Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-06
CUSTOMS RECEIPTS
SHOW TRADE GAIN
Increase in Collections on
Imports Has Extended
Over Three Months.
BY WILLIAM RRucKART.

Iron-clad proof that the countrys
business h picking up IL seen by the
Bureau Of Customs m the fact that
houses have increased through three
successive nonths--NGay. June and July
and the outlook for August indicates
that Il win be No. e.
Further satisfaction Il afforded I'm
the July total Of ,e34. 379 900 because
It was the highest since October. 1880.
IS well Is being approximately $780,.
goo over June and Something like So
SOC, 900 over May.
Held Reliable Indicator.
Economists long haw. regarded the
customs receipts Is one Of the reliab,s
indicators Of business conditions, and
under present circumstances they are
said 70 take On unusual sianif1cance.
American duties are high and are made
up largely Of rates assessed on an i'd
valorem. o. percentage of.value basis.
The prices Of the commodities upon
which the rateS are laid are now alb,
normally low. Hence the receipts rep
resent Q much larger volume Of imports
than II commodity prices we're on q
normal level.
The Department or Commerce IN .
further analysis Of the customs receipts,
oners the suggestion that the increased
receipts should be considered most
gratifying" because the imports upor,
which the duties are collected are. IN
large measure, commodities entering
the country for manufacturing or FUR
ener processing It adds that business
interests are not given to importing or
yuylng raw materials unless they know
the y can do something with them n
the way of sales.
July's revenue from customs is made
20 look quite out Of place when compared
with the receipts for June, 1880. the
!ast month In which the rates OF the
lS21 tArtn oct were operative. and when
$71,l70O00 was collected, It q obvious
that the importers were busy rettinr
as much merchandise into tire Country
ahead Of the 1880 tariff act as they
could. ana that 10 Why the figure Il So
large that II affords no basis for com.
parison whatever.
= TAree.menth Trend.
Nevertheless, the three-month trend
y accepted ~ proving that o different
situation exists this year. and tY3at III
commodities were not moving aIo1r the
assembly line 10 the ultimate consii rer.
the innportations would be declining ia.
steea o. increasing. The Department
OF Oommerce now IL looking for bet
ter quarueriy statement. both as to i'm
ports and exports. than it has Been
able to compile lately.
customs experts, however, always are
z eonservative lot, and while they saw
n8uree won't lie, they believe there IL
sometninG o. en- adjustment" taking
place after the rate changes of 4 veaI-
ago, and likewise they suggest that there
| mas been some increase in sugar ar
rlsals ,nat may not be said to be wholly
Considering all of these factors in
connections with the three-month in
crease shown, the Treasury has sudden.
| ~ Iaken much more interest in the Gus
TOMS ngures. Its experts in researai,
are examining the iternized lists AZ thev
| arrive, seeking additional lirht ~ INA
meaning Of the increase in the hone
mat It pre8agee better economic ausdi-
tlons. Improved trade natairAlpv nleAnS
more revenue for the 1feae5r ,aF1d
| lever ana smaller deficits Of - I'd Of
the current fiscal year.
Oflcials GrAti6ed.
Customs receipts in the past have
amounted 20 as high a. S6sob0o 900 IN n
!2-month period. In the fiscAi YEAR
ending last June 80, the total wAs ar-
proximately half Of that sum. Incl
| oentally, the Treasury deficit for the
aess nscai year was $903, 0O0, 900.
Thus far In the current fiscal year.
| when y Just enc month old, the onIy
YEN OF income In the Treasury'A daily
statement that shows an increase over
the same period Of last year Is the Gus
toms receipts. Some of the others Are
noldmg their own and showing 8 little
| nope OF increases, while many have eaif-
Iereu declines Under suGh cifclIm-
stances. therefore, Treasury oficials are
more than gratifled at the cilSAonns item
tCcpyrisht tSSi)