Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-01
HAWLEY ANSWERS
FOREIGN CR|T|CSOF
PROTECTIVE TARIFF
Says u. S. Has No Intention
Of ThrottIing Industries
or Importing Wages.
ADDRESSES COMMERCE
CHAMBER CONVENTION
Cahan, Canadian Speaker, Hits I'm
Alone Sinking, Intimating
Bad Faith.

Chairman Hawley of the House ways
and means committee. paused today in
the work of tariff revision to defend the
American protective policy before the
United States Chamber of Commerce
and to serve notice on foreign nations
critical of American tariff barriers that
We alone have right to say what shall
happen in this market and the condi-
tions on which outsiders may enter in
trade
While not prepared primarily as such.
the House leaders remarks we're re-
garded by delegates to the chamber
convention as a reply to the challenge
issued earlier in the day by G. n
Cahan, prominent member of the Ca
madam Parliament. who scored The
Fordney- McCumber act. and expressed
the hope that Americans would feel
no resentment If Canada resorts to re-
taliatory measures.
While foreign interests were barred
from the committee hearings on tariff
revisions, Mr.. Hawley said. his COM
mittee in revising the existing law has
no intention of excluding foreign prod
ucts from the market of the United
States, but 1t is the purpose to admit
them under such conditions and in
such quantities as not to throttle our
industries. imperil our wage scales and
impede OF. development" That, he
pointed out is the purpose of the pro-
tective policy which has fully iustif1ed
its existence"
HawIey Answers.
MY reason for tentative changes in
world trade" Mr.. Hawley warned, lis
that this country has fields of produc-
tion and industry, in which forces OF
foreign competition are now making
serious inroads.
Repairing DefenseS.
1T is necessary" he added, that the
arm that protects industries, now prop
erly provided for. be raised in their be-
half. Notably among these is asricul-
ture.
For this reason we have undertaken
a rea6ilastnent of the act of 1872 to
bring the beneficial effects Of the pro-
tective tariff abreast with modern times.
We are repairing the defenses where
the attacks are making inroads. All
our people and all our industries are
entitled to the same consideration 1t
is the purpose of protection TO place
all producers and products upon the
basis of equal opportunity against I'M
ports from abroad. Our remarkable
growth from people Of some $l6,00O,-
600 900 of wealth in the Cos to approx
mately $500 000, ,00o, 900 of wealth in
1929, is the outgrowth of the compeu-
tion at home rather than that from
abroad"
For the present revision of the tarin,
HawIey declared, the Republican mem
bers of the ways and means committee
determine and assume all responsibility
for the duties proposed. :.
Defending the act of 1922, he declared
that foreign trade has practically
doubled under It and is the largest
in the peace time history of the country.
Points to New Factors.
Pointing to new factors in compet-
tive conditions. Hawley declared that
italy and Czechoslovakia are becoming
significant factors in world trade.
THE use of new and improved ma
chinerv abroad manned by foreigners
trained in our factories is increasing"
he said. land foreign labor is materially
increasing in efficiency, with no cor
responding increases in standards OF
living. Such labor also receives 40 per
cent or less on the general average OF
wages paid here. This increased eff
cfsncv with lower standards Of living
and low pay makes a distinctly new
factor in competitive conditions, and is
of especial importance to American
labor. Immense amounts Of American
capital are invested abroad, presumably
to take advantage Of the opportunities
conditions above indicated afford"
Mr.. Hawley declared that no consld-
Grafton win be given to foreign products
produced by Americans who have in
vested their capital abroad, when i'm
ported into this country.
Since they buy their materials
abroad, use lower paid foreign labor
and enrich foreign communities. such
products cannot be given any prefer
ence.' he declared. They are foreign
competitors and can become the most
dangerous of such competitors.
I'm Alone Sinking Hit.
Coming from a neighbor country
which he declared views sometimes
with concern" the spirit in which the
COLOSSUS of the Western Hemisphere"
exercises the vast political forces at its
command, Mr. Cahan discussed before
the Chamber earlier today with frank
ness the controversial issues of tariff
retaliation prohibition enforcement and
the sinking of the rum ship I'm Alone
Canada recognizes no moral or legal
liability" to aid the United States in
enforcing its sumptuary laws within its
own jurisdiction Mr.. Cahan declared in
the first dscordant note sounded before
the chamber convention. Nor would II
ever occur to any Canadian Official, he
admonished. TO call upon this Govern
naent to assist Canada in the exercise
of its own sovereign rights within its
own territories
With equal bluntness. the Canadian
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