Evening star., 1918-07-11
SUGGESTS SEIZURE
Of ALL PLATINUM
Chemical Society Editor at
Hearing Says Government
Should Extend Control.
DISCUSSION OF INDUSTRY

The question of taking platinum
from the jewelry trade for use by the
government for war purposes was
again discussed before the ways and
means committee today. relative to
the way the industry will be affected
under the new revenue bill about to
be written by the committee.
Charles H. Herty. editor of the Off,
cial Journal of the American Chemical
Society, told the committee that the
government has not taken sufficient
steps in Communicating platinum. He
admitted that he has been conducting
a propaganda against the jewellers on
this subject and said be felt Justified.
He believes that the women OF the
country are patriotic and II ap-
prised of the need for platinum In
war work they will not buy platinum
jewelry. He defended an editorial
which he had written, saying that
some one had blundered in the first
Communicating order on platinum.
Mr.. Herty said he believes the gov
ernment ought to take over all plati-
mum. whether it is manufactured or
not.
Studying Luxury Tax List.
Members of the committee are
studying with interest the list of
luxury taIations suggested by the
Treasury Department. but opposition
was apparent to many of the propo-
sails which some committeeman re-
garded as impractical. The commit
tee will take up the list item by Item
when 1t begins framing the new war
revenue bill.
0ry's suggestions came during the
committees hearing of representa-
tives of the wholesale and retail jew
elry trade. Meyer D. Rothschild and
Robert B. Steele. both of New York.
declared that the proposed so per cent
would force SO many concerns out of
business that the government would
not derive nearly as much revenue
from this source as it would under
the 10 per cent tax.
Lobbying Charges Criticised.
After numerous questions had been
asked about visits of representatives
of the jewellers in Washington. Repre-
sentative Fordney of Michigan said
while accusations had been pretty free
about lobbying, there lis one organiZa-
tion that right now has Hobbies here
in Washington by the score, and there
is never any criticism of It"
What organization Is that?" de-
manded Representative Garner Of
Texas.
Mr.. Gompers'." replied Mr.. Ford
ney. Representative Moore of Penn
sylvania agreed with Mr.. Fordney that
business men have the right to come
to Washington to present their views
to their congressman OF to others
without being called lobbyists
For Patent Medicine Tax.
William H. Hill of Detroit. Mich. who
appeared before the committee to repre-
sent the patent medicine industry. pro-
posed the Canadian plan Of afti1ins a
government tax stamp on patent medi-
cines, the amount of the tax to be added
to the selling price.
While Mr.. Hill was on the stand Rep
resentative Fordney said the govern
ment's actual war expenses this year
allies would be SIS, 900, 900. 900. The
$4,000. 100000 which it Is proposed to
raise by taxation. he said, represented
40 per cent of the total actual expense
and added that he did not think that
amount should be raised by taxation.
Asks Dentistry Reserve.
The use OF platinum In the manu-
facture of Jewelry continues by two
thirds of the jewellers Of the country
in spite of the governments urgent
request that 1t be conserved to meet
war needs, according to a statement
by Louis ]. Weinstein of Columbia
University. Mr.. WeinStein asked that
sufficient supply of platinum be re-
served for it's use in dentistry.
Jewellers have been using their ut
most endeavor to buy platinum from
dentists" Mr.. Weinstein said. They
work through the medium of ped
dlers. who offer as much as $3.50 an
ounce, when the dentists bought as
low as $50 or $50 an ounce, and it
takes man of considerable character
to resist their offer"
Mr.. WeinStein said the supply In the
possession of manufacturing jewelers.
has not been commandeered by the
government, whereas IS per cent of
the supply of the retailers has been
taken over.
Representative Henry T. Rainey of
Illinois, member of the committee,
declared he would investigate through
the War Industries Board the alleEa-
ton that the use of platinum in man
ufacturing jewelry continues when its
need by the government is so urgent.
Hoover Urges a Higher Tax
as Means of Rpachinn Thnsn