PARAGRAPH 624-MEDALS. of the same character not necessarily shaped like coins. The history of coins and medals is inseparable." The Century Dictionary, quoting from Wroth's "Coins and medals," says, “Italian and French writers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries used 'medaglie' and 'medailles' to signify coins which, being no longer in circulation, were preserved in the cabinets of collectors as curiosities. Even in the last century our own word 'medal' was so employed." At the present time there is absolutely no provision for the entry of medals as such. They are classed under the general head of “Manufactures of metal” and a payment of 45 per cent ad valorem is exacted on all which are less than 100 years old. Medals are, as a rule, issued to commemorate events of importance, and are of great educational and historical value. Many medals are of great artistic merit. Their value is based on their rarity and the skill and fame of the artist. The importation of medals into this country competes with no American manufacture, as they are sought almost exclusively by museums and collectors. While the revenue obtained from them by the Government is infinitesimal, it is a heavy burden upon a comparatively few individuals. It frequently happens that two medals of the same size and of identical cost to produce vary 100 per cent in value. It is in equitable, therefore, that a duty should be imposed as a manufacture of metal when the selling price in no way represents the combined cost of manufacture and the intrinsic value of the metal. Stamps and coins are entered duty free. Medals are in the same category with coins when such are no longer current. In view of these facts, of the great educational value of medals, and the needed stimulation to medallic art in this country, we would respectfully ask that medals be entered duty free, provided not more than two of the same kind be brought in by the same individual. Should it seem desirable to exclude distinctly modern productions, it might be fair to maintain a duty on such as are less than 10 years old. The fact that they do not compete with anything of American manufacture would, however, warrant a reduction in the present rate of duty. Respectfully submitted. THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY, Chairman Committee on Foreign Medals. President. BRIEF OF BENNO LOEWY, NEW YORK, N. Y. Hon. OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD, M. C.,. NEW YORK, January 27, 1913. Chairman Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: As far back as April 18, 1911, I wrote to you and to Congressman (now Governor) Sulzer, with reference to placing medals on the free list. I pointed out to you then that under the tariff act of 1909, paragraph 542, "Coins of gold, silver, copper, or other metal," and under paragraph 682, "Stamps; foreign postage or revenue stamps, canceled or uncanceled, and foreign Government stamped post cards bearing no other printing than the official imprint thereon, are on the free list, so that stamp collectors and coin collectors can bring their purchases into the country without the payment of duty. Even "Bullion, gold or silver," which is distinctively an article of commerce, is free under paragraph 524. Under paragraph 624, "Medals of gold, silver, or copper, and other metallic articles actually bestowed as trophies or prizes and received and accepted as honorary distinctions, are free, but the American collector of medals is taxed 45 per cent ad valorem under paragraph 199 upon medals as "Articles or wares not specially provided for in this section, composed wholly or in part of iron, steel, lead, copper, nickel, pewter, zinc, gold, silver, platinum, aluminum, or other metal, and whether partly or wholly manufactured, 45 per centum ad valorem," which seems rather anomalous; a medal, which is generally looked upon as a work of art, as well as a historical document, is thus classed as an article of ordinary manufacture and not even deemed worthy of specific enumeration. PARAGRAPH 629-MODELS. We have no "infant industry" of manufacturers of medals which requires protection. The amount of duty annually collected upon the importation of medals, must, necessarily, be entirely negligible. It seems, therefore, difficult to appreciate the logic or justice in a tariff which favors the coin collector, while it discriminates against the collector of medals. Gov. Sulzer has repeatedly, as he has informed me, brought this matter to your attention and you were kind enough to write me that when the proper schedule was under consideration you would see that the matter was properly brought to the attention of your committee. As the tariff is now again under consideration, and those who have direct pecuniary interest at stake are besieging your committee with pleas of a purely commercial character, I beg leave again to bring this matter to your and your committee's attention so that it may not be wholly overlooked when the "proper schedule" is being considered, and trust that as the ancient doctrine that everything which is imported must be taxed to the highest possible point regardless of the necessity, utility, or propriety of the tax now appears to be exploded, the collector of medals will receive the same recognition that has for many years been accorded to the collector of coins, and that medals will be placed upon the free list. Minerals, crude, or not advanced in value or condition by refining or grinding or by other process of manufacture, not specially provided for in this section. PARAGRAPH 627. Mineral salts obtained by evaporation from mineral waters, when accompanied by a duly authenticated certificate and satisfactory proof, showing that they are in no way artificially prepared, and are only the product of a designated mineral spring. PARAGRAPH 628. Miners' rescue appliances, designed for emergency use in mines where artificial breathing is necessary in the presence of poisonous gases, to aid in the saving of human life, and miners' safety lamps. PARAGRAPH 629. Models of inventions and of other improvements in the arts, to be used exclusively as models and incapable of any other use. MODELS. STATEMENT SUBMITTED BY THE NATIONAL MALLEABLE CASTINGS CO., CLEVELAND, OHIO. The COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS: House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. The undersigned, The National Malleable Castings Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, respectfully calls the attention of your committee to the subject of the duty on foundry patterns, with the request that in considering the revision of the tariff you recommend to Congress that patterns be restored to the free list by reenacting the following provision of the McKinley and Dingley tariffs: "Free list, paragraph 616 of the tariff of 1897: Models of inventions and of other improvements in the arts, including patterns for machinery, but no article shall be deemed a model or pattern which can be fitted for use otherwise." In the Payne tariff bill this clause was changed to read as follows: "Tariff of 1909, paragraph 629, free list: Models of inventions and of other improvements in the arts, to be used exclusively as models and incapable of any other use.' You will see that the words "including patterns for machinery" have been dropped out. The purpose of this change was to prevent the free importation of what are PARAGRAPH 629-MODELS. known as molders' or foundry patterns, and as no provision was made fixing a rate of duty on them, they became subject to a rate of 45 per cent ad valorem under clause 199 of the metal schedule, when made of metal, as is usually the case when patterns are intended for continuous use in producing castings. We understand it is the policy of the Government to encourage development by home manufacturers of an export business. If this is the case, it would seem proper that reasonable steps should be taken to remove obstacles to such development. To enable you to appreciate how our business with Canadian customers has been affected by the present tariff on patterns, we will state: As manufacturers of malleable iron castings we have for many years taken orders from customers in Canada to make castings in our foundries in the United States from patterns owned by our Canadian customers, usually manufacturers of agricultural implements. Such patterns are sent to us to be used for that purpose and not otherwise. They remain the property of the Canadian customer while in our possession and may be recalled by him at any time. Our business in making castings for Canadian customers in the business year ending June 30, 1912, amounted to considerably over $135,000, giving employment to a large number of molders. Most of this business could not have been secured if we could not have used the customers' own patterns. When a Canadian customer sends us his patterns for use in executing his orders, we have to pay duty on them, as previously stated, as manufactures of metal, not otherwise classified, at 45 per cent ad valorem. As such patterns have no established market valuewe are obliged to depend on our customer to fix the vlaue of the patterns, and if in the opinion of the appraiser this value is too low, it becomes necessary to have an appraisal, which involves serious delay and expense. If the patterns are returned to the customer, there is no provision for a drawback or refund of duty on their exportation. And if he again sends them back to us we are required to pay duty on them each time they are reimported. The value arrived at by appraisal of the patterns covered by any one importation can not serve as a basis for determining the value of those covered by any subsequent importation unless the patterns in each are identical, or nearly alike, which is hardly ever the case. In order to ascertain what it would cost to produce any given lot of patterns, it would be necessary to have separate appraisals of all which were not duplicates. When patterns become obsolete for any reason, or when the design of the article they are intended to produce has been changed, or the use of such articles discontinued, as is frequently the case, then the value of the patterns declines to the scrap value of the materials of which they are constructed. For this reason many manufacturing concerns do not consider their patterns an asset of more than nominal value, although a considerable sum may have been originally expended for their construction. As we have previously stated, patterns such as we have described are not imported by us for permanent use nor for sale. They can not be used for any other purpose than that which they were intended; that is, the production of castings in a foundry. Their use is limited to the making of castings for parts of the owner's machines or implements, which machines they (the owners) make, build, and assemble; and consequently they could not be used for producing castings to be sold to the trade. If the American manufacturer could not make use of the customer's own patterns, he probably could not get the business. The making of the castings gives employment to a large number of workmen, many times greater than those required to produce the patterns. The value of such patterns is small in comparison with the value of the castings which can be produced from them. A very large quantity of castings can be produced from a single pattern, or from a single gate or card of patterns. If the patterns are made of brass or bronze, as are those intended for long running orders, and are well made, and if they are not damaged by careless handling or by accident, they can be used for years with but slight repairs. Thus a few pounds of patterns can be made use of to produce many tons of castings. It may be asked whether the patterns can not be made in this country. They can be made here; but if the Canadian customer already has his patterns, which have been made and tested under his direction, he would not be willing to incur the expense and delay due to having them duplicated in this country, especially as this would involve his having two sets of patterns for the same castings when one would suffice. The question of time is also an element in the matter. Even if it were possible to induce the customer to have his patterns made in this country, the delay would upset the business. The work of manufacturing agricultural implements has to be done in time to permit of their being marketed before the proper season for their use PARAGRAPH 630-SEA GRASS. in each year. If it were necessary to make the patterns to produce the castings before commencing work on the orders, the castings in many cases could not be gotten out in time for the season's business. We understand that the revenue derived from this source is inconsiderable, and do not believe the importation of foundry or molders' patterns would ever become an important source of revenue. We trust this subject may have careful consideration by your committee and that you may be willing to recommend the restoration of patterns to the free list, as previously requested. Respectfully submitted. THE NATIONAL MALLEABLE CASTINGS Co., By O. K. BROOKS, Treasurer. CLEVELAND, OHIO, January 8, 1913. PARAGRAPH 630. Moss, seaweeds, and vegetable substances, crude or unmanufactured, not otherwise specially provided for in this section. SEA GRASS. BRIEFS CONCERNING SEA GRASS. The COMMITTEE ON WAYS And Means, JANUARY 27, 1913. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: I respectfully submit for your consideration certain reasons why there should be a tariff placed on imported sea grass. The industry in the United States is still in its infancy and needs the fostering care of the Government at this time. Sea grass is a principal part of the upholstering business and has supplanted the use of excelsior, tow, jute fiber, and Florida grass. It can only be gathered along the Atlantic seacoast and the nature of this work necessitates the employment of experienced baymen. On account of the class of men required in this business it is necessary to pay $3 per day and we can not compete with the convict labor of foreign countries and the Hollander who received a mere pittance for his labor. When I first started in this business ten years ago we had the Canadian to compete with. They received $40 per ton and to-day they are selling their product for $25 per ton f. o. b. Chicago. Holland grass started as a competition about four years ago and under free entry our local business has dwindled to nothing. Holland grass is selling for $15.30 per long ton delivered at New York and Philadelphia, which is less than what it cost to gather in this country. The cost to produce the grass at Barnegat Bay is $14.20 per short ton, the freight to New York is $2.80 per ton, making a New York delivery $17 and the highest price ever received within the last three years was $19, making a margin of gross profit of $2. If necessary the Holland grass can be delivered at New York for $10, but they can not at the present rate supply their trade. I trust that my contentions will commend my cause to the equitable consideration of your committee. Respectfully submitted by KINSEY SEA Moss Co. PARAGRAPH 630-SEA GRASS. The COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, PHILADELPHIA, PA., January 14, 1913. House of Representatives. GENTLEMEN: For a number of years we have been in the business of collecting, curing, and shipping sea grass-which is used for filling in furniture and other purposes. The season for this work is short-from June until October. Six or seven years ago we were able to employ labor for this work at $1.25 a day of 10 hours. At present we can not get labor for less than $1.50 to $2 a day-8 to 9 hours. The cost of the work is almost entirely labor. The grass is put up for market in bales of about 200 pounds weight each. The Philadelphia Excelsior Co., of this city, has for a number of years been handling considerable of our product. The price has been gradually reduced until it now shows no profit. A further reduction is mentioned, on account of the same grass being imported and sold in the cities of New York and Philadelphia at prices below the cost of production here, for the simple reason that it is admitted free of duty. The cause of this is the low cost of labor in foreign countries. There has been some competition caused, as we have been informed, by the beds of immigrants (on arrival of ships here), which are filled with this grass, being baled up and sold for the same purposes. This is hardly a sanitary proceeding. We are now informed that the grass is being imported here baled up, and admitted free of duty. This, continued, will break up a new and growing American industry, and the only relief we see is for your honorable committee to impose a tariff of say 20 to 25 per cent on imported sea grass, imported in bales. The Philadelphia Excelsior Co. is no doubt well posted on the conditions of the market, and any desired information may be had from them. We think they would be willing to give it. Yours, truly, PARAGRAPH 631. Musk, crude, in natural pods. PARAGRAPH 632. Myrobolans. PARAGRAPH 633. Needles, hand sewing and darning. PARAGRAPH 634. SWORD BROS. Newspapers and periodicals; but the term "periodicals" as herein used shall be understood to embrace only unbound or paper-covered publications issued within six months of the time of entry, devoted to current literature of the day, or containing current literature as a predominant feature, and issued regularly at stated periods, as weekly, monthly, or quarterly, and bearing the date of issue. PARAGRAPH 635. Nuts: Brazil nuts, cream nuts, marrons crude, palm nuts and palm-nut kernels; cocoanuts in the shell and broken cocoanut meat or copra, not shredded, desiccated, or prepared in any manner. PARAGRAPH 636. Nux vomica. PARAGRAPH 637. PARAGRAPH 638. Oil cake. 78959°-VOL 6--13—10 |