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To put this plan in operation, Congress must pass a law covering the rules and the desired results are bound to follow unless deliberately vitiated by unreasonable classifications or similar devices. Under it the Republican stock objection that it will unsettle business is entirely overcome because no one change is enough to suddenly affect business and one who understands any line of business can predict as far into the future as under Republican conditions.

Trusting that the above, as well as the inclosed money order, may be of some assistance and that we may elect a man in a different class from any previous candidate, I remain,

Very truly, yours,

EDWIN C. KNAPP.

THE SOMERVILLE Manufacturing Co.,
Boston, January 24, 1913.

Hon. OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD,
Chairman Ways and Means Committee,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR: Undoubtedly you realize the tremendous responsibility that rests on your shoulders, standing as it were between the millions of people on the one side who are relying on you and the fellow-members of your committee to see that justice is meted out to them in this perplexing tariff problem, and facing on the other side the intelligent, keen, and far-sighted, insistent, and persistent men who are bound up in their special and privileged interests and who by appeal and argument and by the exercising of such pressure as they may be able to bring to bear are striving to the utmost of their powers to retain all the benefits which this present tariff may offer to their infant (?) industries or seeking as in some cases to add to the favors which this tariff already bestows, thus still burdening the people with present or increased taxation.

You and your committee are the one bulwark that at the present time may stand for the defense of the people against these seekers for tariff plums.

The country spoke in no uncertain tone last November, and the people are pleased and proud that at last you men stand in your places to give righteous and just dealing to the millions whose hope you are the North and the South, the East and the West, feel safe in your hands.

When we read of the gathering before your committee of the men who represent these great industries, and in many cases great trusts, who will contend and strive to the extent of their might to the maintenance or extension of the special privileges which they desire, we realize somewhat the power which they exert. On the other hand, how few of the moderately circumstanced, or those less favored, can appear before your committee to plead their cause which yet to them is, in proportion, as vital to their welfare.

Is there scarcely an article which enters into the daily life of every citizen that is not controlled by a trust and so many of them tariff-protected trusts?

Are these industries suffering for lack of profits? Look at the dividend sheets and the increases of capital through stock dividends on which increased capital the public are expected to pay prices that shall yield profits up to all possible limits.

If we must have a tariff as for the present appears to be a necessity-should it not be reduced in all its schedules to the lowest limit, making those schedules bear the heavier burdens which form the luxuries of living; should not the necessities of lifethe basic things come in without tax or with the lowest possible duties? Is there practically a single industry in the country to-day which would be an infant industry (so called) and which needs protection to defend it against foreign competition? Are not American manufacturers, through brains and skill and machinery, able to compete with those of any nation? Yes, and pay wages current to-day.

Shall the continued giving of special privilege to the favored few be the basis of the forthcoming tariff? I believe no, and I believe you and your committee will say no, and that Congress will echo your no, and that the voice of the Nation will back up your emphatic no. I plead for no tariff on many essentials to daily living-iron, wool, cotton, lumber, leather, sugar, foods which are a necessity to the universal table. I plead for a low tariff on manufactured articles which come next in the scale as supplying universal needs.

I plead for those who may not be able to speak to you face to face and voice their wants or who may not even write their thoughts, but who, nevertheless, will be vitally affected by the outcome of your deliberations.

I plead as one of millions who must toil and live under whatever tariff your wisdom shall bring to pass as law.

You have my sympathy in the perplexities which surround you; you have my encouragement in the labors which you so cheerfully take on your shoulders; you have my appreciation for the patient and painstaking and honest consideration which you are giving to the problems which confront you; and you have my firm trust and faith that you will secure justice for the average man.

With thanks for the consideration which you will give to the intent of my appeal, Believe me, very sincerely yours,

Hon. OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD,

AVERY L. RAND.

RICHMOND, VA., January 30, 1913.

Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR: Every man connected with our establishment is a Democrat, and has been all his life. We are, therefore, decidedly in favor of a revision of the tariff downward; and, as far as we have been able to judge, your view as to the amount of the reduction is in accord with ours, but we are extremely anxious as to how the reduction is to be made.

This can be done beneficially, or it can be done disastrously, and, therefore, we most earnestly appeal to you to see that the method of reduction is an equitable and safe one.

On many articles the tariff is at a "dizzy height," as you know, from which position it would be extremely damaging and dangerous to descend by one step. Let us come down gradually and, so, safely.

Also, for the purpose of providing relief from the operation of any schedule that may have been erroneously adjusted, make provision for a permanent tariff commission, with authority to adjust such inevitable defects from time to time as necessity may require, and, consequently, prevent the unnecessary and paralyzing effect of a tariff agitation every time we have a general election.

One more very important point. Increase, as far as possible, the "specific rates" list, so that each item may be considered independently and upon its merits. The science of commerce has gone far beyond the "class-rate" period on tariff questions, as well as on transportation questions, and we sincerely trust that our honored legislators realize this fact.

Last, but not least, by any means, we Democrats should not forget the very unique position that our party occupies to-day. While it is true that we have both the legislative and executive departments of the Government, and the further good fortune is ours that the personality of the President-elect forces the respect of all parties, nevertheless he was elected to the Presidency by a minority vote, and we should fully recognize the danger of such a position. Our party is on trial in a most unusual way, and the whole country is watching closely the conduct of the Ways and Means Committee, and especially its honored chairman, to see if the right thing is going to be done. If a serious mistake is made in the tariff legislation about to be enacted, four years from now many lifelong Democrats in this part of the country will either stay at home on election day or vote against their party. Such a result, we believe, would be a Nationwide calamity, for it would force back again into obscurity for possibly another half century those eternal principles of equity and the protection of the rights of every class for which the Democratic Party has always stood. Yours, very truly,

DREWRY-HUGHES CO.,
JNO. C. FREEMAN,

President and Treasurer.

AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN PARIS,
Paris, February 13, 1912.

To the honorable CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS,

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. SIR: The American Chamber of Commerce in Paris, an organization of American business men incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia, with the special object of advancing the interests of American foreign trade, is necessarily deeply interested in tariff legislation.

The chamber has, since its foundation in 1894, followed assiduously all questions relating to the tariff, and has upon every available occasion placed itself at the disposition of the departments of our Government for such information as they have desired, and has also aided in every way American commissions sent abroad to investigate tariff and other matters.

Acting in the same spirit, we beg to hand you with this a series of resolutions on the subject of specific duties, passed by the chamber on January 17, 1912.

We believe that the position taken therein and the reasons given therefor will enlist your attention, and we trust that you will give the resolutions consideration. Respectfully, yours,

BERNARD J. SHONINGER, President.
WM. S. HOGAN, Honorary Secretary.

RESOLUTIONS RELATING TO SPECIFIC DUTIES.
AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN PARIS,
Paris, January 17,

1912.

Whereas the operation of the American tariff of 1909 has brought to light certain deficiencies in that law which have inspired a general desire for its modification, and revision of portions of the tariff is actually in progress; and Whereas the American Chamber of Commerce in Paris, deeply interested in the equitable solution of all questions relating to the tariff, and earnestly desiring to supplement the efforts put forth in the United States to that end, believes that the principle of specific duties in contradistinction to ad valorem duties is one of the greatest importance, and, moreover, is constantly gaining advocates: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the American Chamber of Commerce in Paris urge its previous rec ommendation of a more general substitution in the American tariff of specific for ad valorem duties, convinced by the experience of most European countries to which it points as a demonstration that this would result in a more simple and equitable application of duties, as well as in the practical suppression of undervaluation and other evils, and would tend to strengthen the commercial relations of the United States with all foreign countries. Be it further

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the American ambassador in Paris, to the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, to the chairman of the Committee on Finance of the United States Senate, and to important chambers of commerce and other business organizations in the United States.

The Hon. OSCAR W. UNDErwood.

BERNARD J. THONINGER, President.
WM. G. HOGAN, Honorary Secretary.

PASSAVANT & Co., New York, February 5, 1913.

DEAR SIR: Inclosed I beg to hand you a few reasons why specific duties are most necessary, stating them as concisely as possible, and ask for them your careful consideration.

I respectfully ask that in forming a new schedule for silks and velvets a specific basis may be adopted.

Very respectfully, yours,

A. W. WATSON. NEW YORK, February 4, 1915.

Respectfully submitted: For the best interest of both the Government and the merchants, specific duties on silks are best. Of many reasons, the following stand out as most important:

This is a large country, both in area and importance, with many ports of entry. It is an impossibility to have appraisers sufficiently versed in values and at times of quick changes to keep properly posted.

Appraisers are poorly paid in the large ports for their services as men of painstaking work; the result is, even in the large ports, where millions of dollars' worth of goods are passed yearly, more or less imperfect, and leads to haphazard or imperfect work. Values change continually; where goods come from the same country in different cities differences are continually occurring by reason of change and differences of prices and raw material, wages, transportation, and many other conditions.

The value of two invoices where the quality may be the same identically can show a difference of 25 to 50 per cent by reason of the different assortment of colors or styles contained in the various cases.

All foreign countries, certainly the larger ones, have adopted the specific system as most practicable.

Again, in case of intended fraud, where specific duties are in vogue, it is much more susceptible of proof.

One often hears the expression (by laymen and professional men) "staple as a black silk." As a fact, nothing is more dead in the trade than the famous gros grain of former years when they were in vogue.

The great difficulty of fixing values, with the best intentions, is a most difficult matter under the most favorable circumstances; for this reason the large buyers command large salaries.

When left in the hands of unscrupulous men, conditions are most difficult and lead to gross frauds.

Again, when merchants make contracts months ahead, as they have to frequently, by the present law they must invoice their goods at the shipment price, which may be 10 or 20 per cent higher, whereas if the market is lower they must invoice their goods at a higher price than they paid for them-a manifest injustice.

Theoretically, ad valorem is ideal; unfortunately, it has been left to weak humanity, and practice has shown the specific rates are the only way that duties may equitably be collected; all are on the same plane.

All appraisers of ports under specific rates have the same instructions, although more technical. They are not left to guesswork to make value too high or to allow them to enter too low. Specific schedules can be mastered if ordinary care is used by efficient appraisers.

The writer understands the question of the silk schedule is soon to be brought before your honorable committee, and respectfully asks that the matter above may be given favorable consideration.

Hon. O. W. UNDERWOOD,

Chairman Ways and Means Committee, House of Representatives.

DEAR SIR: In reply to notice of tariff hearings, 1913, we beg to submit that wherever commodities are specifically mentioned, ad valorem duties are unsuitable and specific duties should be substituted. Three strong reasons for this immediately appear: First. The tremendous expense of administration and of collecting ad valorem duties Second. Advances in market values, being a burden on the public, should not involve in addition a further tax on the public by loading the customs tax; uncertainty and lack of confidence in the trade are also created.

Third. Constant violations, both technical and intentional, result. Breeding of legal infringements and multiplication of litigation are contracy to public policy and involve great and uncalled-for expenses.

We have asked the chief of the division of customs to furnish us the following figures: 1. Number of cases disputed.

2. Costs of investigating valuations.

3. Costs arising under protests and appeals.

4. Number of penalties and amount of fines.

It is too soon for us to expect reply to this inquiry.

Respectfully submitted.

NEW YORK CITY, January 30, 1913.

MCKESSON & ROBBINS.

Hon. OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD,
Chairman Ways and Means Committee,

NEW YORK, January 24, 1913.

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR: Please be advised that at the recent annual convention of the National Wholesale Dry Goods Association, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York, Thursday and Friday, January 16 and 17, 1913, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

"Whereas, in the judgment of the members of this association the levying of specific duties as opposed to ad valorem duties upon imported merchandise has secured an honest collection of revenue to the Government, a uniform assessment upon importers, and the protection of honest merchants against undervalued foreign merchandise: Therefore be it

"Resolved, That this association, while not suggesting that such rates be either increased or reduced, do earnestly urge upon Congress the retention of specific rates whereever levied at present, and their further application to other lines of merchandise as far as practicable; and be it further

"Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives, with the request that it be made a part of the printed record of the hearings of this committee."

Subsequent to the adoption of the resolution, the following motion was made, duly seconded, and unanimously adopted:

That "it is the sense of this meeting that we recommend to Congress the advisability of having the new tariff law go into effect July, 1, 1913, provided said law is passed prior to that date."

May we anticipate your favorable consideration of the foregoing?
Very truly, yours,

THE NATIONAL WHOLESALE DRY GOODS ASSOCIATION,
By DOUGLAS DALLAM, Secretary-Treasurer.

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