Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-28
Washington Ticker
By CHARLES p. sHAEFFER,
Associated Press financial Writer


Stating that tariff wars and their re-
sultant ills can be averted only by mu-
tual understanding, Alvin Macauley.
president Of the National Automobile
Chamber of Commerce, urges that in
dustry and agriculture make joint eff
fort TO rationalise tariff policies of the
future with a view to permitting as
free an interchange of commodities be-
tween peoples and nations as the public
interest Of each country will permit"
Pending the changes in policies which
he believes will come from a full con-
sideration Of the Importance Of foreign
commerce to the continuance of en-
ployment here, Mr.. Macauley says the
motor industry has been unit in urg
ing Congress to grant the President
tariff issues as they come up, and deal
ing with them "on the basis of facts
rather than of opinion, and with the
interests of the whole country in mind
rather than those Of the individual"
Mr.. Macauley said further that tariff
policies which have grown up in an era
when the sole consideration was domes-
tic trade cannot be adequate for the
protection Of American labor engaged
in the production OF articles for export
Taking cogi1izance of the fact that
for various consideration some OF our
industries. perhaps most of them, must
have some tariff protection" he warns
against rates which serve simply as
subsidies to the. unprogressive manu-
facturer and takes the position that
any industry or individual seeking a
tariff should have to prove its necessi-
ties on the basis of fact and not on the
Sis IF Y101iticai f1neSSe y
II is the conviction Of the motor car
manufacturers, Mr.. MacCauley says,
that tariff policies developed in an area
when the sole consideration %as domes-
tic trade cannot be adequate for the
protection Of American labor engaged
In the production Of articles for export.
Dealing specifically with the motor in
dustry, he makes the statement that last
year it's foreign commerce gave almost
two months employment to all of the
men engaged in the production OF auto
mobiles, trucks and buses in this coun-
try.
"Coincidentally." he adds. hundreds
Of thousands Of men employed in the
production of lumber, coal, steel, copper,
glass and a thousand other commodi-
ties had their earnings directly en-
HANGED through the purchase Of their
products by the vehicle manufacturers.
And, indirectly. virtually every wage,
Garner and producer in the United
States benefited through the increased
buying power put into circulation by
this enormous trade, now 50 large that
1t exceeds $500, 0o0. 900 In value and
ranks second only to machinery In the
list Of our export trade in manufac-
tured products"
Mr.. MacauIey points out that with
$4,000, 900 moter vehicles In the world
today. rs per cent Of them are in the
United States, which indicates fleld
for expansion abroad, making the ques-
ton of maintaining our present COM
handing position one Of dominant i'm
portance to the country.
If given q free hand he believes both
the American and foreign motor in
tiustries would expand to the benefit
Of the wage Garner and consumer, but
the increasing tariff rates and the talk
of retaliation constitute a mater OF
serious concern. This Is best evidenced.
he says, by the fact that world motor
tariff rates now average about 80 per
cent and are constantly tending to in
crease.
Curtailment Of lumber production IN
the Pacific Northwest, as announced by
the West Coasts Lumbermens Asso-
citation, Is right In line with the policy
advocated by the National Lumber Man
WaCCurerS ASSOClaClOn, ueduQudIbcie
here comments.
AS means of solving the problem Of
overproduction, the national association,
together with other lumber and wood
using industries, recently called upon
President Hoover to urge the appoint
ment of a National Timber Conservation
Board, which the Chief Executive prom
Used would be done This board, with
the aid of the best industrial experts
and forest economists available, will
study the problem and recommend
remedial course of action based on pub
lie interest.
The situation in the Pacific Northwest
is not geographical problem, but pc
culiar to leading lumber centers, 1t was
said. Many mills that normally oper-
ate two shifts are operating on a one
shift basis, while others are reducing
cutting schedules to four and five days,
while many single-shift mills are oper-
ating on a f1ve-day week basis. Large
inventories. decreased demand from
nearly all important markets. together
with operating losses under present con-
ditionS, are said to be the cause Of the
unhealthy conditions.
Indefinite postponement Of the hear
ings as to the affairs of the North
American Co. as part of the public utili-
ties investigation Is announced by the
Federal Trade Commission. These