The Coolidge examiner., 1939-12-14
APPEARS TO
YOUR
CONGRESSMAN

The greatest fight in behalf of
Arizona right now is to protect
her industries, as far as is human
ly possible, o m destructive
foreign competition. In recent
weeks this fight has been varied
in its nature but mostly it has
been an attempt to prevent the
reduction of duty on some of our
products through negotiations of
trade agreements. Your Congress
man has fought tooth and nail
against any reduction at all on Ari-
zona products In these trade pacts
on copper, lead, zinc, livestock
products, turkeys, flax seed and al
falfa sedd. In regard TO these
products named above l have been
unwilling Ito concede any reduction
whatsoever, even If accompanied
by quota limitations, for such
quotas imply some increase COM
petition.
It Is true that On the 18th day
OF last August, for the protection
OF long fibre cotton against i'm
portation from Egypt, | did ask
the United States Tariff Commis-
sion to place a quota limitation on
importation of Egyptian cotton. |
am happy to say that it was done
by the Tariff Commission, and the
quota was placed at such figure
as to be a real benefit and pro-
lection to the Arizona growers OF
long fibre cotton. However, in this
matter a quota limitation was the
only thing possible. and it is en-
Itirely different in charcter from
quotas placed by the State Depart
ment in reciprocal trade agree
ments. Although | favored a quota
Limitation on long fibre cotton
from Egypt-which was equival-
emit to raising the protective duty
i have never consented to
lowering of duty and placing of
quotas on copper, or the agrlcui-
tural products, which are being
studied in connection with pro-
posed trade agreements. l have
fought both the lowering of duties
and the placing of such quotas.
Referring to an A. P. dispatch
out of Saford of December IL, l
fear a misunderstanding concern
ing my stand On quotas has arisen
out of the difference between
these two kinds of quotas. The
Tariff Commission. in order to
counteract the effect of the ex-
port subsidy for cotton, placed a
quota on Egyptian cotton at my
request for the benefit Of Arizona.
The quota, in this case, had the
effect of decreasing foreign COM
petition. Let no one think for a
moment that | am advocating
quotas on copper in any proposed
reciprocal trade treaties.
AS | passed through Stafford on
December II coming home, hand
ed the following to the Graham
County Guardian, thinking that II
might alley the fears in our min
ing camps even as it had some
what relieved the suspense in my
own mind concerning copper:
"The Arizona Congressman, on
passing the office one day this
week, stopped long enough to say
that his fears were greatly re-
lived concerning copper in the
Chilean Trade Pact. He had just
returned from Washington, and
stated that three hours before
leaving, he had talked again with
Mr.. Grady, the Assistant Secretary
OF State. who has general charge
of the Reciprocal Trade Program
The Arizona Congressman told the
State Department official once
more of the great unrest and deer
concern for copper prevailing al
over Arizona since the treaty with
Chilli had been under study, and he
asked Mr.. Grady what assurance
he could carry to the people Of
Arizona In the lengthy converse
tion that followed the Secretary
| explained why it was necessary tt
list copper as one of the items fol
study. and also why it was neces
sary to withhold any Statement
until the study was completed ane
the negotiation finished, but the
Congressman was assured that h'
might dismiss the matter from hi
mind and enjoy his vacation a