The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-02
SOARING THE WORKERS.

American workers are being urged
to sign petitions calling upon con-
gress to adopt the American valua-
ton clause of the pending tariff bill,
declares H. f. Miles of Racine, Wis,
chairman of the Fair Tariff league.
in a letter addressed TO Senator Nc
Cumber, chairman of the senate
finance committee. Mr.. Miles de-
clares that prepared petitions are be-
ing sent to manufacturers thruout the
country by the American Valuation
association of New York. accompan-
led by scare circulars telling the
workrnen their Jobs are in danger
and urging the manufacturers to
have their men, their friends and
families sign these petitions and send
them to their congressman because
the voice of the employees has not yet
been heard in Washington There IS
not a word in these circulars. he says.
explaining the American valuation
clause or defining it in any respect
to the workmen who are asked to give
advice upon it.
In commenting on the report that
members of the house ways and
means committee will stand by the
principle Mr.. Miles declares in his
letter that it is mot a principle but
an attempted steal Of two billion dol
lars minimum-an assault upon the
pocketbooK of every American"
The American valuation clause OF
the Fordney tariff bill. Mr.. Miles de-
clares, is not in accord with the real
principle of American protection but
permits "super-protective and unrea-
sonabIe rates" and he proceeds to cite
specific cases of how this trick
clause raises the tariff duties of va
rious articles far above what is need
ed to give them ample protection.
The petitions which are now being
sent out for workmen to sign can all
be considered, says Mr.. Miles. ''as if
signed only by thirty over-protected
manufacturers. being the executive
committee of the American Valuation
association" twenty-six of whom. he
says. have been shown by analysis
to have a virtual monopoly of our
market at their own prices. except for
the temporary German situation
which the counsel of this association
has allowed cannot be corrected by
the American valuation clause" The
letter to Senator McCumber adds:
And so the American workman is
asked to endorse this falsely called
American valuation without knowledge
OF its meaning or effects and i'll the
belief that 1t is essential 10 the prin-
ciple of protection which in fact has
neV er recognized it.
Three members of this committee
are in the cutlery business, which in
dustry exported SIS, 100000, or 80 per
cent of it's entire product in 1920 at
international prices. aItho protected
on an average of SO per cent. The
pending tariff bill writes in the law
a. rate Substantially the same as now
in force and then by the American
valuation trick makes the real rate to
be paid upwards of 80 per cent
A 6-inch butcher knife. extra well
made. is sold by American factories
at $1.50 per dozen; by English fac
tories for $1.5S per dozen-compare
these figures with the valuation trick
Two members of this COMMITTEES are
in the knitting trade which produces
cheaper here than anywhere else on
earth 1t exported S61,0OO,0OO in
1920 against imports of $5,6O0.O0O,
which we do not care TO make A sin
gle operator at ? cents per dozen pair
runs machines knitting $50 dozen
pairs of cheap socks per day which
retail at 10 cents per pair. The total
wage cost in this industry is 17.6 per
cent of the factory selling price. The
present tariff averages 500 per. cent:
the pending bill reads 35-45 per cent
duty Then by the American valua-
ton trick these duties are doubled.
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