The Brunswick news., 1909-10-09
GUM ROSIN DUTY
MAY BE IMPOSED
A REPORT THAT WILL DELIGHT
ALL OF TIE TURPEN-
TINE MEN.

Although the treasury department
n Washington puts off inquiries with
the statement that a decision will be
made in a few days, and Capt. Henry
Blum, Jr., of Savannah, who interceded
with the federal authorities about the
matter, declines to discuss it, there
was a well-founded rumor among the
naval stores trade yesterday to the
effect that an import duty had been
imposed on rosin, says the Savannah
News of yesterday.
! If this is true-and there seems to
be no doubt about it, though it can
not be confirmed yet-it is great
Victory for Captain Blum and will mean
much for the industry throughout the
length and breadth of the turpentine
belt. France has been importing gum
rosin into the United States free of
duty and supplying the consumers at
price which was practically the pro-
duction cost in America.
French Rosin in Competition.
] Several months ago the Savannah
board of trade passed resolutions pro-
testing vigorously against the admis-
sion of gum rosin free of duty. Con-
gresham w G. Brantley, of the 18th
district, and the senator's from Geor-
gla, have for some time been trying
20 convince the administration at
| washington that a serious injury was
being done the rosin industry by the
failure to impose a duty. But all of
these agencies seemed to avail Meth
ing, and French rosin continued to
come in in competition with the Am.
erican product.
i Ihen postmaster Blum. republican
national committeeman from Georgia
/ according to The News, became in
] terested in the matter. He went to
Washington the latter part of last
week and in a business like manner
presented the case to the treasury de-
rartment officials. He had the facts
and figures with him and at the con-
cluslon of his argument the matter
was referred to the appraiser at the
port of Philadelphia. Here is where
oflclal information ends, but a report
was current among the trade here TO
the effect that the appraiser had sub
mltted his report back to the treasury
department, recommending a duty of
~ per cent. ad yalorem and that a
decision had been reached in accord
ance with this report.
IS Great Victory.
IL this Is true it is great victory.
1t will mean that rosin which has
oeen shipped into this country and
sod Tor 50 barrel, for illustration.
VIII cost the consumer So, as the duty
on 80 package at 20 per cent. ad
! Valorem would be 81. Just what effect
thls viii have on the domestic article
has not appeared, but one thing is
certain, the import duty will either
smut eff the French shipments entire
~ or will enable the price Of domes.
TIC ros1n to maintain itself.
Because of cheaper labor conditions
and limited demand for rosin in
France, the French product can he
exported to this country almost at
Tess cost than the domestic rosin can
I be produced and supplied, if no i'm
port tax is charged. Last year alone
something like 100000 barrels Of
French rosin were imported.
1t Is believed that the government
is holding up its decision in this mat
ter until the arrival in Philadelphia Of
t-'e steamship Crownpoint from Lon
oon. This vessel is reported to have
on board about 400 casks of rosin. or
SUI barrels. If the new duty is slapped
on this shipment from France IT will
De an interesting surprise for the ex-
porters on the other side who sent
the product on its way under the i'm
preston that it would be Admitted
free.