Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-08
WOULD PROTECT
DYE INDUSTRY
BY TARIFF LAW
Tariff Commissioner Culbert-
{ son Makes Address Before
Chemical Society

Buffalo, April S.-Enactment OF
tariff and unfair competition laws
to protect essential and desirable
chemical industries. such as the
manufacture of dye stuffs, de-
veloped during the war. was favored
by William S. Culbertson, member
of the United States Tariff Commits
sion, in an address he delivered
here to-day before the American
Chemical Society. Mr.. Cubertson
said he regarded the coal-tar in
dustry as a clear case deserving
of legislative help"
The tariff commissioner said he
had not regarded With favor the
plan adopted by Great Britain 10
provide state aid for her dye indus
try and an embargo on dyes. eN-
Cept where importallons We're per
mitted under special licenses. The
alternative" said Mr.. CulberSon, rs
a tariff which will equali2e with Il
fair margin the conditions or COM
petition between this country ana
abroad. The rise of the dye indus
try has given a new significance TO
the infant llllNSNlN a. = -tl'AN''N 49,
the tariff. In many places of re-
search and enGineering, this indus
try in the United States is in the eN-
perimental stage. The selling of Ger
man patents by the alien property
custodian is Of great assistance. pUt
we are not as yet in position 10
compete on an equality with the oIu'
well-established concerns abroad.
Many important and much needed
dyes are not yet being made IN the
United States.
Is Entitled to Help.
During its development even the
advocate of free trade would admit
that the new industry is entitled
to legislative consideration. y tariff
designed TO maintain American in
dustries should he supplemented
with laws carefully devised to pre-
vent unfair attacks on them which
a tariff unless it is prohibitive, af-
fcrds no safeguard. \ reasonable
tariff and adequate legislation
against dumping and other unfair
practices go together
Mr.. Culbertson said there were
grounds for concern in unfair COM
petition. commercial bribery, decep-
tive labelling and other prachces dl-
reCted by individuals in foreign
countries DeNOIt lil' IttA iHbAN Ni'iA -
American courts. He declared that
y law enacted in 1916. made it Grim
inal to dump goods Systematically
into the United States with the in
yent of destroying. or preventing
the establishment OF American in
dustry. This law. he said, should
lie so amended as to cover not only
such intentional unfair acts of for
cisn competitors. but also all sell
ing in the United States at prices be
low those that prevailed generally
Nproad." When an American pro-
ducer is injured. he added. ii makes
no difference to him what the m
tent OF the foreign rival is.
Opposes Dumping
The criminal provisions Of the
law" said the commissioner, should
be supplemented by a law which
would authorize the President TO
levy by proclamation additional du-
" on goods which are being sys-
tematicaly dumped into the United
states or to prohibit their importa-
ton in case he has reason to be-
lieve that the result will be TO injure.
destroy or prevent the establishment
OF an American industry. The law
mieht also be made to cover unfair
practices such as full-line forcing
and deceptive labelling"