are outside of exports to other countries from the port of New York, some having gone to Australia, South America, India, Italy, and a goodly percentage to Canada. The bulk of the exports went to England, consigned to Ernest Hickson, of Bradford, England, who is the accredited agent of the Avery Chemical Company, as per inclosed advertisement, taken from one of the English papers. Mr. Claflin's company has been able to compete very successfully in England against the German manufacturers since 1895. If you will carefully read the summary giving the list of imports and exports, you will readily see how much greater the exports were than the imports. If the Avery Chemical Company has been able to compete in England since 1895 against the German manufacturers of lactic acid, your committee can readily judge whether the present duty of 3 cents per pound is not more protective than is necessary, and, in fact, question why it should not be cut down one-half or the article put on the free list. I can disprove many of his other statements, and am prepared to verify by data such items as cost of production, labor required, consumption, etc., if your committee so desires. It is to be regretted when manufacturers are more than necessarily protected that they should not be satisfied without deliberately misleading our lawmakers into advancing their selfishness. It is also to be regretted, particularly as in this instance, that your honorable committee, who are working hard to frame a fair and just tariff bill, should have been so imposed upon, making the task more difficult and arduous. However, the data here submitted, showing the excess of exports over the imports, is sufficient to guide your committee as to the creditability of Mr. Claflin's statements, and whether this article is entitled to any protection at all. At your service, Very respectfully, yours, S. SAXE. EXHIBIT A.-Imports of lactic acid into the United States from 1902 to 1908, inclusive. EXHIBIT A.-Imports of lactic acid into the United States from 1902 to 1908, inclusive— Continued. Exports of lactic acid from the United States to Europe, 1902 to 1908, from port of Boston. Exports of lactic acid from the United States to Europe, 1902 to 1908, from port of BostonContinued. Exports of lactic acid from the United States to Europe, 1902 to 1908, from port of BostonContinued. The figures submitted were taken from the manifests published weekly by the Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter, the recognized standard chemical trade paper, and only those from the port of Boston. Other exports to Australia, India, and South America, etc., are not given in this report, having gone through the port of New York. Canadian exports not given, but total more than American imports from Europe. Boston in addition exported a very large number of 100-pound kegs, but figures are omitted from this report. Practically four times the amount exported to Europe alone than is imported, exclusive of exports to Canada and other countries. OXALIC ACID. [Paragraph 464.] THE AMERICAN ALKALI AND ACID CO., BRADFORD, PA., SUBMITS STATEMENT OF COST OF MAKING OXALIC ACID. Hon. SERENO E. PAYNE, BRADFORD, PA., February 17, 1909. Chairman Ways and Means Committee, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: In the year 1903 a new American industry was started with the erection of a large factory for the manufacture of oxalic acid by the American Alkali and Acid Company, in the city of Bradford, McKean County, Pa., and after all these years spent in experiments which many times met with disappointment, we have at last brought our factory to a successful operation; our factory now having a capacity of 10,000 pounds per day of the finest quality of oxalic acid produced in the world. We append hereto a statement of the cost of labor, etc., in the manufacture of oxalic acid, as compared with the cost of producing the same goods in foreign countries, calling your attention to the fact that we have no import duty on these goods, while the several foreign countries manufacturing the goods have duties which prohibit us exporting oxalic acid and entering into competition with them. In view of the facts herewith set forth, and of the further arguments which can be brought to your attention, we trust you will find sufficient grounds for recommending to Congress the granting of our request for a duty on oxalic acid and its by-products duly set forth in our statement appended hereto. The American Alkali and Acid Company, of Bradford, Pa., incorporated under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, was organized for the purpose of manufacturing oxalic acid, and 13 large buildings, covering nearly 6 acres of land, were built and equipped to this end, at a cost of $300,000. Up to the time the plant of the American Alkali and Acid Company was put in operation oxalic acid and its by-products had never been manufactured in the United States in a commercial way, all of the oxalic acid and its by-products consumed in this country having been imported from Germany, England, Norway, Belgium, and Austria. The following countries have imposed the following import duties on oxalic acid and its derivatives, bioxalate of potash, oxalate of potash, and oxalate of ammonia: Germany (tariff No. 5): Oxalic acid, salts of oxalic acid, 8 marks per 100 kilos. Russia (tariff No. 112): Chemical and pharmaceutical products Not especially mentioned, 2.40 rubles per pood. Spain (tariff No. 139): Chemical products not especially mentioned Imports from the United States, 0.12 peseta per kilo. France (tariff No. 238): Oxalic acid Imports from the United States, 15 francs per 100 kilos, net weight. |