OCR Text |
Show Foreign and Domestic Prices. Volume XIII. of tho report of tho Industrial commission tabulates 41C replies received by tho commission benrlng on the question of foreign and domestic prices. Tho report says: "The great majority of tho answers Indicated that prices aro no lower abroad than they aro for domestic domes-tic consumers, and a considerable number Indlcnto that foreign prices aro higher." A few, how over, Btato that thoy sell a portion of their goods abioad lower than at homo aud tho reasons arc as follows: "Cash pnyments and largo purchases pur-chases in the foreign trade, wherens tho domestic trade Is bused on credits nnd small purchases. "The drawback or robato of tho tariff on Imported raw material of goodR manufactured for export. "To overcome tho tariff of othor countries. "To securo now markets. "To hold a market against now competitors. "To clear out surplus stock or to prevent a shut down nnd Increased cost of production, by keeping mills running and men employed. "To get rid of samples and out-of-dato goods. "Because tho expense, of selling and advertising is less abroad than at homo." Thoso nro tho reasons attributed by manufacturers of all countries for sometimes selling a part of their stock at a lower prlco abroad than nt homo. It causes no Injury to tho domestic consumers nnd gives added employment and wages to laborors, besides keeping tho homo market firm and stablo and provcntlng ruin ous competition In cutting prices. Thero Is another reason why some American manufacturers sometimes sell a portion of their goods at a lower low-er prlco abroad, and perhaps the chief reason. Most of our mnchlnory or articles produced by machinery are covered by patents which aro exclusively exclu-sively controlled and operated In thU country. For example, tako agricultural agricul-tural Implements. It can bo shown that whero such articles nro sold more cheaply abroad than at homo It Is because of patents. If not covered by foreign patents It Is obvlouBly the policy to sell In foreign countries at prlco that will dlscourago produotlon In thoso countries. And yet of tho manufacturers of agricultural Implements reporting to tho Industrial commission, all, with only ono exception, stntcd that prices to foreign purchasers aro cither higher high-er or no lowor than thoso for domestic domes-tic purchasers. Not ono por cent of our output Is sold at a lower price abroad and only for some apodal reason rea-son connected with that particular consignment. |