The Washington times., 1915-09-29
j. S. READY TO KEEP
OUT CHEAP FOREIGN
GOODS AFTER WAR.
Secretary Redfield Announces
Nation Is Prepared to Retain
Standards Here.
By R. J. BENDER.

(copyrisht, 1915. by the United Press.)
The United States 10 not to be made
the dumping ground for cheap foreign
products after the European war has
ended. When the great economic revo-
luton sets in. 1t will find this country
prepared to prevent the unloading Of
low priced goods from Germany and
other countries upon these shores.
"The question 10 no longer whether
we shall prevent this or not-but how
we shall prevent It"
With this statement today Commerce
Secretary Redfield outlined briefly
what this country can do toward pre-
venting at least one Of the exigencies
which will face American manufactures
at the close Of the war.
Tariff Not the Answer.
And from the plans which are now
being thrcshed out by Redfield and
Trade Commission Chairman Davies.
the tariff will play q very small part
in any possible economic readjustment.
I'm fact" Mr.. Redfield said. ''the is
sue should be met from an ethical
standpoint-and not from an economic
standpoint at all.
ITO increase the tariff might seem
to be the simplest and easiest way. but
that merely results in American people
fynS ISN'T nsy tSr ". ns Ssye % ns
machinery and a goodly number OF
laws to handle the situation on an eth.
Ical basis entirely.
For instance. II IT. is seen that .
is over, to ship foreign goods to this
country In great quantities and sell
them here at q price below which we
can produce them, the movement car
be checked.
Consul Must Approve.
AT the present time no goods can be
shipped to this country from any
foreign country without q manifesto
signed by our consular agent in thai
country. approving the cargo. II
foreign countries attempted to shiI
goods into this country at greatly re.
duced price. our consular agents coulo
demand the right to investigate tht
zee II the manufacturer was selling a,
a lower price than he should.
II the agents were refused the right
TO mako such an investigation the
AIHeTICAu COuBulo COuIu IHCu TCiuSC tC
sign the manifestos, and the products
could never leave the ports for the
United States.
There would be the chance Of course
that some goods might get by the vigil.
ance Of the American agents. To meet
this situation. Congress could pass q
law making It illegal for anyone In the
United States to buy or sell goods
shipped into this country. in the effort
to undersell American manufacturers
Seems To Favor Clause.
From this 1t would seem that Secre.
tary Redfieid will favor an anti-dump'
ing clause Incorporated in the presen,
Underwood Simmons act. as the bes,
step for Congress to take at its next ses.
sion.
1t IL understood that Redfield
Davies. the President. and others who
have held q number Of conferences upon
the question of Industrial conditions
in the United States. will not be per.
suaded to favor any important changes
In the present tariff. other than indi.
Gated. unless 1t be the suspension Of the
free sugar schedule which would be-
come effective May l. 1916. and the only
ground for the suggestion Ia the per-
sistent intimation that one hears In
various official quarters. One thing IL
clear. according to these intimations
however. II the sugar tariff Is continued
1t will be only temporarily. and for
the purpose OF meeting q revenue emerg.
ency created bv the war.