Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26
AUTO MAKERS HIT
TARIFF PROPOSAL
Proposed Increase in Rate on
Blackstrap MoIasses
Bring Protest.

The automobile industry, one Of the
largest units in American commerce,
seems pretty we'll satisfied with the
tariff bill except in two schedules
blackstrap (non-edible) molasSes and
glass.
Very few of the millions of auto
mobile owners have ever stopped to
realize that molasses is an important
item in motor-car manufacture, but
this Is emphasized in protests made
to Representative Mcleod of Michi-
gan, in whose district are located some
Of the largest automobile plants.
The company that produces one of
the most popular cheap cars solicited
the appearance of Representative Nc
Leod at a hearing before the Republic
can membership of the ways and
means committee urging an amend
ment. It was emphasized that under
the language of the bill a discrimina-
tory duty is imposed on blackstrap mo-
laSSes when used for diStilling pur-
poses. The duty proposed increases
the present rate approximately 1900
per cent, thus raising the cost of al
cohol six cents per gallon for raw ma
terial alone.
The bill makes practically no change
in the present tariff on the identical
feeds, yeast and other commercial
uses outside of distillation. One manu-
facturer OF popular low-priced car
uses about 100000 gallons of alcohol
per month, to produce which -270,000
gallons of molasses are required. OH
Gals of this concern protested to men,
bers Of Congress that such diScrimina-
tory rate is unfair and unwarranted."
Industrial alcohol, it has been eX-
planned to the House committee, Is
essential in the manufacture of paints.
yarnishes, lacquers, and countless other
products. According to government fig
ures more than 10000 900 gallons are
used annually in non-freezing solu-
tons for automobile radiators.
AS the same alcohol can be produced
alphabetically from blast furnace gases,
oil cracking processes and other nom
agricultural sources, such diScrimiua-
tory duty will have the effect of merely
substituting the manufacturers In those
fields without affording any benefit to
the American farmer, Representative
Mcleod argues. It would also de-
stroy, he says, the market for domestic
farm products now employed for dis
tillation purposes. In view of the fact
that the entire supply of domestic beet
molasses is required for yeast making,
Representative Mcleod points out, 1t
need not be considered in this discus
sion.
The manufacturers have protested to
Congressman that the rate of duty
should be left in the hands TO the U. S.
Tariff Commission, with authority to
increase 1t should the necessity arise
If 1t was determined subsequently that
an increase would benefit the agri-
cultural interests.
An official of one of the corporations
making a high grade automobile in
appealing for protection against the
proposed discriminatory rate said his
company felt such duty would ma
terially increase cost without materially
beneflting the country at large.
One Of the high-priced car manu-
facturers in calling upon members of
the House to oppose proposed changes
in the duty on importations of glass,
explained that these changes deal prin-
cipally with Paragraph 219, covering
such products as window and vitree
glass. IF these increases become eff
fective," he said, they will have o
very detrimental effect on our BUSH
ness. These proposed increases are
absolutely unjustified as has been con-
clusively proven by the testimony given
before the u. s. Tariff Commission and
by the briefs filed with the House
ways and means committee. during
January"