Evening star., 1923-01-14
IMPORTS GROWING
UNDER TARIFF LAW
Value for October Fixed at
$4,000, Greatest
Month Since 1920.
GENERAL TRADE BETTER
Department of Commerce Report
Reflects Improvement in United
States and Abroad.

October. the first complete month in
which the new administration tariff
law was operative. witnessed a con-
tinuation of the increase in imports
of merchandise into the United States,
for the month on the incoming for
eign trade
The statistics made public yester-
day by the Department of Commerce
fixed the value of October imports at
sS1s.000.000. the greatest monthly
total since November of the banner
year, 1920. despite the higher rates of
the new law.
Complete figures for September
show imports for that month valued
at s2ss.00o.00o, of which s6s.00o, 900
came in after September %. when the
present law went into effect. I'm
ports for August were valued at
1921. 100000. and those for July $751;
100000. Figures for 1921 included:
July. s17s,oo0.ooo; August, s1s4,ooo.-
900; September, $4,000, 900; and
October, $1SS. 100000.
Indicates Upward Trend.
The report was declared by officials
to be convincing evidence OF the up
ward trend of incoming trade. 1t re-
fleets also, 1t was said, a generally
improved business condition at home
and abroad. and warrant for the
statement that the requirements of
the American people for such foreign
merchandise as they demand is being
satisfied regardless of what was de-
scribed by those opposed to the ad-
ministration bill in the congressional
debates as a tariff barrier.
No official comment came with pub
lication of the figures except a brief
statement that scattering details, to-
gether with customs receipts for the
months covered, indicated the in
crease in importations had been gen.
eral., 1t was added that the increase
was not confined to any one country
with which American foreign trade is
of consequence.
The figures themselves, however,
tell a comprehensive story of the
growing import trade, since the total
for ten months, including October.
was 61,00o,000 greater than for the
full twelve months of 1921, when the
years imports were valued at $780,
100000. Imports for the first ten
months of that year were s2.o60,ooo.-
600, while for the year 1920. when
the high record was established, the
imports for the same ten months were
valued at 1851. 100000.
Higher Range In 1920.
In the case of the year 1920, at
tention was called Co the higher
range in prices. 1t was believed by
some officials that If November and
December imports for 1922 show fur
ther increases, the volume Of the in
coming trade for the year will not
be so far behind the volume for 1920,
the difference being largely repre-
sentative of the change in value.
This expectation would seem to be
borne out by the customs receipts
for those months, which went to
make up total receipts of s45S,o00, 900
for the year, heavy increase over
1921. November and December re-
ceipts showed progressive increases
over the preceding months.
The departments statement ex-
planned that the delay in compiling
the figures for October had been due
to the increase in the number of
items which must be listed under the
new classification. Changes in the
rates also necessitated renewed COM
putations of units and other details.
Indications were given that further
statistics disclosing the imports from
the principal countries for October
would be announced early this week.