Evening star., 1921-08-07
GERMAN TRADE CUTS
INTO. u. S. MARKETS
American Valuation Plan for Levying
Tariff Put Forward to Neutralize
the Cheap Mark

recently visited the great dye plants
in Germany. He was informed by
the head of one of them that the
German companies could afford to run
the plants and throw the dyes away
existing on the proceeds from the
f1xation of atmospheric nitrogen and
fertilizers. One of these plants en-
ployes 10000 workers. and another
$4,000. Naturally the dyestuffs are
piling up. and can be sold. when the
time comes, at remarkably low fig
ures. The war reparations terms call
for 25 per cent of the dyestuffs produc-
tion to be turned over to the allied
nations. But Germany can do this
and still have enough dyes for her
own use and to supply other nations.
Under existing law. there is an en-
barge on German dyes, but this ex-
pires before long. The House de-
clined to put into the tariff bill an
embargo on German dyes. but fixed
tariff duties on the dyes. The fight
for additional protection for Ameri-
can dye manufacturers will be re-
newed in the Senate. But with the
charge that the dye industry in this
country is monopolized by a few
great interests, the chances for the
continuance of an embargo seem very
slim.
German Low Prices.
The German workman, it is claimed.
is better OF today so far as the pur-
chasing power of his wage is con-
cerned, than he was before the war.
Notwithstanding the depreciation of
,, the mark. Moreover. he is kept on
the job. If going concern turns on
any Of it's employees. it must continue
to pay these employees. it is reported
here, just as though they were at
work-at least until they go to work
elsewhere. In this way, the unem-
ployment problem is met and solved
to a great extent in Germany today.
| Then, too, rents, which are an i'm
portant item in the cost Of living any
where. are continued the same as be-
fore the war-whereas in this country
they have doubled and trebbled. A
fine apartment in a handsome apart
ment house in Berlin. for instance
such an apartment as would rent pos
sibly for $4,000 in New York city, is
renting in Berlin for the same num-
Der of marks as it did before the war,
about SO a month in American gold.
Again, the crown princes suite-it is
still called that, though the crown
prince has no place in Germany to-
day-at one of the handsomest hotels
in one of the large German cities. was
recently rented at $S.75 a day by an
American travelling there. This suite
consists of two bedrooms, two baths,
a dining room and a drawing room.
Aim of the Valuation Plan.
The so-called American valuation
plan, for levying tariff duties, has
been put forward by members Of the
tariff commission. and others. as one
means of neutralizing to some extent
the tremendous difference in exchange.
1t is declared by it's supporters the
best plan that could be devised to
meet the situation growing out of
the low labor costs and deprecated
currency abroad.
Under the American valuation plan.
adopted by the House in the tariff
bill, imported goods would be valued
according to the wholesale price of
similar, competitive goods produced
! in this country. Where 1t is impossi-
BILE, to find similar competitive goods,
1t is planned to take goods that are
| comparable In cost of production in
| arriving at the price of the imported
article. Under existing law, the
| foreign wholesale selling price is con-
! sidered.