Evening star., 1933-01-15
BY MERWIN III. BROWNE.

The embattled American farmer. who
in many instances, because of lowered
farm prices end huge agricultural sur
plus, has little more over his head than
leaky roof and an unpaid mortgage is
being made to feel the lash Of depreci-
ated currency competition.
Imported foreign fats and oils, as well
as stearic acid an animal fat product,
in huge quantities, are causing the
American farmer to receive less for his
dairy and live stock products and less
for his products of the field, such as
f1aXSeed and cotton seed In addition
importations of cheap foreign oils are
usurping the position of domestic lin
seed Oil in the varnish, linoleum and ink
industries.
While this is going on the average
American consumer that uses myriad
of articles that have stearic acid as a
base, such as shaving cream, ink, cray
ons and pencil leads, unwittingIy may
be aiding the foreign manufacturer
through his purchase of American made
commodities which use the imported
product.
Dairy Industry Hard Hit.
A vigorous complaint has been filed
with the Federal Government by lead
ing farm organizations of the United
States on the theory that the importa-
ton of cheap foreign oils in large guam
titles, over the American tariff barriers,
depreSSeS the price of domestic oils and
fats.
The National Cooperative Market
Producers Federation, representing ap-
proximately so of the largest dairy CO.
operatives in the United States, and in
Guiding nearly 100000 dairy farmers,
declares:
Our point is that because foreign
oils are coming in now from many de
preciated currency countries, it affects
the whole price scale of all other do
meStic oils and fats, and permits in
roads to be made by oleomargerine. our
principal competitor, whose price is so
low 1t brings direct injury to producers
OF butterfat and other dairy products" :"
Testimony taken by customs officials
shows that raw materials entering into
vegetable oil oleomargarine cost but,
SIT cents pound, and those entering
animal fat oleo but 5.63 cents pound
Depress Domestic Prices.
cat these prices" say the dairy pro-
ducers, 'it is difficult for domestic pro-
ducers of butterfat to obtain anything
like living wage for the product they
sell to the creameries."
Figures given the Treasury Depart
ment show that of the more than 8,O0O,-
0,000 pounds of oils and fats used in
the United States each year, 6,7l6,000,-
900 pounds are produced domestically,
and 1,726,000,000 pounds are imported.
The foreign imports, it was said, have
greatly depressed the domestic market
prices.
For instance, the farm organizations
point out, during the first six months
of 1881, 64.8 per cent OF the foreign
oils were on the American tariff free
list, but during similar period in 1882,
the free list percentage had increased
to 73 per cent. This, the farm organiza-
tions claim, shows the trend of the
imports toward cheaper materials and
proves that many of the imported oils
are interchangeable in manufacturing
Identical materials.
The Flax Institute of America, in a
brief filed with the Customs Bureau,
charaeteriZes as severe" the substitu-
ton of cheap foreign oils for domestic
linseed oil in the paint and varnish
and linoleum and oilcloth industries.
In 1881, it is pointed out, more than
80,000,000 pounds of tung oil, nearly
100000 pounds of perilla oil and
100000 pounds of soy bean oil were
used in these industries when unlimited
quantities of American linseed oil were
available at extraordinarily low prices.
Perilla oil, 1t Is explained, is crushed