The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-12
German Monopoly Puts Pro- hibitve Export Duty
 On the Product
FERTILIZERS ARE MADE
 TOO HIGH FOR FARMERS
Germany's Action Causes Great Injury to Manufacturers and
 Farming People
By waTrERsoN sTEaLEY

l Washington. January u--(Special)- | Special )-John Huger and William Kess-
 Ter of Montgomery. representing the fer | tilizer manufacturers of Alabama, are among those who have requested Presi- dent Taft to intervene in behalf of man. ufacturers and farmers against the dis elimination that Germany is exercising by putting an embargo of approximately 22 ton upon potash exported into the United States.
 It is hoped that the President will take some action to relieve the manufactur- CTS and farmers. who are compelled now 10 pay about $37 ton for potash fertil- izer or kainit.
 The President has authority under the provision of the Payne-Aldrich tariff law to add to customs duties 25 per cent upon importations from countries discriminate ing in trade against the United States. He has been urged by the fertilizer men to employ that power. but he has not com mitted himself. It was said today that If he were assured of the support and sympathy of Congress he might add tc. the duties on German importations. but 1t Is of course improbable that he would take such & step, involving the country In trade war in which Germany could practically prohibit Americah cotton. grain and meats from importation. The general impression is that compromise will be effected.
 The purpose of the embargo Is said to be to make the independent potash mine owners In Germany, which have a world | mononoply of the product re-enter tho syndicate from which they departed in | making certain contracts with American | buyers.
 Another Delegation Calls delegation of representatives of the | fertilizing industries of the country also called on President Taft, and through I the spokesman, James A. Moncure of
 Richmond, Va, chairman of the Inde
 pendent Fertilizer Manufacturing associa- | tion, asked him flor relief from a condf- I tioh brought about by an act of legisla- ton by the German government which discriminates unduly against contracts made by merchants of the United States | with German potash mines"
 l The speaker said they ..protested against the startling principle involved in this legislation, that of legislating a pro- | hibftive law only against business legally | done by one set of interests, because ii | interferes with the plan of a competing
 customer. This involves" he said. ..the | very foundation of business respect for | contract rights"
 l The committee presented to the Presi- dent brief, giving complete statement of its case. Senator Smith of South Caro- | lima also had called earlier in the day | to urge the President to try to get some l quick action in the potash matter, as the l planters all through the south wanted to
 make contracts for fertilizer but did not
 desire to do so until they knew whether Germany intended to insist on the potash tax, and what they would have to pay | for thei~ fertilizer.
 I The President told his callers that the
 matter was in diplomatic channels. being
 handled by the state department; that he | could not well interfere. but that when
 it came to him he would hurry it along.
 Successor For Knapp | The United States interstate commerce. | commission will hold a meeting on Fri | day or as soon as the present argument l in the rate advance cases is concluded,
 and name chairman to succeed Judge | Martin A. Knapp. who has been promoted to the new commerce court. It is now
 regarded as assured that Judge Judson
 c. Clements of Georgia will be selected for the chairmanship.
 Reports have been current for some time since the appointment of Judge
 Knapp that the President favored the | commissions selecting one of the repub- l lican members for its chairman. It Is | said among officials of the commission l that no such suggestion has been received | from the President. and that Judge Glenn | ents by reason of his long and capable
 service will be given the honor
 l As member of the commission Judge ~>~~~>~~~-~~~-~~~~~~~~
 scONTINuIEn nN PAcE s.