Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-26
ThrOttling Connection

Z OR the sake OF getting what they asked
1 FOR in protective duties on products Of
the farm and ranch. those members of the
Senate who constituted the so-callod farm
bloc surrendered into the hands of the
greedy interests that are satisfied with moth
ing less than rates that will give them a
monopoly OF the home market the further
arrangement Of the schedules that are to
apply iii the revised permanent tariff bill
now under consideration in that branch CT
Congress. The interests which dictated the
new rates were nj no loss for plausible ar
guments 10 support their scheme for secur-
ing monopoly of the home market to en-
able them to exploit American consumers
at Will The argument most in favor with
them, and the one which carried the largest
appeal i'll overcoming opposition to their
plan OF IA prohibitive tariff for industries
already intrenched in their power 10 en-
plot, was their contention that without the
proper higher rates the products of cheap
foreign labor. perhaps, combined with cheap
raw materials and low overhead costs. can
complete so successfully with American prod
ucts in American markets as to put the
American competitor out OF business. close
his factory. or reduce his workmen to star
walton wages.
That argument. il it were true. would
cation to most of the increases that have
been written into the bill Take the alu-
mnum business as an example The duty
oil aluminium has been advanced TO a pro-
hibitve level The production OF crude
aluminium in the United States is controlled
b. monopoly. the Aluminium Company of
America. In addition TO producing virtual
~ all tho aluminium smolted in this coun-
Try. that concern, through its subsidiary
corporations, is large producer OF fabri-
Gated aluminium, such as kitchen utensils
and incidentally makes vast amount of
aluminium castings for use in automobile
manufacture. II has az competitors some
thirty-hve or forty independent aluminium
foundries 1t supplies these independents
with ngots and sheets from which their
products are manufactured and for which
there is steadily increasing demand. 1t is
frequently delayed in filling orders for such
materials. The better business becomes and
the greater the demand for materials the
more likely is tho supply to be delayed
Under conditions as they now exist two
courses are open 10 the independents They
can buy abroad or restrict their plants
Under tho proposed new prohibitiye tariff
they would be prevented from buying
abroad. 1t would also allow the MONOPOLY
To put any price it might desire upon its
supplies, The effect upon these independ-
ens employing some 10000 men, can easily
be forescen They would be forced out OF
business. Indeed, II goes farther than that.
The average weight of aluminium used in
automobiles is estimated at 100 pounds
The effect of protection of the monopoly
upon our vast automobile business would be
hurtfully reflected and extended to other
businesses. Think OF monopoly which
earned more than $40 000, 600 net in 1920
on capitalization Of less than $4,000 900
asking and getting from subservient Senate
committee protection" the sole purpose
OF which is TO throttle the limited compe,i-
ton its subsidiary corporations now have
and enable ii To exact still greater tribute
from the grooming public. This is but one
example of an abominable tariff arrange
incnt among thousands of similar ones in
the bill