New Britain herald., 1921-12-15
VALUATIONBI
 TOLD IN DETAIL
Congressman Humphrey Speaks
 Before Rotary Club
FOREIGN POWERS OBJECT

This Measure Congressman Explains,
 Calls for Importer to Pay Duty on
 the Wholesale Price of Article in
 Question.
 In a stirring address before the mem bers and guests Of the New Brit ain R otary club at the luncheon held at the Eks' club this noon, Congress- man w. E. Humphrey, of Seattle, Wash, said that the American Valu- ation bill directly affects every Amer ican citizen.
 The wives of the members were guests of the club. Previous to the talk by Congressman Humphrey, Mrs Arthur G. Kimball spoke on behalf of the Salvation Army drive, which is being conducted in this city this week. She introduced to the members of the club Miss Catherine Johnson, a lassie of the army, who was also a guest at the luncheon.
 Next Weeks speaker.
 President Leon Spraguc made few announcements tn which he stated that Frederick Withey of the National Surety company in New York would address the members at the meeting next week Thursday. The annual winter meeting and ball will be held on Thursday evening December 29 at place to be selected later. A motion was also made that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to see that 51 needy families of this city be cared for by the Rotary club for Christ mas.
 Foreign Powers Object. | The foreign nations object to the American Valuation plan" Mir. Hum phrey stated, "because they will lose a great deal of money If they object to this plan as strenuously as it is thought that they do there must be something behind it." MT. Humphrey added.
 According to his statements, the American Valuation plan makes the importer pay duty on the wholesale price of the article when it is receiv- ed in this country. The foreign policy calls for the paying of the duty when it is shipped. It is for this reason, Mir. Humphrey claims, that no one outside of the importers could be opposed to the plan.
 Why Importers Kick
 There are several reasons. the speaker said, why the importers would protest. One is that they clain the rate would be increased. This is not true, according to the speaker, as the valuation has nothing to do with the rate. MT. Humphrey also said that the importers claim that the manu- lecturers would combine and raise the price of the product. This, they claim, would compel them to pay more duty Again. MT Humphrey said that it was not true that the manufacturers would combine and if they did it was quite possible that they would be prosecuted by the government.
 Reasons for Adoption
 Congressman Humphrey stated that the huctuation in the foreign exchange and the depreciation of foreign money is one of the reasons why the Ameri- can valuation plan should be adopt ed. Anoth CT reason he put forward was that the public would learn the orig inal price of the article when it came to this country through the new bill, whereas at the present time the i'm porters q O not tell the Americans what price they pay for their goods and the governm ent has no way to compel them as they pay their duty to the country from which the article comes
 hp lo of Humphrey showed those present a knife which was purchased in Ger many for sum equal to nine cents in American money. This same knife was pure hased from a Chicago firm for $5. Under present methods pur- chasers can buy for a small sum of money and sell the article for what they think it is worth. Under the new plan they will have to pay a duty on what the knife is worth in America and the public shall learn the truth. The increase no matter what it will be will be relatively the same.
 Making Profit
 The merchants also claim that if the American valuation bill is passed | that they VIII De CO1npelled 10 raise the price of their articles. Humphrey said that the new bill would probably increase their duty a few cents but merchants think that they must raise their price several cents and some have figured for a profit of from 90 10 | 600 per cent
 Resolution Adopted 1 Following the address by Nr. 1 Humphrey. Abram Buol introduced the following resolution which was adopted;
 RESOLNED-That in view of pres ent depresse condition of American industry, the abnormally low costs of production abroad and the unpre- cedented depreciation of currencies of countries seeking to sell their pro | ducts in the markets of the United | States, it is our earnest belief that there should he no further delay in the enactm cnt of an adequate protec- tive tariff bill, and that we further most urgently recommend the adop- | tion of Am eriCan valuation provisions in such tariff bill as the best method of standardizing import values and | int e,1rincr tng other nations pu1alit