The New York herald., 1921-12-28
HEAVY DUTY URGED
ON FILM IMPORTS
Independent Producers Assert
Industry Is in Bad Shape
in This Country.
OTHER INTERESTS OPPOSE
Attack on the Eastman Kodak
Company Is Made al
Hearing.
OTHER INTERESTS OPPOSE

WASHINGTON. Dec. 27.-The American
people spent from $3.50, 100000 to $1,000
100000 year to see motion picture
shows, the Senate Finance Committee
was told to-day in the course Of argu-
ments for and against q high tariff on
in the industry totals about $3.50, ,00o, 900
and employment is given to about $780,
900 persons.
Paul NJ. Turner of New York. speak
ing for the Actors Equity Association,
testified that the idea that everybody
| connected with the industry made big
money" was erroneous, that SO per cent.
of those engaged in making films re-
ceived only "a living wage
Mr.. Turner and John Emerson, an in
dependent producer of New York, speak
ing for himself and for d. w. Griffith.
| urged duty on imported films Of from
| SO to so per cent. ad valorem In place
of the 30 per cent. in the Fordney bill.
They said the industry was in bad shape,
with many studios and large number
of the $4,000 motion picture theaters
| over the country closed.
| Declaring that only a high tariff stood
between the industry and exterminat ton.
| Mr.. Turner declared that at this time
fifty-four German made pictures were
being exhibited in this country and that
| four or five Of these had yielded to the
exhibitors s2.500,OO0 American pro-
| ducers cannot compete with the Ger
mans, he said, adding that pictures
which cost from 100000 to $500, 900 to
produce in this country could be made in
Germany for from $4,000 to $4,000.
| Saul +. Rogers OF New York, speaking
| for the National Association of Motion
Picture Industry. opposed the duty in
the Fordney bill, urging that the present
rate of three cents foot be retained.
He declared that only a few foreign
films and those depicting great SPEC
tacles had been successful in this coun-
try. American producers he testified.
export films of many of their produc-
tions. He feared that higher duty than
that now proposed would bring retail
atory legislation abroad and damage the
industry here.
An attack on the Eastman Kodak
Company featured the hearings, Mr.
Rogers, William A. de Ford Of New
York, counsel for the International Film
Service Company. Inc. Frederic r. Cou-
dert Of New York, counsel for Pathe
Excnange. Inc, and other witnesses;
charged that this company, through a
monopoly OF the raw, film product,
would be able to control the motion
picture industry if imports were shut
out They consequently opposed the 90
per cent ad valorem duty on raw
| films proposed In the Fordney bill.
| Mr.. De Ford asked the committee to
| investigate an agreement which he said
he believed the Eastman company had
made with representatives of the film
| laboratories. He charged that after the
laboratories had opposed the proposed
duty on the imported films the Eastman
company bought several laboratories as
! q club" to keep the others in line.
Threatened with an invasion OF their
| field. the witness said, the representa-
tives Of the laboratories entered into a
written agreement among themselves on
last September 0 to use only American
made films.
Daniel r. Forbes, representing the
Seneca Camera Company. also attacked
| the Eastman company, charging that T.
controlled 80 per cent. of the produc-
tion of rolled films. He said his COM
pany rad to supply such films in order
to market its product, that the Eastman
company had refused to sell its films
end that the proposed 80 per cent. duty
on the article would make 1t impossible
| for the Seneca company to get the prod
uct abroad. thus forcing 1t to close Up
shop. He asked that such films be re-
tanned on the free list, but asked pro-
lection for cameras.