South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-16
OUR TIN PLATE IMPORTS.

The standpat newspapers which
have been forecaSting the destruction
of the tin plate industry In this coun-
try by the new tariff law, are glee-
fully pointing to a set of figures which
show increased importations during
the first three months of 1914 as COM
pared with the corresponding months
of 1913. But in quoting these figures
in support of their calamity walls they
are warned by the American Steel
Market and Daily Iron and Steel Re-
port, an authority which they are not
likely to dispute, that they are invit-
ing dangers as great as those which
await the moth attracted by the
candle" Tin plate imports under pres
ent conditions, instead of being evil
dence of the evil effects of the new
tariff, ARE a sign of prosperity in the
American tin plate trade"
The trade publication referred to
shows the necessity of differentiating.
There are two classes of tin plate i'm
ports; those intended for final con-
sumption, and those intended for re-
export purposes. In the case of the
former the duty whatever it may be,
is paid and stays paid. In the case of
the latter the duty is paid upon inn
portation, and upon the expectation Of
petroleum and food products, carpet
Sweepers, lined cases. etc, SO per cent
of the duty originally paid is refunded.
This is known as the rebate trade.
American mills go after it when they
do not have enough domestic business
10 keep them busy. The Standard Oil
business is the big factor. At times,
as during the whole of 1912, the
American mills took all OF thls' smut
ting out the Welsh mills. At other
times the Welsh mills have taken all,
or the lions share Of it.
For the first quarter of the present
year the American mills took the or
ders of two Standard Oil interests
while the Welsh mills took the order
of a third. American mills have taken
the orders OF all three interests Tor
the second half Of 1914, amounting to
10000 boxes, or 5000 gross tons
month. They have this business also
for the present, or second quarter or
the wear. The figures for May are
not vet available. but American Metal
Market and Daily Iron and steer Re-
port says they will show light I'M
portatiOns compared with the nT rt
quarter. and that importations VIII De
small during the remainder OF the
year. Our mills and not the welsh
mills, have captured the rebate
trade.
During the first three months of
1918 the importation of tin plate IN
gross tons were 249, 275 and 200 re
SpectNelNs TOT lHe SdlilC lHOiiNi40
wear 3,629, S,274 and PISS respective
iy. AS a study by themselves without
extraneous information, these figures
give comfort 10 the panic preachers,
who seldom bother themselves about
the search for eXtraneous information.
When they reach later months OF 1913,
they will stop making comparisons,
however. because in May of that year
our importations amounted TO 2.6S2
gross tons. in June to 1926 and IN
July TO 3,64S gross tons, all under the
old tariff. At that time the Welsh
mills had the rebate trade.
Thus il is possible 70 say. and the
standpatters say IL, that tin plate I'M I'M
ports in December, 1918, were $500
per cent larger than in Decem Der
1912, under the old tariff But If i'm
ports this month reach PSI tons, when
is the estimate OF the American Metal
Market and Iron and steel Report II