New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-16
WILL KILL OSTRICH TRADE.
Importers Incensed at so Per Cent Duty on
Feathers

IF The decision OF the United States Board Of
General Appraisers fixing a duty % 80 Per cent on
ostrich feathers IS not reversed Il VIII XIII the
ostrich feather industry IN this country and throw
thousands OF women out OF profitable employment
said a leading importer OF feathers yesterday.
Women 90 the greater part OF the work connected
with the transformation Of the Eaw feathers into
punes. and. skilled labor IS required. and u
takes several years 10 learn the trade the pay =
good Il the manufacture Of ostrich feathers ceases
n this country these women Will md themselves
without market 5or their skill. and in the OF
elderly women. many Of whom are supporting fam
iAes the results viii be most deplorable.
And The industry IS bound 10 cease + the % per
cent duty is maintained. No importer VIII paw 50
Per cent duty on raw feathers when he can have
them made Up by cheap European labor and bring
them IN AZ precisely the same duty. But 7 don't
think the decision VIII stand. The tariff IS sup
posed 70 Be for the protection OF our anufactures
and would be extremely absurd 70 let # operate
for the destruction Of fourishirg home industry"
The trouble about The duty on ostrich feathers
vas precipltated boy a san Francisco collector who
assessed case NJ raw ostrich feathers al 80 per
cent. The importer protested and the matter was
carried 10 The Board q United States General APP
pralsers. which affirmed the decision Of the coll
lector. The feather manufacturers sent a delega-
zion 20 Washington 70 present their side OF the
case. and the appraisers assured them that their
interests would be safeguarded far a. the law
would allow. Since then raw ostrich feathers have
been allowed 10 come !D a. y per cent, rlt the
porters may De- called upon later 20 make up the
difference The matter viii probably be decided
by q test case when the next assignment OF
ostrich feathers comes IL. and. pending definite
settlement the ostrich feather business IS anguish
ing an6 the price Of plumes is rising
Raw ostrich feathers have heretofore been ad-
mitre6 at - per cent duty under the following
paragraph OF the tariff act % 1897. Feathers and
downs q all kinds including bird skins or parts
thereof with the feathers on crude or not dressed
colored or otherwise advanced or manufactured IN
sny not specially provided for in this act
u PEI cent ad valorem."
Bur the act further provides that ornamental
feathers' shall pay duty Of % per cent. and the
appraisers have ruled that raw ostrich feathers
ornamental
NcR, everybody who has seen raw ostrich
feathers knows that they are not ornamental
sad the importer just quoted Far from II.
They are iuJeEced t0r Ornamental use. but they
only become ornamental after much labor has been
expended upon them. They have TO L. put through
a. elaborate process and ia their manufactured
state they 10 more resemble The feathers than
= OF ulacnlnery- The officials VINO can them
ornamental should have called 81 expert 10
advise then before rendering their decision"
The dltlclltF about the classification Or ostrich
feathers Is one which the trade runs up against
g. the beginning q nearly every season. bur
ways been maintained A short time ago 2 coll
iecror n one of the Eastern Dorts knowing
much about ostrich feathers 20 In the opinion
TIE trade. ''as infant" rendered just such a
decision THAI u the san Francisco collector.
but the general appraisers II this reversed
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