Evening star., 1921-03-16
PRESIDENT BACKS
IMPORT TAX BILLS
Gives Approval to Anti
Dumping Legislation at
Conference.

President Harding made it known
last night that he approves the pro-
posal of the congressional leaders
to make anti-dumping and American
valuation of imports measures the
first fiscal legislation to be brought
to the attention of the special ses-
sion of Congress called to meet
That he favors this part of the
Legislative program was officially
announced following his conference
in the executive Offices with Senator
Penrose. chairman Of the Senate
Fordney, chairman of the House ways
and means committee, who placed
before him a Legislative program for
the coming session. He also indicated
that he will give the full support OF his
office in bringing about the early
passage of the two measures in queS-
tion.
Full Program Not Approved.
1t was indicated by the President
during this conference that he did
not desire to approve the full pro-
gram He wishes to hold further
conferences on the question as to
whether a permanent tariff bill or an
internal revenue bill should be given
precedence. when the time comes to
the views of many Of the leaders of
the Senate and House upon this ques-
ton before coming to any conclusion.
Chairman Fordney said today that
the House committee is ready on
twenty-four hours notice to intro
duce an anti-dumping bill to prevent
the American market being flooded
by the cheap products of other coun-
tries. This measure was passed by
the House the last session of Con-
gress.
The plan is to reintroduce it exactly
as it passed the House. with an ad-
ditional clause providing that the ad
yalorem duty shall be paid on the
American gold dollar rather than on
the deprecated currency in foreign
markets. This will greatly increase
the import duties, Mr.. Fordney ex-
planned. 1t will not only take care
of the difference in cost OF produc-
ton of any article between the cheap
labor of foreign countries and labor
under the American standards OF 1iv-
ing. it is explained by its advocates,
but II will also take care OF the tre-
mendous depreciation of currency in
some of the foreign countries, notably
Germany. France and England.
Duty on Wholesale Price.
The ad valorem duty will be passed
on the average wholesale selling
price of the article in the port OF
entry at the time of import.
AS an example of how it will in
crease import duties and take care
OF American standards, Mr.. Fordney
told of the experiences of an Amer
lean manufacturer who bought a
reed chair in China for So as pat
tern to make chairs in this country
He found that it would cost him S.
to manufacture the same chair in the
United States. To take care Of this
tremendous difference in cost of pro-
duction and add on the SO to the
price of the chair bought abroad
would require $50 per cent duty or
the foreign price. but by basing the
import duty on the American cost II
would require only so per cent.
Mr.. Fordney said that he does not
anticipate any further extensive
F., hearings on the tariff question. and
! that his committee has decided not
| to hear again any Of the parties who
| have previously testified. He expects
his committee to meet again very
soon.