Evening journal., 1897-04-28
WEDNESDAY. APRIL as. ls07.
FIGHTING A TARIFF TRICK.

FIGHTING A TARIFF TRICK.
The trust favoritism of our Republi-
can Congress has precipitated a lively
fight between American dealers in for
eign dyes. Here is an example of the
endless protests that are to follow as
independent business men become ac-
quainted with the tricky little clauses
with which the Dingley bill is thread
ed. A skillful effort to disguise delib-
crate intention to license a great mo-
nopoly has been discovered by a large
New York firm which, with many
others, would be forced to close its
doors should the bill become a law
with the clause in question intact. This
clause places on the free list "alizarine,
natural or artificial, and dyes derived
from alizarine and anthracenes, includ-
ing naphtharazine black"
IL is the excepting of naphtharazlne
black from duty that has caused the
protest. for according to the most emil
nent chemists in the country, the dye
is neither derived from alizarine nor
anthracene, but is a product of coal tar
Another clause Of the Dingley bill puts
q duty of 35 per cent upon all coal tar
products, and were it not for the ex-
ception made in it's favor the dye
would have to take its chances with
the others Of a similar origin.
This dye is a patented article. BY
,1f,,,.t,,o, a. g., oo,,,o i,t, tbfe oc,,nf ~
free of duty a monopoly will be given
to the firm controlling it's manufacture,
and the government will be deprived of
a revenue amounting to between 81, 800,
600 and S3,OOO,OOO a year, as the annual
importation of the dye amounts to be-
tween s1O,OOO,OOO and sl2,OO0OOO
The entire history of tarilf-making,
leading up to the present protest, shows
how easy it is to deceive the average
law-maker mt Washington with fla
grant use OF names which they do not
understand. The fact is naphtharazine
black is also known as alizarine black
although the dye has no connection
with alizarine. How it came to mas
querade under a false name is a dis
puted question. It's friends say it was
by accident, its enemies say it was fol
the purpose of deception.
Under the first draft of the Dingley
bill "alizarine black" was exempted
from duty, and was punched with hall
a dozen allzarine dyes, which cannot
be produced in this country. Ther
some one discovered the mask which
naphtharazine black was wearing, anC
the dye was moved into the list of Goa
tar products, and a duty of per cent
placed upon It, There it stayed unit
the last day Of the debate in the House
when was introduced the little Joker
clause, which exempted from duty "ali
zarine, including naphtharazine black.
Then began the present war. The New
York representatives Of the German
firm owning the patent were natural.
pleased with the favor shown thei
product Their American rivals il
business were not. The rivals deal II
black dyes made from coal tar and a
coal tar products they must pay 35 pc
cent. duty Between them they hav
been selling from $4,000 to $1,000
worth of their dyes annually in thi
country, and rivals could see visions O
the one German firm getting all of tn
profits
The American firm acting for the in
terest of all concerned in this line O
trade in this country sent representa-
tive to Washington to have the "mis
take" rectifed. The representative SAY
very Honorable Mr.. Dingley himself
who advised him to explain the matte
to the committee. He did so, and tn
desired alteration was made. A fe'
days later, however, through the sug
gestion of Mr.. Dalzell, naphtharazin
black was put on the free list, "as il
a sort of alizarine," and it having bee
agreed that any amendment introduce
by the members Of the Ways an
Means Committee should pass withoi
opposition, no argument was pOssibl
The New York firm heard of this grac
ful procedure through the newspaper
next day. AS a result, all the firms il
terested in the dye trade in this counti
are making preparations for con
bined protest. They must either go
the trouble and expense of such an a
tion, or have their business destroys
by a Congress supposed to be wOrkiI
for their prosperity.
According to the original report q
n...-.l-l.-..