The Washington herald., 1921-04-23
IMPORTERS LAUNCH
FIGHT ON SECTION
OF TARIFF MEASURE
Liquidation of Customs
Phase Is Vigorously
Protested.
DYERS ALSO HEARD
Senate Finance Committee Al
SO Urged to Protect Chem
ical and Dyestuff Trades.

Ranresentatives of importing ~1-
terests throughout the country ap-
peared before the Senate Finance
committee yesterday to vigorously
protest against the section OF the
emergency tariff bill stipuiatins
that in the liquidation Of customs
no foreign money shall be estimat-
ed to have deprecistsd in value
more than ss 2-3 per cent. The com
mittee also heard plea for emer-
rency legislation to protect the
chemical and dyestuffs Industries
against a possible food of German
Imports during the interim between
the probable adoption of the Knox
separate peace resolution and the
enactment of a new general pro-
tective tariff law.
Doherty Reports.
For the National Council Of Amer
lean Importers and Traders, Thorn
as ]. Doherty, of New York. told
the committee the 6s "a limitation
on exchange depreciation would SO
Increase tariff duties as to amount
TO a trade embargo against those
countries whose currencies have de-
preciated more than two-thirds. 1t
would also serve. he declared, to
turn their .rade with America In
those things in which Japan COM
petes completely over to that coun-
try. This for the reason. he said,
that the currency depreciation pro-
vision would not apply to Japan,
whose money is quoted almost at
par.
Mr.. Doherty argued that there
was extraordinary Inconsistency
In Iegislating so that imports from
many European countries will nee
essarily be cut of and at the same
time resuscitating the War Finance
Corporation for the express purpose
Of financing exports from the Unit
ed States to European and other
countries"
Mr.. Doherty denied that duties
collected now are much lower. be-
cause of deprecated foreign money
values, than were contemplated in
the Underwood tariff law, as stated
by Representative Longworth, Re-
publican, Of Ohio, during considera-
tion of the same bill by the House.
Mr.. Doherty presented several in
voices of 1914 and of 1921 covering
shipments of Identical or compare
BILE articles from Germany and 9th
er Central European countries.
These showed, he said, that the
prices in the country of their origin
had risen more than the currency
had deprecated, and that in every
rase the duty on like article was
greater in 1s20~or 1921 than in 1914.
He also submitted figures to show
that II the duty were computed un-
der the proposed 66 2-3 per cent de-
probation allowance, in the case of
Germany and other countries where
money values are comparahly low,
the duty would be from 100 to 1000
per cent greater and be absolutely
rrohibitive. $685..
Opposition Develops.
So much opposition has developed
to this section of the emergency
tariff bill that several suggestions
for amendment have been made. One
of the Republican leaders said today
a proposal to make the depreciation
limit IS per cent was now being
considered, and showed that in the
case Of the German mark, instead of
arbitrarily fixing its value at
cents, IL would fix It at 3.6 cents.
This would somewhat more than
double duties on imports from that
country, where the 66 2-3 limitation
would increase them nearly 500 per
cent.
The chemical and dyestuffs men
appearing before the committee
were told by Senator Watson, Indi-
ana, that Senator Knox's resolution
would be amended to give protec-
tion to those industries pending the
adoption of the new general tarif
law.
The committee will meet again to-
day, Senator Penrose plans to re-
port the bill to the Senate early
Iext week.
WA @-N lRy~ ~~-.0--