The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-11
GERMAN MENACE
IS EVER PRESENT
Manufacturers Fear Competition
if Tariff Is Cut
Off.
PLEAD FOR PROTECTION
Under Oath, They Say Down
ward Revision Means Hard
ship to Industry.

WASHINGTON, January 1o-Fear that
foreign producers would invade and
injure the American market was eN-
pressed to-day in the testimony on The
metal schedule OF the tariff before III.
House Committee on Ways and Means.
The committee heard arguments
from representatives Of manufacturing
and producing interests-printing
presses, the zinc industry OF the Rocky
Mountains and the Joplin district. the
wooden screw manufactureIs. Of which
the American screw Company controls
40 or IS per cent OF the $40, 600 e0e
output OF machine tools and numerOus
other products-presentin d virluslly
solid front against revision u the ia
rin rates.
Keep the tariff as IL stands or u
Will work a hardship 70 American in
dustry," was the consensus Of the sen
timent Of witnesses. all under OATH
prescribed by the chairman.
Chairman Underwood pointed out
that the committee was lcgislating for
revenue al present and not figuring
on what might happen ia the future
This committee" said Mr. Under
wood. cannot legislate on your fears
and on the conditions that YOU say
YOU expect The committee ought 20
leSislate TO meet conditions when they
arise"
Suggests Basket" Clause.
Henry -. Sharpe. Of Providence.
representing the Brown & Sharpe
Company whose machine tool products
aggregate $4,000 O00 a year. w-s sub
jected TO long examination. lie
wanted the tariff on machine toois
kept as at present. but failing that. he
would suggest putting machine tools
in basket" clause Of all other kinds
Of machines" which might run about
% per cent
Wouldn't IS per cent be Just e.
prohibitive as the present tariff Of 90
per cent?" asked Mr. Underwood.
The witness did not agree 10 this
Mr.. Sharpe told Representative Palmer
that IL il was stiil further reduced IN
a basket clause 10. say 10 or IS per
cent. he would be resigned" and take
my medicine
William G. Smythe. OF the American
Screw Company. pictured the German
manufacturer as rubbing mis- hands
with delight" al the prospect Of re-
moval OF the duty on machine tools
The Germans. he said. had special rates
and, he added. England and Germany
are sending out the greatest export
trade OF the world. Mr.. Smythe said
sometimes there was a discount in
favor Of the foreign buyer. and that
sometimes the per cent was "a favor
OF the German buyer The theory OF
giving A lower price for export ST
ness was that 1t was much harder TO
sell abroad than at home. Mr.. Under
wood said that selling cheaper abroad
than at home was a matter which this
committee had "A right to look into.
and questioned the witness very close
~ as to details.
Unite In Protest.
Manufacturers and mschinists WEES
aligned in protest against shifting
printing presses from 30 per cent al
valorem tariff to the free list Hugh
Y. Reilly. OF Newark. representing tho
International Association Of Mach'nists
Union in that state. joined with James
r Bennett Of New York city. spckes-
man for twenty-five printing press
manufacturers. in representing that Ia
riff reduction would injure the work.
ingmen-
Mr. Reilly went further by volun-
teering the statement. in which ne said
he represented the sentiment OF ma
chinists all over the country. that he
was planning to take up the question
Of the eight-hour law State BY state.
and that ne could not carry cut that
plan II printing presses were put on.
the free list.
Gernsny's constant lowering near
the customs line. as a serious cODpeJ-
tor Of the American industry was the
constant source Of complaint IN to-day
testimony. Representatives OF the
printing press. machine tools. tinseI
wire and other articles told OF thu
menace of German competition. AMI
several manufacturers complained that
foreign competitors were quick 20
copy in details all American improved
methods.
George W Cook. OF Denver. repre-
senting the zinc and lead industry Of
Colorado asserted that putting zinc
and lead on the free list would result
in closing 100 producing mines and
concentration mills in twenty-five
states. \ large number Of witnesses
remain to be heard by the committee
tomorrow on a variety OF metal items
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