The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-09-23
]. 6. DYE TRADE
(. LOST To
GERMANY
Heads Of American Firms Say
U. s. Now Makes
Its Own
By w. S. COUSINS.

International News Service Financial
Editor.
NEW YORK, Sept. 2S.-No salu-
tary effects on the worlds dye and
chemical markets. particularly on
the American market, will mark the
final settlement Of the reparation
question and the. withdrawal of
French troops from the Ruhr, ac-
cording to Herman A. Metz. presi-
dent Of III. A. Metz & Co., who de-
clared recently that under present
tariff conditions the American mar
ket is lost to tho German dye in
dustry.
Cooperation between American
and German dye manufacturers In
the future, Metz declared, win take
the form Of an interchange of
scientific; technical and practical
knowledge and experience OF the
leaders of the industry in both
countries. To this. end. Metz re-
Gently made a trip to Germany and
entered into an agreement whereby
his two companies-the Central Dye
stuff and Chemical Company and
the Consolidated Color and Chemi-
cal Company-will receive the hene-
fits Of that skill. A great advantage
reVerting to the American industry
Is the possibility of adopting newly
discovered dyestuffs as soon as their
commercial value has been de-
termined by experiment, and the
importance of the American dye
industry receiving the results of
the foreign investigating chemists
cannot be cverestimated, Metz de-
ciared.
U. s. Independent.
Through the acquisition Of iIYi-
portant formulas and patents IN
the war period, the American dye
industry reached the condition of
almost complete independence, {"
Metz declared, land today American
manufacturers Of coloring matter
can supply all the needs Of domes
tic trade. This was a perfectly
proper war measure as we'll as ar
honest peace-time measure, for
patent rights on these formulas had
expired. Americans have made
themselves independent or the ma
tons on the other side and for Il
time invaded the former German
markets in China: Japan and India.
Recently, however, the German
manufacturers have regained these
markets by their ability to supply
the commodities at lower prices
than Americans"
Dyestuffs and chemicals coming
into u America from abroad, said
Metz, fan into two main classifi.
cattons-Synthetic chemicals, OIL
which the tariffs range from 80 to
IS per cent; and coal-tar products.
which are taxed under the Amer
lean valuation scheme at about so
per cent of the cost of foreign pro
duction. Against such a tariff i'm.
post 1t is absolutely out Of the
question for Germanyfor any other
outside nation to profitably COM
pete. The system is annoying to
the American consumer in some re.
spects, especially in the case of a
few products used in small quan
tity and on which the total annual
consumption of the whole country
would not be more than q few
thousand dollars.
Needs Orders.
THE problem Of the American
manufacturer OF dyestuffs Is not
the competition Of foreign MAUI
facturers," Metz declared, but the
necessity to produce his output at
a price that will permit of lnrger
and larger consumption In the
home markets. He must study the
textile mill situation more than any
thing else and cooperate in every
possible way to promote home in
dustry. SO that the retail market
will call for American-dyed products
rather than for products spun and
dyed abroad. He must turn out
good products at reasonable prices,
and he has already shown his
ability to do So"
What the chemical and dye in
dustry needs most today, said Metz,
in conclusion, is orders Laek Of
new business, large stocks OF tex
tiles have kept many Of the. dig
mills shut down longer than was
expected. Until these mills get
busy, there will be an unsatisfac-
tory state of business in many in.
dustries dpending directly on them.
Z