Evening star., 1953-04-28
New England Firms
Protest Simpson Bill
Limits on Oil Imports.
By Froncis P. DouoIos

Businessmen IN the North
eastern States have been writ
ing their Congressman express
ing alarm over provisions re-
stricting the import of petro-
leum and fuel oil in the pend
ing Reciprocal Trade Act ex-
tension bill.
The bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Simpson, Republican.
of Pennsylvania, Is now the sub
ject Of hearings by the House
Ways and Means Committee.
One committee member, Repre-
sentative Sadlack, Republican.
of Connecticut, conceded he is
on the spot.
His State has large number
of diversified industries. They
favor the Simpson bills restric-
tions on tariff cuts. But Mr..
Sadlack said he had received a
number, of letters from business
men expressing fear that the pc
troleum and fuel oil quotas pro-
vided in the bill would add to
fuel costs.
He said he also had letters op-
posing the bills provisions for
higher duties on lead and zinc.
He said the brass industry in his
State, which uses zinc. not only
fears a higher price for zinc but
that it may have difficulty in
obtaining the metal.
Others Favor Restrictions.
The House committee heard,
meanwhile. from variety Of in
terests in favor of the restric-
tions on tariff concessions.
The bicycle industry said more
bicycles were imported into the
United States last year than in
the 20 years up to 1850. Dairy
interests and hothouse vegetable
growers also said they were in
trouble.
Hat makers said practically
all their raw materials are i'm
ported and they thus contribute
to the flow of dollars abroad.
But they added that If there is
an increase in, the imports of
finished hats the import Of raw
materials will be cut down.
E. j. Volz, president Of the
international Photo Engravers'
Union, said reductions in duties
on books and other publications
have left little tariff protection
to the printing and publishing
industry.
sThe Simpson bill would extend
with reStrictions-the recipro-
cal trade act for a year beyond
June IL.
Urge Bill as Written.
Some witnesses urged adop-
ton Of the bill as written and
apparently were upset by a re-
cent action of Mr.. Simpson. He
indicated he was willing to
recede from provisions in
the bill which would have
taken from the President the
right to negotiate tariffs which
the Tariff Commission ruled
would "cause or threaten serious
injury to domestic industry"
Before the hearings opened,
Mr.. Simpson said there was
eroom for compr6n1ise" on this
point. O.. r. Strackbein, chair
man of the protectionist Nation
wide Committee Of Industry,
Agriculture and Labor on Import
Export Policy and the lead-of
witness before the committee,
said yesterday he was not think
ing of any compromise.
Hits Newspapers.
Mr.. Strackbein charged that
advocates Of lower trade barriers
are abetted by metropolitan
newspapers. He said newspapers
get newSprint on the free list
and thus are parties in inter-
est" in the tariff dispute.
Their editorial writer's, car
tooniSts and columnists and re-
write men fall dutifully into line
and besides putting forward in
full measure what is said or
written In support Of freer trade,
very effectively scuttle nearly
everything that is said or writ
ten in opposition" Mr.. Strack-
bein said.
Needless to say, they will not
print what is said in this state
ment; or, if they do. the desk
man will so efficiently WELD his
blue pencil on reporters copy
that only a garbled or discredit-
ing version will see the light Of
day."
Representative Boggs. Demo-
crat, of Louisiana. called Mr..
Strackbein's charge a fantastic
blanket indictment Of the press
in this country" Mr.. Strackbein
said he had not meant to indi-
l~s