Evening star., 1916-05-28

ed States began to be restricted in the
supplies of color chemicals that came
from the kaiser's domain. and at present
the commercial embarrassment. due to
the shortage of dyestuffs obtainable
from any and all sources throughout
the world. has assumed appalling pro-
portions. One of the greatest problems
agitating the public mind is that of
effecting legislation which provides for
the establishment and protection of
American chemical plants and which
shall prevent Germany from flooding
the country at the close of the present
war with dyes and dyed commodities
at rates low enough to snuff out the
profits of the new and struggling
American industries.
OF these enough are already started
makes the prospects of the American
dyestun plants SO promising Is that
this country has an abundant supply
Of all of the raw materials necessary
for the production of all of the dyes
needed.
Germany has been the dyestuff seller
for thirty years and now that she is
using the plants to turn out munitions
OF war the world has been secured for
relief and the prices paid for dive ma
terials have been fabulous when COM
pared to the rates paid before the war
Representative Ebenezer J. Hill Of
Connecticut, in speech in the House
of Representatives February IA, 1915.
tion for relief from this foreign mo-
nopoly, said. in part:
Il know of no more humiiiating fact
connected with our national economic
states of America is compelled to hum
bly, beg from the German government
the poor privilege of buying from a
chemical factory in Charlottenburxt the
dyestuns needed to print our money
and make our postage and revenue
stamps. and that such consent Is only
granted on condition that the State
Department shall make cash pur-
chase In its own name, for govern
mental use only, and guarantee that
they shall not be used for CONNER
cial purposes.
Having purchased and paid for
them by the consent of German
king. this great nation of a hundred
million people must then, forsooth,
humbiy beg from an English king the
poorer privilege of having them
transported in a neutral ship from a
neutral port across an ocean which
we had fondIy believed to be free to
every neutral power for non contra
band Of war.
This purchase amounts to $4,000,
and part of 1t is now in Rotterdam
1 ne bureau mas now enough material
to continue it's work for two months
This. II received by us. will permit an
extension of work for nearly a year
further supply Is dependent upon
Englands permission for us to ex-
change linseed oil with Germany in
payment for 1t instead of cash AS
/ learned these facts. j wondered
whether this nation had again be-
come a colony of a European mon,
archy. and subject to orders in coun-
Gil and paper blockades. and our trade
with the world absolutely controlled
by our greatest commercial rivals.
Congress has already been notified
that the color of the uniforms for our
soldiers and sailors must soon be
changed unless some relief from the
existing dyestuf famine is speedily
secured. II the war be long continued
and the chamical plants on the Rhine
should perchance be destroyed. who
knows. but that this nation may ulti-
mately be compelled to change the
color Of the national nag"
Regarding the enormous prices paid
by American firms for dye materials
from various sources. there 10 on rec
ord the testimony OF witnesses before