New-York tribune., 1908-12-14
AUTO MEN ON TARIFF
FACTS FOR COMMITTEE,
Manufacturers to Submit Data on
Hages Here and abroad.

The committee Of automobile manufactures
which is seeking to throw more light on the tariff
question in its relation automobiles held meet
ing on Saturday for the purpose Of completing its
brief. which will be submitted TO the Wsys and
Means Committee At Washington Those who at
tended the meeting n B. joy. Of the Pack
ard Motor Car Compa1y- a L. Riker OF the Loco
mobile Company of America; z. H Parkhurst. Of
the Peerless Motor Car Conpsny. BENJAMIN BTis-
coe, Of the Maxwell -Briscoe Company. Alfred
Reeves, general manager Of the American Motor
Car Manufacturers Association. and z. ? Chal-
fsnt. general manager Of the Association Of
Licensed Automobile Manufacturers
The automobile makers feel that the question Of
the tariff DIES not concern the manufacturers any
more than it does labor. and expect 70 prove that
70 the satisfaction Of the authorities. It vas
ported the meeting that certain statements had
been made which might tend to give false i'm
preston TO the attitude of the motor car build
ers in this country toward tariff revision in this
connection Benjamin Briscce. president of the
Maxwell Briscoe Motor Company and 4 member Of
the Automobile Manufacturers Tariff Committee
filed copy Of Geographic dispatch to Fl. 2
Miles of the National Association Of Nanufact-
urers. relative TO statements made os him recently.
follows.
Of American worS1nen. against the existing low
rate OF wages in European automobile factories
the American rate Is IN practically universal de
I insist that your statement before the WAYS and
Means Committee implying YOU had Information
t1at q considerable portion of the industry was
favorable TO tariff reduction automobiles. is
uynfair because it is not in accordance with the
challenge rou to produce any and all tele-
your represen tations. 7 cannot believe that YOU
would deliberately distort the facts or that you
ana I therefore await with interest a statement
from You that will be supported by facts.
NJ Briscoe said yesterday that IL vas the desire
Of his committee to furnish all needed data that
u III enable the Ways and Means COMMITTEES 20 uu-
derstand the subject thoroughly. and be in posi-
ton 70 rule on it fairly.
The automobile makers" said Nj. Briscoe.
haze TO desire TO ask for unfair rate Of tariff
or for any special treatment. While the figures
of wages in this country and Europe indicate that
81 per cent duty would be necessary for adequate
protection in the matter Of labor, they do not ask
for anything more than the existing rate OF Il
cent. As automobiles have come into use since
passage of the Dingley bill. thev now come i'm
under the classification Of manufactured metals.
and II is desire 10 have them properly claSzi-
fed under the heading Of automobiles and parts
thereof
Tt is our belief that the tariff or automobiles
should he one 10 protect the American workman
against the low wages paid abroad This IS in
cordance with the principles actuattuE protective
tariff, and * consistent with the doctrine of the
PARTY now in power. There can be no dispute as
10 the meaning # these principles. and this doc
+rtne set forth in the platform Of the Repubii-
party and voiced time and again b. President
uueq1ivocsIIv for revision Of the tariff b. spe
cial session OF Congress imneda teIy following the
Inauguration Of the next President and laid r
down as the true principle Of protection that such
duties be imposed viii equal the difference be
tween the cost Of production home and abroad
And moreover, to establish MAXIMUM and mini
mum rates to be administered by the President
under limitations fixed bv the law, the maximum
n be available n meet dfsC-in1ns-ions by foreign
countries against American goods entering their
market, and the minimum 70 represent the normal
measure n protection ~ home, the aim and pur
pose Of the Republican policy being not only 70
prcse--e. without excessive duties that security
against foreign competition 70 which American
rnauufs cturers farmers and producers entitled
but also - Ma lntaf7 the high standard of living
of wage ea-ners n this ooUu-rE, who sre the most
direct benefcfaries Of The protective system 90
70 American trade M. Briscoe pointed to the
statement made the representa- ttva Of the i'm
ro-ters when he appeared before the Wa-s and
Means Committee in which he said that oven r.
per cent reduction rom the present tariff would
ne entirely Satisfsttor- 10 the foreign makers
This statement was taken by NJ. B-'sCoe 70 imply
that this small reduction all that was needed
to give foreigners absolute control of the american
automobile market.
Carefully compiled figures, said NJ. Br1scoe.
show that II. 46a in American factories and
10 347 men European factories received an aver
age yearly pay as follows.