The Washington times., 1915-12-17
REDF|ELD WOULD
PREVENT DUMPING
Commerce Department Report
Urges Legislation to Block
Industrial Warfare.

legislation to prevent dumping" OF
foreign products on American markets
after tho close of the war. for protec-
ton OF American trade at home and
abroad. and authorizing combina tons
for tho foreign trade. As well az CO.
opcration amons banks in extending
American banking facilities in foreign
lands. Is recommended by Secretary Of
Commerce Retfeld in his annual report.
made public today.
The Secretary deems IL of especial i'm
ndrtance that business concerns should
he allowed to cooperate in foreign
trade Provision should be made he de-
rlares whereby concerns not large
enough TO undertake the expenditures
over n long period necessary to get
hrm foothold abroad. could. with due
safeguards against monopoly. cooper
ate in the foreign field. The present
laws, in the opinion or the secretary,
play into the hands OF the larger con-
Germs and shut out small ones from i'm
portant markets.
Time For Adv ances.
The same holds true of banks. he de-
clares In other words the law works
IN favor of the few great banks, while
q ii
that COULD comparatively enter the for
cign field. to the great advantage of
American commerce.
1t is emphasized that the present Is
the time to make these advances.
In urging "anti-dumping legislation,
the Secretary says:
Unfair competition is forbidden by
law in domestic trade. and tn" Federal
Trade commission exists to determine
the facts and take steps to abate the
found
over is still open TO unfair compet1-
ton from abroad which may seriously
affect American industries for the
worse. It is a destructive type OF the
industrial struggle, intended to put out
Of being the forces opposed TO 1t that
the victor may exploit the field at viii.
The methods used are not those OF
legitimate commerce. but those OF com
merciaI offensc. They aim not at de-
velopmcnt, but at conquest.
Stratagem of Industry.
"Whcn the war shall close, the pub
lie control of railways in foreign lands,
tho sCmi-OffiCial chambers of commerce,
the publiCly fostered organizations
which control great industries in some
countries, will all exist and will all be
used in an effort to recover lost COM
mercc. The growth in the United States
Of industries which may menace large
markets heretofore controlled from
abroad will not be permitted II pub
IiC and semi-publiC' forces acting TO-
gcthcr in foreign countries can pre-
vent il The outreaCh of American in
dustries, nay their very existence IN
our own land in some cases. Will be re-
sisted to the full and every stratagem
uf Industrial war will be cNerted against
them Expecting this We must pre-
pare for it. II it shall pass beyond faIr
competition and exert or seek to exert
n monopolistic power over any patt OF
our commerce. We ought to prevent ~.
With respect 10 the remedy, the Sec
retary says
at seems possible that by using the
existing machinery OF the Treasury De-
partnent and the Department of Jus
tice we may restrain this foreign unfair
competition on both sides OF the sea.
| recommend, therefore. that such l'Sis-
lation be enacted as will give Ia the
foreign representative Of the anoEe-
named departments such added powers
and increased personnel as lh"N may
need for this purpose. and that it II" en- :
acted if possible that mcrChandiS" sold
In unfair competition or under rlr'nm-
stances which tcnd to Great" m"h"p"iN
in behalf of ;hc foreign producer In
American mark It's shall he forfeited.
OF Foreign Origin.
Il also recommend that legislation
supplemented to the Clayton ANTITRUST
act he enacted which shall max" it un-
lawful to sell or purchase articles of for
eixn origin or Manufacture where the
prices tu I've paid are materially below
The current rates for such articles in
the country of urodu"tion or from which
shipment Is made. in case Such prices
substantially lessen competition on the
part of the American producers or tcnd
to create a monopoly in American mar
kots in favor pf the foreign producer,
md that it hc made unlawful for any
person to buy. sell, or contract for The
sal" Of articles "t foreign origin, or 10
fix price tor "Im" or to make a re-
bate upOn such nriCs, conditioned upon
he purchaser ih"rcot not using or dea
ing in wares produced or sold by the
competitors of the manufacturer or sell
er. where the fleet is to substantially
lessen compctitiru in the production in
the United Sta'"S of such articles. or
tends to create = monopoly i'm the sale
Of such articles Il American markets in
favor of Il fOr"iIn prUducer.'
&n urgent plea is ll',d" in the report
for Sufficient clerical ma other assist
ance e. urrnil ihc i,ur,hu Of foreign
and D,mcstir ,'num..,c to carry Tor
ward IN" work Il hl.. done win such
profit to .\moriC0M business. y plea is
also made for funGS To secure n"CrSsarV
data on domestic tlld" thdt arc needed
for tn" commercial "NrlnHl"1. q. ~"
nation
SECRETARY RcGGrId al,o takes account
Of the high cost Of living viii Ii .
statement that there is need Of iuNCsti-
cation of the costs 90 "arrN", 1T tin Al
deliver Of CucdHtuufs nnG 9th, T. ""tiCloS.
An cNtcl sion of TIA" cor mor.i'l At
tache SCrNl'' ~ lu"d huG of IN" numrCr
of special "grnts Mt home is y COM
mendcd.
With respect to the yestuM situa
lion the Secretary says.
We are th" -, Ht"st producers uf the
raw matCri3i fOr thr nlapAfn,iU"e of
dyestufNs Wc &C, i moi thc grcltest.
at least one of tn" ~ at"st. rnI. .suImurs
Of the hnishCG product. 1t . iutul"rnhlc
that We sh"uld longer drurud unn,. at \,
one foreign s0urr" fur those necessities
Of industry ana It is equally iNlOlpT-
able that W" should permit "Iy nuSSiI le
unfair foreign competition to DESTROY a
growing inGUStr" nprm WhiCn SO much
depends nv methods tnnt would not hc
permitted by. our law II used ny our
own CitHCnS