The Connecticut labor news., 1922-05-12
American Printers Can not Possibly Compete With Foreigners Who By Evasion and Fraud Here, Flood Printing Markets.


 memorandum left with Hon Elmer treasury in charge of customs, rela- tive to the printing trade situation and competition under cover" by firms abroad, aided by business in this country, an account of which was published in The Labor News last week:
 Last November the printing trades requested the tariff commission to make an investigation of the impor tations of printed matter and their effect on the great unemployment which existed then, and which exists now in our industry.
 Even at the present time not less than 3ob, and much nearer 4oT of the printing tradesmen are unable to secure work, due to the fact that pur chasers of printing and printed mat ter are giving orders for printed mat ter to agents of English, German, Belgian and Czechoslovakian con cerIls These orders we have refer ence to formerly were given to Amer ican concerns and were a means o1 livelihood for many American work men.
 At the present time you will find representatives of large publishing houses-such as John McRoe of E. r. Dutton Co.,, New York-touring Flu rope placing orders for books and other printed goods, which will be delivered here in time for fall and holiday distribution.
 The present ruling Of your Treas ury Department, whereby importers are permitted to bring goods into this country without the country of origin being placed on these goods, IS costly to American Workmen and is a fraud to the American people.
 We personally have seen hundreds of books where either there was no mark at all or if marked the name of the country where printed was in a corner placed there with rubber stamp and easily removable.
 We might say we turned over to the tariff commission several exhibits, among which was prayer book with a fly leaf on the back of the book having a perforated leaf. On this per forated leaf was printed the country of origin. When the retailer gets this book he simply tears out of the leal and then the book is easily sold as an American production.
 This ruling should be changed if the government really wishes to help the workmen of America.
 As an illustration of what is going on, we also called to the attention oi the tariff commission several specific instances of how American employers are denied orders, owing to low quo tations of German and Czechoslo- Vallian houses.
 Lucky Strike cigarette labels, which have always been produced here, cost $I per thousand. Last spring agents of foreign houses offered to deliver these goods, duty and freight paid to Chicago, for 50 cents per thousand.
 Pall Mall cigarette labels, which carry considerable gold leaf, always printed here and sold at the lowest for $1o75 per thousand, have been quoted at Says per thousand by agents of foreign concerns. This price is less than the cost of gold leaf used here.
 What we have related above is also true of cigar labels and bands Our organization of paper cutters Of New York, many of whom are employed in establishments where a great deal of highly colored print work is done, are paid about 7 cents per thousand for cutting, strengthening and gum ming these goods; at this rate our men receive not more than $50 per week.
 During the last few months we find that these goods are offered in New York all printed, some in six and sev- en colorS, for seven, eight and nine cents per thousand
 An illustration, which may serve
 
 Photographic matter for the years IoIo-Io2o-Io2I.
 In 1919 there were 242,ooo pounds -Io2o this amount increased to 85o,- ooo-while for 1921 the figures show I,23o,ooo pounds-an increase in two years of more than 5ooF6.
 Prayer book industry of America almost wiped out Nearly all of this work is now produced abroad.
 It is for this reason that we appeal to you to order an investigation of imports of books and printed matter; the present prices as compared with prices of similar goods imported be- fore the war, and the prices at which these goods are sold.
 Above all, we ask that an immedi- ate change be made so that hereafter all goods brought into America shall be marked with the country of origin in conspicuous and indelible man. ner.