The Washington herald., 1921-04-24
Business-Industrial Resume.


; a MOTHER week has brought but little evidence
~ of any marked improvement in business I'm
=. certainty to what will be done in the matter
sftarf and tax revision make almost impossible for
business plan for the future This coupled with
the unetainty and unsatisfactory foreign situation Of
fer little encouragement for investment or initiative
Farmers Protest Rail Rates. y
The recent meetings Of the American Farm Bureau
Federation and the National Farmers Union in Wash
agton have shown that these organizations have come
10 take rational view Of the economics conditions
affecting agricultural products The earlier demands
for the abolition Of all future commodity exchanges
modified to request for regulation The reliance
high tariff as q cure-all for low prices was re-
sarded less essential than an attempt to secure
needed changes In domestic conditions particularly
railroad rates and credit facilities particularly strong
case was made out against the present high rail rates
and undoubtedly these protests will have an effect
jr the coming settlement Of the RAILROAD questions
Railroad Rates and Wages.
Railroad executives have devoted their attention
to combating the idea Of reduction in rates claiming
that present rates do not represent great ad-
vance over prewar rates as do commodity prices
Railroad sbor associations have made further attacks
upon the alleged inefGeiehcy OF management claim
ing th millions of dollars are wasted in needless ex-
penses The claims of union representatives that COM
bnatons of Wall Street bankers are forcing present
reduced Is clearly extravagan and has hurt their case
mcre than 4 has helped Present conditions are far
too widespread and deep rooted to be the result of
any possible combination Of bag business. ..' ..
Exports Decrease
The announcement by the Department of Com
srse th.t exports during March fell more than sIoo-
soecoo below February confirms general observation
. g the course Of our foreign trade Exports for
the month were valued al S,a4 against s1soooo
900 q February and $saeooo,ooo n March 100 Inn.
ports for March, 1921. amounted to $asaoooooo COM
pared with sarsoco.ooo in February and $sa4oooooo
year ago. Esf, Il a.-v-'a = 80 - -
The decline in the volume of exports is not as
great s indicated BY the total valuation because
q the great decline in prices Wholesale prices are
down - per cent from what they were year sso
Expors ct breadstuff cotton, meats and dairy prod
sess ana mineral oils al show sharp declines in
March 4 IS also stated that dscreSancies aooe,r;n.
the foreign trade figures for earlier months h,ve
been eliminated and that the March totals renres,n,
ing that month - H''-
Gold Inports Increase.
Imports Of $7z.4II,26o in gold during March are
y only one previous month. October 1870
wsen worth Of this metal were imported
IN sefdenent Of the Aneio1French loan Exoorts of
seld amounted to only $,1I,64o, or Inc Iowest ser
any month m recent years II is feared in many nan
cial circles that this Increasing supply Of gold viii 70
smt IN further. imitation and consequent increase n
prices The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston has am
nounced decrease in its discount rate from to &
per cent
Textile Improvement Slow
Reports from New England indicate that the con-
dlton IN the textile mills is improving slowly Many
manufacturers as well dealers still have too large
stock OF finished goods to- warrant full time opera
tion. Many manufacturers feel that the outcome of
this slow readjustment will be more satisfactory in the
end than II there had been sudden revival followed
by slump Prospects for revival in the fall trade
are said to be good.
Steel Consumers Not Buying.
The cut IN steel prices announced last week by the
" 5 Steel Corporation and which It was hoped would
revive demand for that product has so far proved dis
appointing Manufacturers report that they are re-