New-York tribune., 1921-12-28
Tariff Trainers
Asked to Guard
American Films
Senator'S Informed German
INVASION Has Had Share
in Closing Numerous The
aters and Studios Here
80 Per Cent Duty Asked
Fear Expressed Cheap Pro-
duction Abroad Menaces
S25O.OO0, 900 In d IL stry

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-The Ameri-
,,n people spend from s75o,ooo,o 900 to
$1,000 ooo, 900 year to see motion pic
.,r. shows, the Senate Finance Com
..;.see was told to-day In the course Of
.,cumenss for and against high tar
n on foreign-made pictures. The in
restment in the industry totals about
ssse 600 GOO. and employment is given
q about 25o,ooo persons.
Paul N. Turner, Of New York, speak
;as for the Actors Equity Association.
.sstifcd that the idea that everybody
.onnected with the industry made big
Money" was erroneous, that 96 per cent
9. those engaged in making films re
eeiyed only living wage
NJ Turner and John Emerson, speak
40 FOR himself and for D. w. Griffith.
nrsed duty on imported films of from
"A "a so per cent ad valorem, in place
= the 80 per cent in the Fordney bill.
they said the industry was in bad
sSsne. with many studios and large
vmnsber of the $4,000 motion picture
heaters in the country closed.
Cheap Production Abroad
neclaring that only a high tariff
stood between the industry and ex-
srminstion. Mr. Turner said that at
iris time ffty-four German-made pic
tnres were being exhibited in this
eountry and that four or five of these
lad Welded the exhibitors S2,50Oo00.
American producers cannot compete
With the Germans, he said, adding that
n;ctures which cost from 100000 to
$500 OoO to produce in this country
s,uld be made in Germany for from
$4,000 to s12 900.
Saul f. Rogers, of New York, speak
mo for the National Association of Mo-
ton Picture Industries, opposed the
duty in the Fordney bill, urging thar
the present rate of three cents Il foot
he retained. He said that only a few
foreign films and those depicting great
spectacles had been successful in this
country. American producers, he resr-
fed. export films of many OF their pro
ductons H feared that higher duty
than that now proposed would bring
Yetaliatory legislation abroad and
damage the industry here.
An attack was made on the Eastman
Kodak Company Mr.. Rogers. Frederic
+. Coudert, counsel for Pathe En-
change, Inc, and other witnesses
charged that this corporation, 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
20 per cent al valorem duty on raw
flm proposed in the Fordney bill.
Other Items Discussed
An investigation of an alleged agree-
ment the Eastman company had made
with representatives OF the film
laboratories were asked. 1t was charged
that after the laboratories had op-
posed the proposed duty on the i'm
ported films the Eastman company
bought several laboratories as Club
to keep the others in line
It was declared representatives Of
the laboratories entered into 2 writ
ten agreement last September 80
use only American made film.
Daniel F. Forbes, representing the
Seneca Camera Company, also attacked
the Eastman company, charging that It
controlled 90 per cent of the produc-
ton Of rolled films.
Senate tariff trainers. continuing
hearings to-day on sundries in the
Fordney bill, heard arguments in favor
Of increased protection for hard rub
Der products, beeswax, gas nantes
church statuary and many other
American products. Il also heard
testimony for and against increased
duties on pencils.