Evening star., 1915-12-30
Democrats Considering Enact
ment That Will Surpass All
Republican TariffMeasures.
BILL TO BE SUBMITTED
TO PRESIDENT WILSON
Will Become Part of Anti
Dumping" Legislation Now
Being Framed.

Plans maturing in the minds
OF high officials OF the admins
tration and of Congress may en-
able the democratic party to go
into the next presidential cam
paign with the confident claim
that it has put into law the most
effective protection to American
industries ever enacted: that re-
publican protective tariffs OF the
past do not compare with their
creation, and that the republican
party has had stolen from under
its eyes the main issue against
the democrats-that OF providing
a tariff that would not protect
American industries and work
ingmen under normal conditions.
Democratic advocates of a tariff for
revenue only would then declare that
the party had not abandoned it's prin-
ciples, but that il had simply adopted
the most effective plan to give full
protection to home industries without
bestowing special benefits upon i'm
mense concerns that have grown be-
yond the need of what politicians term
protective tariff. In other words, the
scheme is to lift the protective theory
into the democratic party, but in such
a way as to be disguised SO as not to
ruff1e the finer sensibilities of certain
members of the party.
Part of Anti-Dumping Bill.
The plans. if approved by President
Wilson and enacted by Congress, will
go through in an "anti-dumping" bill
which is being whipped into shape. 1t
is expected that the President will
reach a d:.cision on the subject within
a compa ra lively short time. following
conferences with Secretary RedfieId and
democratic leaders of the Senate and
House. Mr.. Redfle1d has been working
upon the proposed measure for some
time. He has been obtaining sugges-
tions from all directions and as soon
as he gets the final word from Presi-
dent Wilson will put the bill into shape
and will get the full strength of the
administration back of it.
Whatever bill against dumping"
finally becomes law. it will. according
to high authority today. be practically
a protective tariff in disguise-protec-
tion of the surest kind against unfair
against American industries and busi-
ness generally. All Of the bills that
have been drawn absolutely prohibit
the selling in the United States of arti-
cles of foreign manufacture and
production at prices less than the fair
bf.io 10 rl- -et n.-ira he try
of manufacture or origin" and the sale
of such articles in this country at un
fair prices is to be considered by the
proper tribunals as ''prima facie evil
dence of intent to injure or destroy the
business of a manufacturer or pro-
duoer of such article in the United
States"
Further Safeguard Proposed.
Even if the sale of the prohibited
goods in the United States tends to
lessen competition it is declared to
be in violation of the law it is pro-
posed to enact. This provision would
reach German cartels and other trade
combinations that throttle infant in
dustries of this country by throwing
upon home markets their goods at
prices far below the cost of manu-
facture there. the losses in doing so
being prorated among the members
of the cartel until such time as prac-
tical monopoly is obtained of the mar
kets here.
The federal trade commission has
drawn one of the bills before Secre-
tary Redfeld This measure gives to
the commission authority to prevent
the alleged unfair methods of compe-
tition by the broadening of section )
of the act creating the commission, and
collectors of customs are directed to
report to the commission all violations
of the act Section ) of the federal
trade act confers upon the commission
authority to declare unlawful unfair
methods of competition in commerce"
in the United States, but the existing
law does not confer authority to pre-
vent unfair methods of foreign combi-
nations against American business and
industry The only authority con-
ferred by the act touching upon for
eign business is the giving to the
commission of power Ito investigate
from time to time, trade conditions in
and with foreign countries where as
sociations combinations or practices
or manufacturers. merchants or trad
ers. or other conditions, may affect the
foreign trade of the United States, and
TO report to Congress thereon, with
such recommendations as it deems ad-
visable.