Evening star., 1928-03-29
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAtL =. COLLINS.

pared with 6597 per cent free In 1926
and 6l.20 per cent during the free
trade" Underwood regime
The equivalent ad valorem rate on
all goods both free and dutiable in
1927 was 1920 per cent: on dutiable
goods It was 30ol per cent. These
rates arc slightly higher than in 1926
The rate on all imported goods during
Ave fun years OF the tariff act OF 1922
Is l4l2 per cent, on dutiable goods II Is
30 per cent
So that Is the best Carolina explana
ton OF the unemployment OF 800 900
people OF 'gaintul occupations high
protection
The reason duties may average higher
one year than another. under the same
Law. is that more dutiable goods and
less free imports may come in. Could
II be that the Senator from South
Carolina had n hunch about that In
crease Of Sl907 $50 revenue on dutiable
imports last year, That indicates about
$4,000 900 OF dutiabc goods increased
and that $6000,000 would have en-
Dloyed the 800 600 idle now in the
United States nearly half a day. IL II
had been given them instead Of to
European competitors. II Mr. Fordney
receives that Michigan appointment TO
The Senate as forecast In the press, he
should be investigated on that derelic-
ton, for what good is the Senate II IL
quits investigating?
Nov, 10 broaden the thesis. we NAV
go outside the domain OF tarifT and seek
the census statistics showing the trend
OF industrial prosperity which will
give a side light upon the attacks on
the reliability OF the Labor Department
statistics Of unemployment
Take the building trades Using the
average increase OF floor space con-
struction during three years-~lD23-25-~
IA 100 We and that the building
activity In 1924 by months or seasons
ranged from 1870 down 10 rs In 1928
from las 10 100. in 1926. from 85 up
to l40 and back to 30 in 1927. up 10
l40 and back to 05, and so far In 1929
II runs los Remember that that means
per cent IN 1923 above the average
for three basic years. le23-2a. How
can building mechanics be idle when
building activity Is extra lively2
Take the textile industries on the
same basis: In 1929 II ran up 10 100;
IN 1924 down 10 10 and up to 100,
1928, down 10 G7 and back TO 100 1929.
the same aS '25 1927, up To lao and
lowest point down to li0 10 per cent
lipelicr than the average for the basic
years l923-25.
Cotton for dress goods Is going out Of
favor except when u has mixed with
II threads of rayon 10 adorn H. But
Il Is coming into hundred other uses
under modern dcvelopment-au -automo-
biles, cart wheels. wall covering IN
place OF paper, etc
WoOlenb- In 1923 wOdlens ran ahead
of the average Of l92J-2h but through
out 1927 the industry showed l2A-~RS
% That showed no special shrinkage
why then talk OF unemployment eX-
traordlnary IN the wooden industry
Both men and women are wearing
lighter clothes than formerly, because
of automobiles
Factory employment In general. ac~
cording 10 the Census Bureau, Take
the average for the years i021-aa as
100 III 1924 II dropped 10 90 in l0ah,
II rose to 100 and dropped to % in
1926 It rose tn 100 and dropped to ga
in 1927. II ranged between 0a aud 90 re-
AN average shllnkage of about Z per
cent But THIS applies only to the ~
standard industries known prior to
1929 II does not take into account the
new manufacturers ot fayon 1000 900
pounds a year-radio, electrical reirtg-
eration. oil-hurnina devices or aero
nautics Where could these new mdits-
tries have gotten tAeir employees except
by taking them from the ranks OF the
old industries
The Census Bureau also throws light
on the subject through The output Of
factories the old standard industries
only.
win the same three-year average rs
100 II Is noted that ia lO9a the factory
output ran from 100 up tn ia, in 1924.
douju IN nAt i09A un Ia iIO ana Ia IA