The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21
COMMEND NEW TARIFF

From the PTOV1uence Journal
The December bulletin of the New
England Manufacturing jewelers. and Sill
versmiths' association contains a review
of the tariff legislation, affecting the in
dustry, and declares that if the present
act is upheld by the board of general ap-
praisers and courts the jewelry manu-
facturers viii have the highest protection
for their industry of any measure that
has ever passed by Congress-"
The bulletin recommends that the as
sociation's bureau of tariff information be
developed and that foreign and domestic
trade data be collected lin order that
paragraph R of section 4 in the Under
wood act, which requires the President
to ascertain If the imports under any
given paragraph amount to less than 5
per cent of the domestic consumption
and, in case they do, to secure a reduction
in the rates of duty, shall not be unfairly
applied to jewelry and silverware"
The report of the tariff committee of the
association is given in full in the bulle-
tin The committee is headed by Charles
T.. Pave of North Attleboro as chairman,
and includes Harry Cutler. George H.
Daughaday. Walter b. Ballou and
Charles A. Whiting
The Underwood act is the first tariff
law in which the metal schedule basket
paragraph differentiates manufactures of
gold, silver and lpatinum and articles
plated with gold or silver from manufac-
lures of other metals. The jewelers. re-
gard this as a distinct advantage, since
it puts an end to the custom of importing
jewelry as miscellaneous manufactures"
. Under the new tariff the rates on gold
and platinum Jewelry are unchanged at
so per cent and the rates are unchanged
on cigar and cigarette cases, cigar and
cigarette holders, cigar cutters and jew
elry costing over 81. 40 per gross pieces ex-
cepting chain, pins, collar buttons, cuff
buttons, dress buttons and charms.
Rates are increased per cent or more
on spoons. forks and fatware in sterling
silver and silver plate, hollow ware in
sterling silver and silver plate, toilet ware
In sterling silver and silverware, chain,
mesh, findings and novelties
Rates are reduced on mesh bags in sterl-
ing silver German silver and white metal.
jewelry costing less than $40 per gross,
combs and hair ornaments, chain under
80 cents per yard and chain, pins, collar
buttons, dress buttons, cuff buttons and
charms costing over So per gross.
The bulletin says in comparing the
rates.
"a further significance of the new rates
may be observed in comparing the prot &C.
ton given our industry by the Underwood
act with the protection afforded it in
recent tariff laws, the jewelry rates of
which are as follows:
Mckinley act 1888, 80 per cent; Wilson.
German act, 1894, 35 per cent; Dingley
act, 1897, go per cent; PayneAldrich< act,
| 1863, 45 to So per cent.
| 1T should be noted that the Mckinley
act, which was denounced as excessively
| high, gave 10 per cent lower protection
tkankthe present act; that the Wilson,
German act, which was a higher tariff
law than the Underwood, carried a Jew
elry rate of % per cent less than we now
| have. In conclusion. the tariff COMMITTEES
| begs to submit that If the integrity of the
! present act, providing for so per cent pro-
| lection, is upheld by adjudications in ac-
| eordance with the design and intent OF
Congress, the jewery manufacturers will
| have the highest protection for their in
| dustry OF any measure that has ever been
l passed by Congress"