The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-10-04
TO PREVENT DUMPING
GOODS IN AMERICA
George W. Perkins Writes to Secretary
of Commerce Redfeld as to Pos
sibilities at the End of War.
October 2, 1915.
Hon. VIM. 9. Redfeld
Secretary OF Commerce,
Washington, ID. @.

October 2, 1915
Hon. VIM G. Redfeld,
Secretary of Commerce,
Washington, d. Q.
| Dear Sir:
In the statement by you which APP
peared in the newspapers of September
80, commenting on the likelihood that
Europe will use this country as dump.
ing ground for manufactured goods when
the war is over, you said: Il should be
very glad to receive suggestions from
practical commercial men as to the most
efficient means of detecting and prevent
ing this unfair competition" | am
therefore writing you this letter to give
you my views.
In another statement on this subject
you say that while you are in favor of
giving American industry the protec-
ton 1T will undoubtedly need when this
war is over you "have frank prefer
ence for such methods as have nothing
to do with tariffs or duties You also
say that one method you are considering
is that of using American consular
agents at different shipping points in
Europe by instructing them not to al
low any goods to be shipped from Eu-
rope that are likely to be sold over here
at such low price as to effect our man
ufacturers unfavorably, and that "if for.
eign countries attempt to ship goods TO
this country at a greatly reduced price
our consular agents could demand the
right to investigate the means of produc-
ing the commodity, to see If the man
ufacturer were selling at lower price
than he should. If the right to make
such an investigation by the agents were
refused the American consuls could re-
frain from signing the manifests and
the products could never leave the port
for the United States"
Have you stopped to consider the Sc
rious international complications that
would ensue if our consular agents were
given such instructions, made such do
mands, and tried to enforce them? They
would undoubtedly be refused the in
and would be referred to the
Wilson tariff, under which the manufac-
turers in question were operating in a
fectly legitimate manner.
The very suggestions you make show |
that you yourself have come to the con-
rlusion that when this war is over GER
tain of our industries in all probability |
will need protection. You admit this
n your statement but you do not admit |
.he obvious fact that the Wilson tariff /
.ails TO provide the necessary protection,
md it is clear that you are trying TO
ind some other way to provide it.
How could Europe be preparing to
Use us as dumping grund if our tariff
we're not such as TO permit her To do
IL And what right would we have to
omplain and try 10 investigate her costs
# manufacture and all that sort OF
hing when we so recently deliberately
hanged our tariff in such way as TO
invite her 10 compete with our manufac.
urers on terms more favorable than she
njoyed beforei And when the tariff
7as changed the Wilson administration (
old the people that il was done for their
dvantage and to reduce the cost OF their
wing
Why attempt TO whip the devil around 1
he stump! Why not meet the situation
a the only sensible, practical manner
ossibleg There is only one efficient, /
lfe and honorable way to protect our /
.merican industries, which equal fair
ess to our people and the people Of Eu.
Dpe, and that is through the establish
lent of a permanent, expert, non.partis.
n tariff commission; a commission that
i'll be in constant session, investigating
he needs of our industrial concerns that
re in competition with similar Europe
n concerns; a commission that viii give
5 tariff that il not necessarily high
Or low nor political, but one that is
Used on the actual demonstrated needs
each and every industry that is at.
cited by the tariff.
Very truly yours,
G. w. Perkins.
Chairman executive committee, Ma
onal Progressive party.