PARAGRAPH 416-BOOKS. should be a tariff on Bibles and religious books. These books should be so cheap that the poorest of the poor should have them in their homes for their families to read. I believe it the duty of this Christian country of ours to remove the 25 per cent tariff at once. I wish we had a representative to join you at Washington, D. C., in your fight for the masses and right. Since we haven't one, we can and shall earnestly pray that God will give you the victory and the tariff will forever be removed from these books. Yours, truly, J. C. MARTIN. THE METHODIST BOOK CONCERN, Mr. R. E. MAGILL, P. O. Box No. 883, Richmond, Va. DEAR SIR: Replying to your letter of January 3, will say that it would give our Mr. Graham pleasure to meet you in Washington before your appearance there before the Ways and Means Committee on the 17th, if it were possible, but his engagements are so pressing that he can not find time to do so. We believe that if you were to include the lithograph cards it would materially interfere with the project of getting a reduction on Bibles and other religious literature. We think that such matter should enter this country free from duty, but knowing the attitude toward lithograph cards and things of that sort. we are sure that it will hurt the position we take if we should include them with Bibles and religious books. It is true that they are used in our Sunday-school work, but the Ways and Means Committee will not consider that they are a part of our religious work and will not feel like giving us any favors if we insist on including them. We shall be very glad to have a report from you relative to your appearance before the committee and its results if you can give it to us. Wishing you every success in your effort, we are, very truly, yours, [Dissenting opinion on removal of tariff on Bibles.] PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION AND SABBATH SCHOOL WORK, Mr. R. E. MAGILL, It is a question after all whether we hold the same views with regard to this matter. It may be that you are a free trader on general principles and want duties removed or reduced on everything, and as I am a decided protectionist I can not feel that it would be to the best interests of the manufacturers of this country to have the tariff on either Bibles or lithographed stock reduced. I was at a meeting of the American Publishers' Association yesterday, in New York, and, while a united front opposed to tariff reduction could not be obtained, at the same time there was suficient sentiment manifested along this line to warrant the appointment of the manager, Mr. Tessaro, as a special committee to visit Washington in the interets of the publishing business in general. Yours, very truly, F. M. BRASELMANN, PARAGRAPH 416-BOOKS. DISSENTING OPINION OF REMOVAL OF TARIFF ON BIBLES. Mr. R. E. MAGILL, Richmond, Va. NEW YORK, January 13, 1913. DEAR MR. MAGILL: I understand from Mr. Braselmann that you did not send him a copy of my recent letter to you concerning the customs matter, therefore I wish to state positively that I am not in favor of your position in the matter of reductions, nor is this house in favor of such reductions. While I do not know just who you are to represent before the committee at Washington, if anyone other than your own house, but in the event that you are acting as chairman of the committee on publishers of the council please make it clear that the council's representatives are not unanimous, and that the Methodist Book Concern, New York, is not in favor of the reductions for which you seem to stand. THE METHODIST BOOK CONCERN, STEVENS. Yours, very truly, BRIEF OF THE A. J. HOLMAN CO., PHILADELPHIA, PA., AS TO BIBLES, ETC. Philadelphia, January 16, 1913. Hon. OSCAR UNDERWOOD, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We are informed that your committee is taking up the subject of tariff on books, and we take the liberty of acquainting you with some existing conditions and evils as applied to the importation of Bibles and religious books generally. To begin with English Bibles: There is a duty on these editions of 25 per cent ad valorem, which does not cover the difference in cost of manufacture between Great Britain and the United States. English-made Bibles are sold freely in this country in competition with American editions, but American-made Bibles are not permitted to be sold in Great Britain at any price, the privilege being confined to English houses. Aside from the consideration of lower or higher duties, this situation should be relieved by the Ways and Means Committee. Another unsatisfactory condition is that Bibles and prayer books printed in foreign languages may be imported free of duty (provided there is not a disproportionate value of the book in the binding). There are a great many of these books sold in this country, side by side with American-made editions in English and at the same prices, we believe, but at much lower cost of manufacture. There is no good reason, so far as we can see, why books in foreign languages should be admitted free of duty, except for educational institutions. A third condition to be dealt with is English books printed and bound in Great Britain. The English publishers with American offices will probably contend that there should be no duty on these books, as it does not interfere with American publishing. It has probably interfered with the remedying of the other two situations mentioned in this letter. Our excuse for writing this letter is that we are informed that the members of your committee are seeking information, and here it is. We hope for a proper adjustment of the evils noted above and respectfully represent that it is not a question of duty alone, but whether there is any reason why American-made Bibles should be barred from Great Britain and the British Colonies while English-made goods are sold here without let or hindrance. Respectfully submitted by yours, very truly, A. J. HOLMAN Co. PARAGRAPH 416-BOOKS. THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., PHILADELPHIA, PA., WRITE IN RE DUTY ON BOOKS AND BIBLES. Hon. OSCAR UNDERWOOD, PHILADELPHIA, PA., February 10, 1913. Chairman Ways and Means Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We understand there is a proposition before your committee to remove the duty on Bibles and other English books imported into this country. As somewhat extensive publishers and manufacturers of Bibles and noncopyright English books, we wish to call your attention to a fact which can not be disputed, namely, that the present 25 per cent ad valorem on these books does not cover the difference in cost of manufacture between Great Britain and the United States, and the lower cost of manufacture in Great Britain is due solely to the difference in the price of labor. The latest machines used in Great Britain for printing and binding are imported from the United States, so that our increased cost of manufacture here can not be attributed to poorer equipment or facilities. The result is that Bibles and noncopyright books of English manufacture are freely and extensively sold in this country in competition with goods of American manufacture. We are having books printed and bound in Glasgow at prices that enable us to bring them into this country at a lower net cost, including duty and freight, than we are able to manufacture them for with our present scale of wages. We do not believe that the wages paid in this country are excessive as compared with other lines of industry, and are as low as consistent with decent living on the part of the workmen engaged in this industry. Should the duty on Bibles be removed, it will inevitably compel American publishers to have their goods made in Great Britain instead of in this country, as we can not possibly compete with English houses and pay our present scale of wages. We ourselves are owners of over 50 distinct sets of plates, representing over 500 styles of Bibles, which we manufacture in this country, and we believe it will be admitted that there is no piece of merchandise in the market-certainly no book-that is retailed at a lower price as compared with actual value furnished than the English Bible. There is very active competition among American publishers, which keeps the price down to the lowest possible point consistent with cost of manufacture and marketing. In this connection you should also take into account the fact that American made Bibles are not permitted to be sold in Great Britain at any price, the privilege being confined to English houses, whereas these English houses sell their books freely and extensively in this country. If more detailed information is desired, we shall be glad to supply it. Yours, very truly, THE JOHN C. WINSTON Co. RESOLUTIONS OF THE PHILADELPHIA, PA., PRINTED BOOK BINDERS' UNION. PHILADELPHIA, February 7, 1913. Hon. OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD, Member of Congress, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. UNDERWOOD: Find inclosed resolution which is self-explanatory, trusting you will give this your careful consideration. Wishing yourself and administration much success, believing me J. HOWARD BERRY, Whereas it has been brought to our attention that the Presbyterian Publication committee appeared before your honorable body requesting that all religious publications be placed upon the free list, also asking that the 25 per cent duties on Bibles be taken off; and Whereas we, members of Local No. 2, International Brotherhood of Bookbinders, which have a membership of over 15,000 mechanics, both male and female, throughout the United States who are employed in making these Bibles and religious books, and who are a part of this great constitution endeavoring to build up our industries by having uniform laws maintained where the journeymen and apprentices can earn living wages and support their families properly; and PARAGRAPH 416-BOOKS. Whereas at the present time here in Philadelphia the largest Bible publication house in America, employing hundreds of skilled mechanics, and having done abroad thousands of dollars worth of Bibles and religious publications each year under our existing tariff laws, and by placing Bibles and all religious publications upon the free list, as advocated by the Presbyterian committee, would mean throwing out of work thousands of employees throughout the United States and closing down our workshops, for if American mechanics can not compete with the foreign labor under our present tariff laws it would mean the elimination, as far as the American workmen are concerned, of our present book industry if all books were placed upon the free lists; and Whereas at the present time figures taken from statistics showing the difference between the American and foreign paid labor and hours work per day; with almost the elimination of child labor in America, but not in force in some of those foreign competitive countries in which American labor must compete against, also in foreign countries operating our American-manufactured labor-saving machines same as is operated in our country. Also, in some of these countries the mechanics' families are working on book covers during the day, while the fathers and brothers are in the binderies. In Belgium, Russia, Austria, Italy, and Spain children are employed in these workshops 10 and 12 years of age, while in the United States our child-labor laws in most States prohibit girls and boys from working in factories under certain ages, which at an average is 4 to 6 years above those in foreign countries. These are the conditions confronting the American mechanics and workmen, who receive most universally the eight-hour day, and wages ranging, in the book industry, from $18 to $22 per week, along with our great cost of living here in America, and Be it resolved, Local No. 2, International Brotherhood of Bookbinders do hereby unanimously protest against any such reductions, knowing the deplorable calamity it would cause not only to the bookbinding industry but throughout the printing trades, and Be it further resolved, That Local No. 2, International Brotherhood of Bookbinders recommend an increase on the present tariff on Bibles and religious books, also all books bound in foreign countries, printed sheets, flat or folded, books partly bound, covers for books, either leather, cloth, or any material used in binding books, or cases or book covers for books, with or without any labor upon the same, pieces of leather or any other materials stamped or printed for books or book cases, should have sufficient duties added to equalize the difference between American and foreign paid labor, and Be it further resolved, Local No. 2, International Brotherhood of Bookbinders wish to present the deplorable conditions of their industry caused by the unjust discriminations of our import laws, not only Bibles and religious books, but our fine bindings that have left our shores to be done in foreign binderies, which it has forced in America the closing of our fine binderies, and forcing our mechanics into other fields, after spending their lives in becoming masters of their respective trades, and Be it further resolved, We ask for no advantage over our foreign competitor, but place the tariff high enough that it will equalize the difference paid labor in European countries and the United States, and if the foreign countries can produce a superior and cheaper book after all conditions are equal, then they should have the trade on supremacy. [SEAL.] A. NORMAN HANNINGS, President. PARAGRAPH 416-BOOKS. SUNDRY BRIEFS CONCERNING THE TARIFF ON BOOKS. GEORGIA STATE TYPOTHETÆ, Hon. OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD, Chairman Ways and Means Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: It has been brought to my attention that your committee will on the 17th instant take up the question of tariff on books and printed matter. It is earnestly desired that the present tariff on these articles be not removed, since it would work a great hardship to the many companies who have installed expensive equipments for doing the best grade of book and catalogue work. The cheap work turned out in some foreign countries has to some extent already found its way into this country through the mails and free of all duty, and I sincerely hope that the way may not be made easier for more of it to come in. The printers of this country have never been money makers, have no trust, and do more for the general good of the businesses, large and small, than any industry known. If they have managed to exist only with the present tariff, I feel sure that the removal of this duty will put many of us out of business. Trusting that you will, with your usual good business judgment, see the justness of the claim of our craft, I am, Yours, truly, E. W. BURKE, President. BRIEF OF THE TYPOTHETÆ OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. [An organization composed of over 100 printing and printing-supply houses and the Ben Franklin Club of America.] In the matter of tariff rate on books and printed matter. For almost 50 years the tariff rate on books and printed matter has been 25 per cent ad valorem. Since the act of 1864 to the present day it has been uniformly the same. This is a significant circumstance when it is remembered that in that time there have been many tariff acts in the preparation of which the same careful and diligent investigation of the conditions of the trade have been made as is now being made by the present committee. Beginning with 1887 wages have steadily increased (over 30 per cent) and working hours have steadily decreased (over 20 per cent). It would appear, therefore, that the time has come for an increase of the tariff rate to at least 35 per cent, if this industry is to continue to employ hundreds of thousands of workmen at high wages. During the last three years great quantities of printing that was formerly done in this country has been done abroad. Proprietary article manufacturers and dealers in patent medicines and many others are now having their advertising literature printed abroad and distributed in this country through the foreign mails, and publishers of periodicals and magazines, who give bound books as premiums with a year's subscription, are beginning to ship their electrotype plates abroad to be printed from. It is profitable for the foreign printer to do this work, because his hours of labor are longer and the wages paid to his workmen are only a little over onethird as much as paid in this country. It is profitable for the publisher, who is fast becoming an importer, to send such work abroad, notwithstanding the present duty and the freight charges added to the foreign cost of printing. Forty years ago the making of books, printing and binding, was done almost entirely by hand; few of the processes were done by machinery. At present every process (some 20 or more) are now done entirely by machinery. This machinery, of American invention and manufacture, has been introduced into foreign countries and, operated by their cheap labor, has further worked to the disadvantage of the American printer. The foreign printer has his plant well equipped with machinery, tools, and appliances and, with his cheap help and longer working hours, is ready for business, willing to increase his plant, has agents in this country, constantly canvassing for business that is not immediate; in fact, almost all noncopyright |