Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

PARAGRAPH 40-FISH OILS.

Mr. HIBBERD. That would be a very difficult question to answer. For instance, we have a very large factory or plant for reducing the blubber after it is taken off the whale and converting it into oil and converting the flesh into fertilizer and grinding the bones, and we have our whaler and a tug to go out and tow the whales into the station. I do not think I could tell you exactly the different proportions.

Mr. HULL. Where are your materials manufactured?

Mr. HIBBERD. In this country, all except some particular parts, for instance the gun, which we use on the bow of the whaler, and our harpoons and our lines and bombs, and some other specialties which the Norwegians have developed.

Mr. HULL. Is the machinery complicated in the main, or is it more or less simple?

Mr. HIBBERD. There is nothing about it different from other machinery. There are many plants which have been installed which have much more complicated machinery.

Mr. HULL. You do not know about what proportion the cost of the machinery would comprise?

Mr. HIBBERD. No, I do not know; but I could give you the detailed cost of everything. I happened to be in the East, and when these hearings were announced my partners telegraphed me and asked me to come here and state our views on the matter; so I am not very well posted as to the details.

Mr. PETERS. What is the total production of your firm and of the other firms that you have referred to?

Mr. HIBBERD. Our output is 9,000 barrels, and I am under the impression that theirs is about the same.

Mr. PETERS. Barrels ?

Mr. HIBBERD. Barrels.

Mr. PETERS. How much does that amount to in gallons?

Mr. HIBBERD. There are about 50 gallons to a barrel, and that would make 450,000 gallons.

Mr. PETERS. What proportion of the total consumption do you produce?

Mr. HIBBERD. At first we produced all that was used in this country. When we commenced, we could not sell a barrel here. It was all shipped abroad. There may have been some shipments that I do not know anything about, but I do know that we went to all the principal users of that sort of product, and they would not touch it. There may have been some of it used in a way that I have no knowledge of, but, so far as I know, there was not any of it used. Mr. DIXON. What is the proportion of your labor cost to the total value of your output?

Mr. HIBBERD. Just about 60 per cent.

The CHAIRMAN. That is all.

Mr. HIBBERD. Thank you.

BRIEF IN BEHALF OF THE BLACK HORN LEATHER CO. (CHAMOIS MANUFACTURERS), OF GREAT BEND, PA.

The Black Horn Leather Co. is interested in the maintenance of the existing duty on these oils. It is a purchaser and consumer of fish

PARAGRAPH 40-FISH OILS.

and cod oils which are required in the production of chamois leather; and is a producer of sod oil, moellon, and degras, as a necessary sequence in the oil tannage of chamois. All these oils under the existing tariff carry a duty of 8 cents per gallon. Chamois leather tannage requires fish or cod oil. Cod oil oxidizes a little more slowly than other fish oils, and hence is less likely to burn skins in tanning, and for that reason it is extensively used in all oil tannage.

Newfoundland cod oil, which is the chief competitor of the domestic cod oil, is controlled almost exclusively by London importing houses whose American representative has appeared before your committee in advocacy of placing Newfoundland cod oil on the free list.

It is admitted that Newfoundland cod oil has maintained a more uniform standard of quality than has the domestic oil, but there has been a marked improvement in domestic oil in the last few years, with result that the Newfoundland cod oil has fallen off in importation.1

It was urged before the committee by the representative of the English importing houses that Newfoundland cod oil, because of its acknowledged superiority, did not come in competition with domestic productions. This statement is in error. The improvement in the quality of the domestic cod oil in the last few years has been marked. Mr. Orth, of Marden, Orth & Hastings, of Boston, large distributors of domestic cod and fish oil, is now offering domestic cod oil which he guarantees to be equal to any Newfoundland cod oil on the market, and the experience of the Black Horn Leather Co. in the use of domestic cod oil has been exceedingly satisfactory. The reason the Black Horn Leather Co. as purchasers and consumers oppose the removal or lowering the present duty on cod and fish oil rests in the belief that such removal would diminish, if not eliminate, the domestic production, and then with no competition from the domestic article the control of prices of Newfoundland cod oil would be lodged with the English importers. If their suggestion should be adopted to remove all duty from Newfoundland cod oil and retain it on any other fish oils the importers' control would be complete

The National Association of Tanners, who appeared before this committee through Mr. Vogel, made no request whatever to have the duty on cod oil removed. On the contrary, the firm of Drueding Bros. & Co. and the Black Horn Leather Co., manufacturing substantially all of the chamois made in the United States, do not favor the lowering of the existing duty on fish and cod oils.

Inasmuch as sod oil, moellon, and degras are necessary products of oil tannage, and enter so largely into the financial side of the sale of oil-tannage products, it is necessary to ask for them the same protection that is accorded to cod and fish oils.

Chamois production in the United States has not as yet been developed to any great extent, and only the two concerns mentioned have thus far engaged in the manufacture of chamois leather, and they require, in order that they may continue in business, that their products be protected against the well-established foreign producers.

1 See brief of Mr. Badcock in behalf of W. & S. Job Co., London.

PARAGRAPH 40-FISH OILS.

The Black Horn Leather Co., with most of the other oil-tannage people, believe that the best and proper method of providing themselves with an assured and safe supply of cod and fish oil is to develop the American industry. They know of no reason why under the present duty domestic cod oil will not continue to improve in quality. There are no mechanical or local reasons why such improvement should not take place until the American product becomes as uniform as the Newfoundland product, and they are content to bear any burden, if it be considered a burden, in the way of a reasonable duty in order to aid the American fisherman to establish himself where he will be safe from the destructive competition of foreign fishers and English importers. We respectfully urge the retention of the 8-cent duty on all fish and cod oil, and on sod oil, moellon, and degras.

NOTE. The term "degras" has frequently been limited in legislative measures to wool grease, whereas it has as frequently in trade been applied to oils resultant from oil tannage.

BLACK HORN LEATHER CO.,

NORMAN H. PARKE, General Manager.

ADDITIONAL BRIEF OF W. & S. JOB & CO.

Objection is made to statements by Black Horn Leather Co. through brief submitted and presented by Norman H. Parke, general manager, to revising duties in Schedule A, paragraph No. 40. For the reason that said statements in brief of Black Horn Leather Co. are not correct and the existing conditions are not as stated, and further, that comments thereon are inclined to mislead, rather than place facts before this committee.

First. Newfoundland cod oil is not a competitor of domestic cod oil, as they are materially different, and proof of this statement is confirmed by exhibits contained in brief of W. & S. Job & Co. from direct

users.

Second. Newfoundland cod oil is not controlled by any London importers, nor has any London house a branch office in United States for sale of cod oil, and the statement made to this effect in brief of Black Horn Leather Co. is in error.

Third. The result of the falling off in the importations is due solely to high prices and not to any improvement in the manufacture of domestic cod oil.

Fourth. Reduction or removal of the duty on cod oil will not eliminate or diminish the domestic production for the reason that cod. oil is a by-product of the codfish, and it is only reasonable to assume that the American fishermen will not forsake the fishing industry if this duty is removed.

Fifth. Importers do not control the price of Newfoundland cod oil, they never did, have never tried, and never shall be able to accomplish this, as there is as much competition in the primary market as in the selling market, moreover, some American firms have their representatives located in Newfoundland who buy direct from the fishermen, and this in itself establishes the fact that the control of the market is not in the hands of the importers.

PARAGRAPH 40-FISH OILS.

Sixth. The National Association of Tanners, who appeared before the committee, through Mr. August Vogel, of Milwaukee, did make mention of the duty on this oil and recommended readjustment of the duty on cod oil. (See brief of August Vogel.) Further, the attached exhibit from Mr. Vogel's firm clearly explains the position and emphasizes the fact that it should be free of duty and that his firm (Pfister & Vogel Leather Co.) find the oil more pure, it does not oxidize as readily as domestic, it penetrates the leather better, and does not spew. Further, the Cleveland Tanning Co. state it is impossible for them to use anything but the Newfoundland cod oil and will not use domestic, owing to its impurities. (See letters under statement of Robert Badcock, jr., representing W. & S. Job & Co., p. 288.) Further, Stengel & Rothschild state it is impossible for them to use domestic cod oil, and they have tried it over and over again without success, there being certain properties in it which makes it unsuitable to their work. (See letter.) The Newark Chamois Works, manufacturers exclusively of chamois and competitors of Black Horn Leather Co., state it is their sole tanning material and that they should have their cod oil free of duty. (See letter.)

Seventh. It is further stated in brief of Black Horn Leather Co. that, together with Drueding Bros. & Co., they manufacture substantially all the chamois made in United States.

Eighth. It is pointed out to your committee that no statement or signature of Drueding Bros. & Co. substantiating brief of Black Horn Leather Co. showing authority for quoting this firm is found in brief of Black Horn Leather Co.

Ninth. The tanners, to the extent of 90 per cent or more, are in favor of the readjustment of this duty, and the protest of only one concern should not have any adverse bearing as to the retention of this duty. (See brief of August Vogel, representing National Association of Leather Manufacturers.)

Tenth. The Italian Chamber of Commerce in their brief advocate the relief of fiscal burdens from all tanning materials, one of which pure cod oil plays a most important part, as manufacturers of certain leathers must use it.

PARAGRAPH 41.

Opium, crude or unmanufactured, and not adulterated, containing nine per centum and over of morphia, one dollar and fifty cents per pound; opium of the same composition, dried, powdered, or otherwise advanced beyond the condition of crude or unmanufactured, two dollars per pound; morphia or morphine, sulphate of, and all alkaloids of opium, and salts and esters thereof, one dollar and fifty cents per ounce; cocaine, ecgonine, and all salts and derivatives of the same, one dollar and fifty cents per ounce; coca leaves, five cents per pound; aqueous extract of opium, for medicinal uses, and tincture of, as laudanum, and other liquid preparations of opium, not specially provided for in this section, forty per centum ad valorem; opium containing less than nine per centum of morphia, six dollars per pound; but preparations of opium deposited in bonded warehouses shall not be removed therefrom without payment of duties, and such duties shall not be refunded: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to repeal or in any manner impair or affect the provisions of an act entitled "An act to prohibit the importation and use of opium for other than medicinal purposes," approved February ninth, nineteen hundred and nine.

For opium, etc., see Merck & Co., page 30; Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, page 49.

PARAGRAPH 42.

PARAGRAPH 42-BARYTES.

Baryta, sulphate of, or barytes, including barytes earth, unmanufactured, one dollar and fifty cents per ton; manufactured, five dollars and twenty-five cents per ton.

BARYTES.

STATEMENT OF H. J. KREBS, PRESIDENT OF THE KREBS
PIGMENT & CHEMICAL CO.

Will you give your name and address to the stenographer, please? Mr. KREBS. H. J. Krebs, president of the Krebs Pigment & Chemical Co.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Krebs, we have allowed you 15 minutes.
Mr. KREBS. I beg your pardon, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. I say we have allowed you 15 minutes in which to make your statement.

Mr. KREBS. Yes; I will be brief.

On behalf of the Krebs Pigment & Chemical Co., of Newport, Del.; the Grasselli Chemical Co., of Cleveland, Ohio; and the Beckton Chemical Co., of Newark, N. J., who are among the principal lithopone manufacturers of this country, the following brief is submitted, referring to paragraph 55, lithopone, and paragraph 42, baryta:

The principal raw materials used in producing lithopone are crude baryta and zinc ores, or other forms of zinc, although zinc ore is naturally the basic material. In addition to the above, numerous other chemicals are also required, the costs of which are higher in this country than abroad. Also in considering the crude materials we call your special attention to baryta, on which there is now a duty of $1.50 per ton, and which we are obliged to import principally from Germany, owing to there being no reliable home supply; also zinc ores, on which a varying duty must be paid, according to the zinc contents.

Lithopone is purely a chemical product which contains barium sulphate as a component. This barium sulphate must not be confounded with native ground baryta, which is also used in the paint trade. Lithopone is extensively used in the manufacture of flat coat paints, linoleum, oilcloth, and the rubber industries.

Labor is a factor which must be considered in the manufacture of lithopone, and we earnestly request your consideration of this item. For the comparative differences existing here and abroad we refer you to House Report No. 326, pages 305 and 370. No conditions have arisen since the enactment of the present rate to warrant any change in the rate of duty and we therefore urge that no change be made, and that the existing rate of 11 cents per pound be continued. It is suggested to place an ad valorem duty instead of a specific rate, and we earnestly urge your careful consideration before allowing such a change. With a specific rate of duty both the manufacturers and consumers know exactly what rate must be paid, whereas an ad valorem rate opens the question to endless discussion and consequent annoyance on account of the continually fluctuating change in the selling prices both here and abroad.

There was imported into this country during the year ending June, 1911 (notwithstanding the present rate of 14 cents per pound), 5,409,520 pounds of lithopone.

Special reference is made to this fact to show that even under the present rate of 11 cents per pound the foreign manufacturers, especially the Germans, are able to compete successfully in this country, and we believe that should any reductions be made in the present rate it will seriously affect our home production. It is a well-known fact that the markets of this country are often used as a dumping ground for surplus foreign stocks, especially from Germany, and we further feel that any reduction in the present rate will only afford foreign manufacturers a better opportunity to demoralize our home markets at the expense of the industry in this country and with the natural disastrous effect on the labor employed.

In view of the foregoing we earnestly request that the present rate of 14 cents per pound be continued.

The CHAIRMAN. Does any member of the committee desire to ask the witness any questions? That is all.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »