The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-06-25

tons in 1888, $3.50 gross tons in 1884
and 24,912 gross tons in 1885. This ton
mage for 1885 alone would give employ
ment to 1000 steel workers for 1913 days.
Would any American barb wire manu-
facturer like to book this tonnage?
Would he like to be able to offer EN-
ployment to 1000 American steel work.
ers for seven months and would Ameri
can labor like to be afforded that OPP
portunity to provide for himself and his
family?
In the production of one ton of
American barb wire $41.50 is paid to
the American steel worker, while in
Germany he receives $16.10 and in
Belgium only $1,000. The Government,
however, does not view these importa-
tons in the same light as We do, be-
cause barb wire is on the free list and
no action has been taken to prevent
such importations under our Anti
dumping law. Barb wire is only one
of the products included in the 100000
gross tons imported in 1884 and the
348, 1894 gross tons in 1885. During the
latter year these importationS repre-
sented 11,750,000 man-hours-enough to
give 10000 American steel workers en-
ployment for six months.
At present there are Federal Statutes
which are designed to help and correct
such situations as those with which we
are menaced by importations of iron
and steel One is our Anti-dumping
Law and the other is the increase of
present tariffs by a maximum of SO per
cent under our flexible tariff law. The
eXacting and detailed information de-
manded by governmental authorities
before making the Anti-dumping Law
operative, and the qualifying phrase
ology of that Act, make it ineffective.
In 1882 this Institute lodged protests
against the dumping of foreign steel
products with the U. S. Treasury De-
partment and after many months
patiently waiting the following pre-
| liminary expression of views was re-
ceived in Treasury Department letter
of March %, 1888:
"As you know, we have found that
steel products have not been dumped
from Belgium within the meaning of
the Law.
have recently submitted final re-
port to the Bureau in regard to Ger
many. Some importationS from Ger
many of certain types and classifica-
tionS were priced considerably below the
foreign market values. These types;
bars, angles and channels have, there
fore, been dumped into this country
importations from Germany, however,
are negligible in comparison with those
a finding against Germany would ser
from Belgium and do not believe that
any useful purpose"
On November 10, 1888, over a year
after our dumping protests were lodged,
the U. S. Treasury Department issued
decisions that finding Of dumping on
the various steel products imported
from France and Germany was not
justified.
| This response is based on that part
of our Anti-dumping law which reads {:
"That whenever the Secretary of the
Treasury, after such investigation as
he deems necessary, finds that an in
dustry in the United States is being or
is likely to be injured os is prevented
from being established, by reason of the
importation into the United States of a
class or kind of foreign merchandise,
and that merchandise of such class or
kind is being sold or is likely to pe
sold in the United States or elsewhere
at less than its fair value, then he shall
make such finding public to the extent
he deems necessary, together with a
description of the class or kind of mer-
chandise to which it applies in such
detail as may be necessary for the guild
ance of the appraising officers"
1t is noted that the Government did
not dispute our contention that foreign
steel was being dumped into this mar
ket from Germany but refused to take
any action because of the interpreta-
ton of the law that the steel industry
was not being injured because the VOL
ume OF imports were not sufficient. Far
as Belgium is concerned the Investigation
disclosed that the Belgiums sold in the
home market at lower prices than for
Shipment to the U. S. A, and under our
Antl-dumping Law this does not con-
stitute dumping, Notwithstanding that
evidence furnished by this Institute
disclosed that the Belgian steel mills
were receiving less than u cent per
pound for bars and shapes, f. O. b. their
plants. We would conStrue this as
dumping under the existing law.
What constitutes injury to a home
industry? Must importations attain
such magnitude that industry is forced
to close down? The decisions under
this Act seem to imply that when YOU
can no longer operate, when your mills
are Idle, when you are unable to give
employment to thousands of American
workmen then and then only can this
law be enforced. This is sharp con-
trast with the prompt and effective
action taken by Canada in such mat
tiers and recently by the Government of
South Africa in shutting out American
imports of galvanized sheets by a pro-
hlbitlve dumping duty The dumping
laws of these countries are framed to
protect their industries against the i'm
portation of any quantity imported,
large or small. Ship only one ton of
steel into these countries and if the
price be to low dumping duty will apply
although that ton was the only lot
involved.
The steel and other American indus
tries should give these matters greater
consideration. Our present Anti-dump-
ing Law should be supplanted by one
which is effective and which can be put