Evening star., 1928-08-12
URGE L. s. PREFERENCE
FOR AMERICAN PRODUCTS
Effort 10 Be Made in Congress to Have
Government Choose Home Goods
Over Foreign Articles.

either foreign or domestic materials
may be uSed. Government purchaSinc
1 agencies shall require bidders 10 Speci-
~ under each bid the exclusive use
Of one or the other materials. or 10
BID separately on the use of each"
+ Extensive hearings we're held on this
resolution before the House committee
on interstate and foreign commerce. Mt
which It WAS brought out that the
j jntCrde0artmental Board Of Contracts
GNS Adjustments Stipuates as follows.
Preference will be given to domestic
nrtIcleS or materials of domestic pro-
auction, conditions Of quality and price
including duty being equal Unless
othcrW'SH stated IN the bid II will bp
understood that domestic articles or
materials only will be used and that the
NS2 ot foreign articles or materials Will
net be permitted unless (ll they arc Of
better quality or t2l being equal in
quality, will be furnished at lower cost
10 ;he Government. or ~ domestic
articles or materials are not available
Iha term domestic articles or mate
rl2lS III this condition means articles
or materials manufactured or assembled
III the Onue0 States or its possessions. %
representative TreadWay. in explain
lhs MS purpose 70 make persistent CT
strict guarantee that domestic manufac-
turers snail set a preference in Govern
mHnt contracts. called attention that
II has long been felt BY those inter
9S(ed that the American manufacturer
aNo producer was not receiving the ad-
vantage IN Government contracts which
congress intended he should have In
making awards" he explained. Govern
uNenI purchasing agents have been con-
ironteo with two sets of statutory re-
QuirementS one holding that. conditions
being equal the American should have
The preference over the foreigner: the
other holding that awards should b.
mace To the lowest responsible bidder
WouId Relieve Condition.
II the purchasing agent failed 10 ad-
here strictly to the first requirement.
the only comeback on him would be the
protest Of the unsuccessful American
bidder. On the other hand If the pur-
chaSing agent violated the restriction
concerning the lowest responsible bidder
by 50 much as penny in fayoring an
American manufacturer over a foreign
manufacturer. his accounts were SuS-
pended by the accounting officials Of
the Government II is therefore. nasv
10 see where a purchasing agent. in a
case where American and foreign bids
we're substantially equal might be in
clned 70 resolve the doubt in favor Of
the foreigner if he felt there was the
slightest question of doubt about the
American bid being absolutely as low a.
that Of the foreigner"
Representative Treadway's bill, when
enacted into law would entirely relieve
this condition II has received the
nGn FNE
tureTS and producers who compete for
Government business. The House COM
mittee on interstate and foreign COM
merCe, to which the Trcadway bill has
been referred, has promised to give tht
measure earnest consideration early in
the coming session.
Will Constitute Change.
As the measure will constitute a radi-
cal change in the existing practices and
procedure in Government departments.
it is expected that there will be some
opposition from Government officials
Whether the opposition will be sufficient
TO offset the Endorsement of American
producers and manufacturers Is doubt
ed by Representative Treadway and
other House leaders
Senator Edwards in expressing his
views said:
Although the Wood resolution takes
4 long. constructive step in helping do
mestic manufacturers I do not feel that
1t goes far enough in the matter Of pro-
tecting domestic industries. I know that
American companies are meeting with
most destructive competition because
Of the low tariff on products made
abroad
I hold the position that not only do
mestic materials should be given a pref
erence over foreign made goods but
that the Wood resolution should be
amended 10 read-'permit Government
departments 10 consider bids on foreign
made products only when such foreign
made products are already within the
boundaries of the United States at the
time bids are opened
I have been advised that in spite of
the stipulation made by the Tnterde-
partmental Board of Contracts and Ad-
lustments the purchasing division Of the
Navy Department have made it known
that ii was its thought that such a
practice may run afoul Of the law re-
garding that contracts be let TO the low
es bidder
Although Congress has thus far neg
lected 10 legislate specifically in the
premises, 1t is my thought that with
some millions Of people out of employ
ment in the United States this num-
Der can be materially reduced If Amcrt-
can materials are used exclusively bv
out Federal departments Of Govern
ment.