The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-07-27
The "Deutschland' And The
Dye Industry.

Dye Industry.
WASHINGTON, July &c Especial CORE
spondence) "The fact that on her trial
trip rs per cent of the cargo of the under
sea merchantmen, Deutschland, con-
sisted of German dyestuffs, has convinced,
as no amount of argument could convince,
the business men of this country, o. the
Importance which Germany attaches to
the control of the American dyestuffs
market" said prominent textile manu-
facturer from Massachusetts. yesterday.
eff more vessels are to follow the 'Deu-
tschland', domestic manufacturers will
not be free from German competition,
even while the war lasts. But the i'm
portant thing to consider is that Germany
is determined to risk every hazard to dis
courage our own people fromengaging in
the dye industry. The necessity for
adequate protection, if we are to have
dyes made in America, is plain.
Three days after the arrival of the
Deutschland the Democratic Congress,
after pigeon boiling the Hill bill, passed
measure which provided for duty on
dyestuffs. This bill will not serve the
purpose, because, according to the sworn
testimony of Democrats (even free
traders) and everyone posted on the sub
ject, the rates are too low. IT they are
not increased by the Senate, just as much
water will flow over the dam as formerly
flowed through the Democratic breach in
our protective wall. Their argument
was to catch votes, and their bill was a
bluff.
The Hill bill provided for specific duty
of 7 1-2 cents per pound on the finished
dives, and 3 "a cents per pound on the
intermediates, in addition to 80 per
cent ad valorem duty on the former, and
Is per cent on the latter. The Democra-
tic law provides for the ad valorem rates,
but the specific rates were reduced 33 1-3
per cent. Ten thousand chemists in the
United States, of all shades of political
belief, unanimously approved the Hill
rates, which were fixed after the most
careful study. A committee of these
chemists, of which Dr. Bernard G. Hesse,
a free trader, and Hon. Herman Mertz,
formerly Democratic Representative in
Congress from Brooklyn, were members,
speaking of the Hill bill declared: "The
committee herewith unanimously reaf-
firms its belief that the rates proposed in
it's report of November 4, 1914, are the
lowest at which a self contained, COM
plete, independent coal tar chemical and
dye industry can be created in this coun-
try, and at the same time which offers
legitimate incentive to legitimate capital
for legitimate effort to produce these
goods in this country" Mr.. Mertz as.
serted: "On anything less you will be
off, anyway. l do not know whether
that is high enough. DR.. Hesse said
81 do not look at it as an industrial pro-
position but as matter of national equip
ment", referring to the dye industry in
it's adaptability to the manufacture Of
explosives. A gentleman who was about
to embark several millions in the enter.
prise wrote to Representative Hill: 4
am as firmly convinced as ever that the
rates mentioned in your bill are the low.
est that will establish this industry in the
United States, and have never so much
as intimated to anybody, by word OF
mouth or otherwise, that anything less
would do the trick, and | believe that
Mr.. Kitchin, Mr.. Pratt, ETC., thoroughly
understand my position.
1.-The coming OF the Deutschland dis.
pels one report that was not infrequently
heard", said a New York man. at
shows that Germanys offer to ship dyes
here was not entirely matter of bluff
And, in my opinion, it indicates that the
war has not disorganized Germany's dye
industry to an appreciate extent. We
know that Germany is planning an enor
nous trade campaign to regain the mar
kets held prior to the outbreak of hosti
lities, and there is no reason to suppose
that the dye industry in which she oc
cupied such pred ominant position shoule
be neglected in this preparation. The
Democrats are now on record as verbally
in favor of protection and leglslativel.
against that policy. Evidently, they
feel that they are damned if they do
while the dye industry is damned if they
don't. The manufacturers are gambling
on the Republicans winning out in the
fall. The flood of German dyes to this
country will be damned, if they do, the
dye industry will be damned if they don t
SEARSMONT.