest concern in
competitor at home. The average rate
of duty on dutiable imports for the
year was 213 per cent but the swollen
free list pulled the average rate of
duty on total imports down to
shade under 6 per cent. Despite the
fact that imports for the fiscal year
1919 exceeded those for the last fiscal
year under the protective policy
1913-by II per cent, the dutiable i'm
ports for 1919-$866, 000, 000-were
but S4OOOO,OO0 greater than the du
table imports for 1913-S826, 100000.
Those for 1919 paid into the public
treasury but 1884, 45s,000; those for
1913 paid in s31s,142,O0O.
"Our imports for 1913 totaled ST.
S13, 100000, of which Sd per cent came
in free The average rate on dutiable
imports was nearly 80 per cent and
the average rate on total imports
was 17.7 per cent. The rates in those
DAYS were protective rates, not merely
revenue rates. Their purpose was to
protect American markets for Ameri-
can producers and to preserve Amer
lean wage standards to American
workmen, and they did it. Now we
face a peculiar sitution. Wages have
more than doubled since 1918. Doubt
less they have doubled in Europe.
But that has acted to increase the
disparity in wage-scales between the
two continents. With an average,
say of $3.50 a day in Europe, and
$500 a day in America, in 1913, the
manufacturer in Europe had an adj
vantage of $1.50 per operative over
us, whereas he now has, under dou-
bling of wage-scales, SO per operative.
Meanwhile, our tariff rate on all
imports is but one third what is was
in 1913, our free list is almost bill
lion and a quarter greater, and such
imports as do pay revenue only du-
ties today, pay little more than half
the duties exacted under protection.
an 1918 our total ordinary reve-
nues were $723,783, 900 of which Gus
toms duties paid "A per cent. In 1919
our total ordinary revenues were 3d.
146.883 900, of which Gus collections
provided under per cent Certain
sources of revenue such as the liquor
taxes, are no longer available to us,
yet this government must continue for
years to come to raise not less than
$4,000, 100000 annually, and manufac-
turing industries must undoubtedly
bear the brunt of this taxation. How
is it to be done? Recent rebates on
tungsten and zinc tariff amendments
prove that the democratic party has
not receded one step from its cham
pionship of free trade. If Europe and
Asia are given free access to our mar
ket; if Great Britain with her vast
scheme of imperial preferences, is
aided by the free traders in market
ing her goods in this country, certain
" our manufacturing industries can
never hope to keep their mills going
and their operatives employed, much
less to be MIXED for taxes to meet
the government budget. The answer
is so plain that he who runs may
read. 1t is protection, and plenty OF
it. to American industries; but not
until Mr.. Wilson and his followers are
dislodged from power can this country
hope for establishment of that prin-
ciple."