Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-10
REVENUE FOR U. S. SOUGHT
Democrats Not Seeking to Protect
Profits Says Underwood.
CHARGES PHOTO TRUST EXISTS
Witnesses Before Ways and Means
Committee Urge Removal of
Tariff on Cameras.

The proposal to put printing presses on
the free list instead of a so per cent ad
va1orem duty. as under the present tariff.
today brought to the ways and means
of the House protest from
James +. Bennett of New York, repre-
senting twenty-five printing press manu-
featuring companies, that the present
tariff should stand. He challenged gov
eminent statistics of the Treasury and
census about expectations of printing
presses and said when he went to the
New York custom house to verify the
figures officials there told him they had
to go by the manifests and that they
could not tell whether packages Were
printing presses or feather BEDS
so far as the American market is con-
cerned,'' asked Representative Palmer OF
Pennsylvania, 1.-The American printing
press manufacturer has n monopoly?
Yes, with a slight exception
No Aim to Protect Profits.
Chairman Underwood told the witness
the democrats were seeking tariff Tor
revenue and mot to protect profits"
and that there was no disposition to
maintain a tariff unless there was some
ness contended that the business was
being run an a small margin.
Chairman Underwood said that the
proposition was to make all articles
on the dutiable list pay some reason
able duty.
Mr.. Bennett. pressed for a suggestion
as to the point of revision that the
American manufacturers could stand.
said they would be willing to expert
ment with the government on % per
cent tariff. Mr. Bennett said the 80 per
cent tariff really went to labor, as 1T
was less than the difference n the cost
of labor between the United States and
foreign countries. He said that while
actual exports Of American printing
presses were increasing, they Were not
making the increase the Germans were.
He admitted that the tariff would not
help the Americans in foreign markets.
his contention being to protect their
home market against cheaper labor
abroad.
Wants Gold Leaf Tariff Raised.
Another great industry, as members
of the committee facetiously referred
to it, was brought up when Edwin Rad
ford of Brooklyn wanted the tariff on
gold leaf raised from 35 per cent ad
valorem to so per cent, and said any
reduction would result in reducing the
wages of workmen. The witness
scented possible invasion of Germans
in the American market.
Wallace l.. Pond of Providence urged
retention Of the present graduating
tariff on files from 25 to 77la cents a
dozen. The democratic plan contem-
plates 25 per cent ad valorem fiat.
The Rocky Mountain Lead Miners OPP
posed the democratic proposal of a cut
in the tariff on lead from 2ls to 2ts
cents per pound to a fiat % cents ad
valorem Frederick Burbridge of Seattle.
Wash, testified that there was less than
8 per cent profit on the capital invested
in the Occur dAlene lead mines, which
he represented. He wanted the present
tariff to remain, and, at least, to have the
new rates remain on a specific basis in
stead of being changed to ad valorem.
Mr.. Burbridge said that any material re-
duction Of the tariff would be likely to
not only close some of the lead mines,
but to discourage some of the present
non productive mines from which the lead
of the future may be expected.
Speaking for the Utah lead producers.
George Ritter of Salt Lake City advocated
continuance of the specific tariff at not
less than the present rates.