Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-12-31
CARL ACKERAIAN INVITED
TO SPEAK IN NORWICH

The annual meeting of the Manufac-
turer's Association of Connecticut was
held at the Hotel Taft in New Haven
Decerber 18th. Because of the pressure
of business at this time President Wells
of the local chamber of commerce was I'M
able to attend. Secretary O'Rourke req
resented him at this meeting.
Walter Camp, president Of the New
Haven Clock company, addressed the
meeting on the advantages of the Amer
lean valuation plan as embodied in the
Fordney tariff bill now under consider
alton by congress. The outstanding
feature of this plan will place imports on
the basis of American valuation and not
the valuation of foreign countries Hen
ny Clay in 1888 stated 1.-THE interested
foreign exporter and not our government
in practice, fixes the valuation of import
ed goods into the United States for ohdi-
able purposes. without the requirement of
any oath, under the Involvement of great
commercial gain to undervalue, and be-
yond the process of any tribunal for
punishment Merchandise manufac ur-
ed abroad under different conditions than
those existing in the United States, are
brought into this country and offered for
sale at prices that American manufac-
turers cannot meet and to the detrinent
of their Business and the constant en-
ploynent of American labor. Toda-
foreign made goods are being sold
throughout this country at cheaper prices
than American goods, which has but one
affect-lack of employment Of American
| labor. 1t means the transfer of the
American workshop to foreign countries
For example, an article made in this
country which cost one dollar to manufac-
ture may be produced in England for
eighty cents and in Ja2an for fifty cents,
| owing to different in cost of materials
and labor. An advalorein duty of 20
cents is levied thereon by the laws of the
United States. The English article
pays sixteen cents and the Japanese ten
cents. Under the American valuation
plan both these countries would pay
twenty cents It is Obvious that this
would tremendously increase the revenue
| from imports to this country and at the
same time protect American industry and
| labor.
| Congressman John O. Tilson. from
| Connecticut, spoke along the same lines
| He told of being in a hardware store in
Kansas City and the proprietor showed
! him merchandise, some of it made here
/ in Connecticut, that he could not sell to
compete with foreign made goods. The
result is that over City per cent. of his
| merchandise IS foreign made and the
| Connecticut factories are either closed or
working on short time. Speaking on tbs
question often raised that the American
valuation plan would encourage American
manufacturers to pyramid prices he de
| clared that argument cnsound AS lone
as the rate of duty prescribed produces
an amount of duty which, when added tc
the foreign value of the imported article
no more than advances the value there
of above the American value it will moi
be possible for American producers tc
artifcially raise American values so as tc
stife importations. The problem is com
lplex. The large American inF2orter Il
opposed to the American valuation plar
because his profits are large and the
American consumer naturally buys the
cheaper article of equal grade. During
the war our slogan was Keep the home
fires burning" It now should be 'KeeI
our industries going"
| Carl Alderman, foreign correspond
ent of several American papers and who
lived in ermany during the years 1915
to 1918, told some very interesting fact
ieoncerning German sagacity and fore
tsight. Mr.. Alderman also lived in othel
European countries for several years
German business acumen is wonderful
Prior to the war Germany controlled tn,
Icigar industry of continental Europe
This year she bought the entire Sumatrs
LEAF output of Holland and is busily en-
gagged recovering her lost market even tt
the extent of selling at cost. An Englisl
vessel went aground. Bids were receive.
from English shipbuilders to repair tn
vessel. Two English bids were 500
pounds and 5000 pounds respectively bu
a Rotterdam concern. financed by Ger
man money bid a little over 1000 pounds
Already Germany Is getting hold of thu
italian metals industry. This year wa
the first German Christmas since the war
Scarcely home having Christmas tree
that did not have German made goods
IT is estimated by financial men in New
York that over $1,000 5000 worth o
German toys came into this country.
If American industry and business il
to successfully compete with foreign mad
1 goods, something must be done to pretec
our industry and labor. Importers an,
merchants are Offering for sale good
equal to the American product in man.
cases at cheaper prices than the Arneri
can manufacturer can make them. Tn
buying public naturally buys at tn
cheaper prices Our local industries ar