The Washington herald., 1921-03-16
LIEBEs, CHICAGO FUR MAN. Z
URGES FREE TRADE IN SKINS

Dy the world war that surpassed
the highest hopes of American fur
dealers prior to 1914, according to
Samuel J. Liebes, of the Associated
Fur Industries of Chicago, seen
yesterday at the. washington.
This great trade will be imper-
illed, he says, IL undressed skins
are taken of the free list when
Congress establishes the new tarin.
although the fur manufacturers OF
the country would like to see the
present duty maintained on the nm
ished product when 1t Is imported
into this country.
I'VE are asking the retention OF
undressed furs on the free hst OF
the tariff" says Liebes, because
furs are a natural product into
which labor does not enter Put
ting furs on the free list would be
In harmony with the policy of con-
serving our natural resources, for
IL we admit foreign furs free we
are not so likely to use up the furs
of our States and Territories.
The fur business turnover of the
United States Is about s352,000. 900
annually, according to the estimate
for 1920, and the business of ex-
porting raw furs has increased
steadily since the beginning of the
war. Before the war American fur
dealers sent large quantities of furs
to Europe. London was a great
center for fur auctions, where Ger
man manufacturers would buy the
American product. The furs were
dressed and dyed in Germany, and
then purchased by Americans, who
would bring them back to this
country.
SKILLFUL WORKERS
KEEP BUSINESS HERE.
Today, on the other hand. so
accomplished have American dress
ers and dyers become, that we are
duplicating the work of the Ger
mans during the war and literally
keeping the business at home.
Through the skill of our manufac-
turers and dressers and dyers we
have established a substantial do
mestic consumption of fur mate
rails"
Liebes points out that our inter-
national fur trade is OF greater i'm
portance than even our well de-
veloped domestic traffic in furs.
I'VE have gained a foothold in
international trade" he declared.
(which will be secure so long as
we keep free from interference
with the flow OF raw materials
both to and from these shores. The
fur industry has grown to such
proportions that not only are the
manufacturers of fur garments. the
dealers. importers and exporters in
terested. but the trade is of vital
importance to the railroads. steam
ship lines. forwarders. warehouse
men and banking interests.
Before the war the greater part
of the fur trade of the world was
in the hands of the British ,and the
Germans. The United States did
little business with the countries
whence come the raw furs used in
the industry in this country. We
shipped a. large percentage of the
fur catch OF America to London.
From there II was distributed TO
the markets of the world. We went
to London and to Leipsig to secure
raw furs gathered from all parts Of
the world. In either case We paid
tribute to European merchants.
steamship companies, insuranc
companies and bankers, at the
same time increasing the invisible
trade balance against America.
GERMAN TRADE
PASSES TO AMERICA.
Germany. the source of an in.
significant supply Of native furs,
imported in the year before the
war furs and skins to the amount
of s46,75O. 900 and exported s56,75O.-
600. Its fur dressing and dyeing
plants had a combined capital in
vestment of f49,00o.e00. according
to an English authority.
Since the war the greater part
OF this business has fallen into
American hands. Liebes says. I'm
portation of furs into this country
was greatly cut down at the Begin
ming of the war. 1t became prac-
tically> impossible\to ship furs to
Leipzig via London, as had been
formerly the custom. Then, as i'm
portation from European sources
ceased, all the United States fur
merchants, and even the German
owned branch houses, gradually
took to dealing in American furs.
These German branch houses have
since that time become American
lied, and now for the greater part
handle American furs.
On the other hand, the large
American houses increased their i'm
porting, business. opening up sources
OF supply in Russia, Siberia and
China, and at great risks brought
these goods into an anxiously
awaiting market.
To-day" said Liebes, 1--WE find
New York and St. Louis vieing for
the title of The Worlds Fur Mar
ket,' the name formerly held by
Lopdon. In 1915 the first American
fur auction was held in St. Louis.
and in 1916 fur auctions were COM
menced in New York. Auctions are
now held in Montreal, and 1t is ex-
pected that they will take place
three times year-in the winter,
spring and fall. Canada's fur re-
sources are very great, and it is
expected that these auctions will
attract the most important of the
worlds fur buyers.
The immediate effect of a tariff
on raw furs in this country would
be to remove America from inter-
national competition and to de-
stroy the world trade that we have
built up since the war" said Liebes.
There is no question that an i'm
port duty on undressed skins would
be received with pleasure in the fur
markets of London, Leipzig and
montreal; 1t would also prove ca
lamitous to our fur trade"
F. W. G.
FRENCH MARSHAL =.