The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-02-25
TARIFF ERROR NOW AD=
MITTED BY DEMOCRATS
Thought "Anti-Dumping" Legislation
Too Much Protection" in 1913.
KILLED VERY LAW THEN THAT
THEY ARE TRYING TO PUT
THROUGH TODAY.

Rep. Fordney Exposes Another Sam
plo of vaunted Business Efficiency
of Wilson Rule
Washington, Feb. 2i.-One of the
hardest blows yet dealt the Wilson ad =.
miuistration on the score of business
efficiency is delivered by Representa-
tive Joseph W. Fordney, of Michigan,
who will become chairman of the ways
and means committee of the house Of
of representatives when the house goes
Republican.
Mr.. Fordney has reminded the Demo.
cratic members of the ways and means
committee, and he intends soon to re-
peat the information on the floor of the
house that the present effort to pass
anti-dumping legislation is nothing
more than an effort to sppease the
Americanlaborer as we'll as the Ameri-
can business man by enacting at this
prediction date identically the
same anti-dumping clause which was
knocked out of the Underwood Sim
mons tariff law In 1918.
REALIZE THEIR MISTAKE.
Mr.. Fordney drafted an anti-dumping
clause back in 1919 and presented it to
the then chairman of the ways and
means committee, Oscar w. Under
wood, who was 30 impressed by it's
great Importance that he inserted it in
his tariff bill. The house passed the
Underwood bill with the snti-dumping
clause exactly as Mr.. Fordney wrote it.
The Democratic senate knocked this
clause out "as savoring too much Of
protection" And the Underwood.
Simmons law as finally enacted was
minus this clause.
These facts about 1918 have been
received with dismay BY the present
Democratic leaders in the house. They
realize that they are being placed in q
most embarrassing position by being
compelled at this time to do precisely
what Mr.. Fotdney proposed should be
done three years ago.
CANADA HAS SUCH LAW.
'It has surprised a good many con-
gressinen," Mr.. Fordney said to The
Detroit Free Press, ito learn that
Canada now has an antl-dumping law
and that 1t Is being enforced very rigid.
ly against manufacturers in the United
States who are found to be selling their
products in Canada at less than the
price charged In the United States.
'The Canadian government has q
force of inspectors engaged all the time
in this country investigating the books
of United States manufacturers whoee
goods are exported to Canada.
Zone Of the best illustrations of the
workings of the Canadian law know
of is the following:
Suspicion arose that certain manu-
facturer In Ohio was selling his pro-
ducts at lower price in Canada than
in the United States.
"A Canadian inspector called at the
factory and asked to be allowed to 60
over the books.
"The Ohio manufacturer refused ask
ing by what right he desired such in.
spection.
HOW LAW is ENFORCED.
"The Canadian inspector replied that
it was true that Canadian law was not
binding on manufacturer in the
United States and he went away.
But the next shipment of goods from
that Ohio factory to Canada was stop
ped at the border and not allowed to
enter Canada.
"Tbe Ohio manufacturer made in
slant inquiry of the Canadian customs
officers. He was politely informed that
there was suspicion that he was vio-
lating the Canadian snti.dumping law;
that he had refused to permit inspec-
tion of his books; and that inasmuch as
the Canadian government was unable
to decide whether or not the law was
being violated they had ordered bars
down on further shipments from him.
"Most energetic appeal was then
made by the Ohio man to have the
Canadians please come quickly and in.
spect his books He promised to throw
everything wide open. The Canadians
had him on his knees.
well, in time, au inspector was sent
and he reported to his government
shortly afterward the Canadian govern
ment informed the Ohio manufacturer
that they were satisfied the Ohioan was
not violating the anti-dumping law and
no further obstacle would be laid in the
way of his goods entering Canada.
WHY AMERICA NEEDS LAW.
That" continued MIR. Fordney.
shows how the anti-dumping law
Continued on page fourJ Il