Evening star., 1928-08-12

T%O relieve any unemployment sit.
U3toD ~ thtS country as vel
as establish principle. a dc.
b tcTutDCc effort VIII be made as
SHo0 rs Congress re9SSo oU6'cS
- write Uncouivocallv into The Law
i'r Suoh = way that il viii not be pos
Sr'e to sos Il aside hy any SpHCi0uS
cUl>a'l0s II department. official oI
bE 'e#cUlauS haT-SNliUirE decision
'ay tN- controller CsUCral-Wh3t has
l0-c hrr" tle intent Of Congress, that
hu7--i-an manufacturers are to be given
q 01EtencC lD Government contracts, Il
c>r1s aye O.; equal quality and The price
Is sHEnaere near the same
I:s legislation viii have the support
e.. .s standing leaders several Of whom
e5s-gGE n8tC measures pending look
S~- e t1i> end including Representa-
t.s- T"ra5nay OF Massachusetts. rank
ira majority member on the WayS and
rsc5&S committee which has 1UrlSdic-
tor ever SUch tariff policy questions.
sD6 Representative Wood Of Indiana.
ect0E chairman Of the House appro-
r4atiors committee and chairman Of
tire Republican congressional commit
tec
To 2.vo point 20 This subject. Sena-
t. edwards. D2uocI At. Of New Jersey
IA an appeal pending with the Secre-
America" products over those Of for
e>~ Cr.c.u IN connection with bids
opened nN AUEGSf - for 1000 GOO pounds
q Vsoa- rags Senator Edwards en-
r0eS.-cS that manufacture Of this
colossal Hc'CA|' furnishes Il steady out
lat to- bv-pr0GuCtS nf the domestic
spinning mills Of the United States.
Viewed As Protection.
In tl,e losing rush Of the last session
q Congress-. TOO late for action al that
tsne but presented for serious recess
study by members. Representative
Trra6Way introduced a bill seeking to
Elre home products 10 per cent pref
ere0Ua, over foreign goods IN Govern
r7rnt purchases He has received scores
q letters from his fellow members. who
have brought 10 his attention numerous
instances II which American manu-
fscturers have lost important contracts
Ter Government supplies, not Of any Su-
pecior quality. due to only an inccn-
5eoueIt3al difference IN price II has
also been brought 10 his attention that
III many instances these contracts would
have prevented serious periods Of un-
employment IN industrial centers. affect
irE related lines Of manufacture.
EarIv IN the last session OF Congress.
r. January. 1926. Representative Wood
introduced resolution Telterating the
policy heretofore expressed by Congress.
ramcly that American goods should
have the preference over foreign goods
whenever conditions Of price. quality.
sad 50 forth. are equal The Treadway
bill seeks "a clinch the preference for
the American manufacturer beyond any
cuibble By providing 10 per cent ad-
vantage over his foreign competitor.
The reason for the Treadwav bill is
t7at while Congress intends to give
preference 10 the American n1snufac-
turer, even i the quality Of his goods
are somewhat superior. the foreign
competitor NAV get the contract By a
narrow margin in price which the con-
tTpileY generals Office rules must be
recognized as the final consideration
Under the law. OF course It is obvious
that with cheap labor IN foreign coun-
ties pitted against American worknen
v1th the high standards Of living in this
country. goods can be manufactured
much cheaper abroad So i is viewed
simply as protection 10 the American
vcrkIz7g mar, and z help towards safe
guarding against unemployment
The Wood resolution recites that
"frorn time 70 time Congress has enacted
g the law requirement that Govern
Tent purchasing agents n purchasing
E136 le4Ao4S SEGa4I give preference 10 mate
Tlals Of growth. production and manu-
fscture Of the United States" and he
cites reference TO the laws. He con-
tanues that the Interpretation placed
or these and other similar legislative
instructions by many Government pur-
chasing agents has been such as 10 deny
tf1s prescribed preference for American
materials quality and price being equal.
which come into competition with mate
flals of foreign growth. production and
manufacture This discrimination
against American goods by Government
purchasing agencies has played an I'M
rorta part in the invasion Of Aneri-
can markets oy cheaply made foreign
goods.
Calls Invasion Serious
This increasingly serious invasion"
Representative Woods resolution points
CIT. constitutes z serious menace to
tne prosperity and buying power Of
the United States by depriving our
producing industries Of their natural
markets reducing production and low
ering our nigh employment and wage
Levels. He proposes, therefore that
Congress decree that in all Govern
r1ert purchases. American materials
thaI b. given preference. ali conditions
q quality and price including duty.
beng equal, provided that IN cases where