PARAGRAPH 65-MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS. proposed tariff bill, to put medicinal malt preparations containing no alcohol on the free list. All medicinal malt preparations that contain no alcohol are used in marasmus and atrophy cases in infants. These diseases exist principally amongst the poorer classes through malnutrition. Most of these preparations are used in children's hospitals supported by benevolent and charitable organizations. Therefore, I ask you and your honorable body in the name of these institutions not to tax them or the sick infants for an article that can not be obtained here, and which does not conflict or compete with any goods manufactured in this country. These malt preparations containing no alcohol have been in use as infant food for about 14 years in the United States with such good results as you yourself can see from the report of Dr. W. H. Guilfoy, registrar of the department of health of the city of New York. Deaths and rates per 1,000 children living under 1 year of age: If we compare the rate of 1898 with that of 1911, we obtain a decrease of slightly over 40 per cent. If we compare the rate of 351 per 1,000 for the months of July, August, and September, of the year 1898, with the rate of 145 per 1,000 for the corresponding months of the year 1911, we find a decrease of almost 60 per cent. Now, if you and your honorable body will consider the mortality of infants before these medicinal malt preparations containing no alcohol were imported, you readily can realize what great good has been accomplished through the use of them. And as they are mostly consumed by the poor and by charitable institutions, you can clearly see what a true humane act it would be to allow these medicinal malt preparations containing no alcohol to be admitted duty free. As I have stated before, as I am chairman of the committee on public health and a member of the committee on public charities, besides being interested in many charitable institutions, I am in a fit position to see what a great public benefit it would be. Therefore, gentlemen, I pray that you will give this your favorable consideration. Very respectfully, yours, JACOB WEIL. BRIEF OF YAHR & LANGÉ DRUG CO., MILWAUKEE, WIS. HON. OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We wish to call your attention to a proposed change in the tariff on chemicals, and to supplement the facts presented to the Ways and Means Committee by Mallinckrodt Chemical Works PARAGRAPH 65-MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS. of St. Louis. The present duties of 25 per cent ad valorem are not sufficient to overcome the lower cost to foreign manufacturers, and if these rates are reduced, the importation of foreign chemicals, principally from Germany, which has been steadily increasing for years, will compel American manufacturers to discontinue the manufacture of many articles they now produce. We believe that a reduction on medicinal chemicals would not benefit the ultimate consumer, the sick, as the cost of the ingredients in physicians' prescriptions bears little relation to the price charged for compounding the same. The purity of American-made chemicals we believe to be vastly superior, as a rule, to that of like chemicals imported from abroad. American manufacturers of chemicals employ a large number of chemists and skilled workmen, to whom good wages are paid. A reduction of the present duties would probably inflict a material loss not only on the manufacturer, but would cause a reduction of wages and throw a good many workmen out of employment. To our mind, apparently nothing can be gained by a reduction in duties on medicinal and fine chemicals, and we believe a retention of present duties is both rational and in the general interests of the public. We submit this statement for your careful consideration, believing that you are interested in the prosperity of our own people, rather than to discourage home manufacturers, and to cause them a loss, and to inflict a loss (through their being thrown out of employment), upon our own people also, the American workers. Respectfully, YAHR & LANGÉ DRUG Co., By L. A. LANGÉ. BRIEF OF THE J. W. CROWDUS DRUG CO., DALLAS, TEX. DALLAS, TEX., January 31, 1913. The Chairman and Members Ways and Means Committee, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: As large distributors of medicinal and fine chemicals, we take the liberty of submitting the following in connection with the pending revision of the tariff: We assume that the object of the revision is, first, to secure revenue; second, to reduce the cost of necessities to the general public and ultimate consumers; third, to protect American workmen and, as far as consistent, invested capital, and to encourage the development of American industries. The duties paid on importations of chemicals in the year 1911 amounted to $834,494. The importation of medicinal and fine chemicals has steadily increased for years, and we believe will continue to increase under present rates of duty. We believe that a reduction of the present rates, of duty, particularly of the general clause of 25 per cent ad valorem, while stimulating importations and curtailing the manufacture in this country to the detriment of American interests, would not materially, if at all, increase the revenue. PARAGRAPH 66-PLASTERS. A reduction of duty on medicinal chemicals would not benefit the ultimate consumer, the sick, as the cost of the ingredients in physicians' prescriptions bears little relation to the price charged for compounding the same by the pharmacist. The purity of medicinal chemicals is of far greater importance to the patient than any possible small advance in cost, and we believe the American manufacturers offer a greater security and protection to the jobbing druggist, pharmacist, physician, and patient than could be expected from foreign importers or representatives of foreign manufacturers. American manufacturers of medicinal and fine chemicals have large investments in plants and employ a large number of chemists and skilled workmen. The industry in this country is still backward compared with foreign countries, notably Germany. A reduction of present rates would probably inflict material losses on American manufacturers, cause a reduction of wages, and throw many workmen out of employment, whereas a continuance of the 25 per cent ad valorem rate and other special duties would doubtless tend to further development, increased employment, and the promotion of prosperity. As apparently nothing can be gained by a reduction of duties on medicinal and fine chemicals, a retention of present duties would seem rational and in the general interest. Submitting the above for your careful consideration, we are, PARAGRAPH 66. THE J. W. CROWDUS DRUG CO., Plasters, healing or curative, of all kinds, and court-plaster, twenty-five per centum ad valorem. PLASTERS. BRIEF OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON, BRUNSWICK, N. J., ON PLASTERS, ETC. Plasters.-Paragraph 66, tariff act of 1909, imposes a duty upon plasters, healing or curative, of all kinds, including court-plaster, of 25 per cent ad valorem. We presume this also covers adhesive plaster, the use of which is very largely mechanical, whether used in the arts or by the surgeon. The duty under former acts has been as high as 35 per cent. Under the so-called Underwood bill--H. R. No. 20182, paragraph 55plasters, healing or curative, of all kinds, and court-plaster, 15 per cent ad valorem. A reduction of 10 per cent. By the Underwood bill, paragraph 19, pills, tablets, lozenges, troches, or similar forms of medicine are to be made dutiable at not less than 25 per cent ad valorem. Our contention is that plasters, pills, tablets, ointments, fluid extracts, tinctures, etc., should bear the same rate of duty. That the Underwood bill, making this difference, puts the manufacturer of medicinal plasters at an unfair disadvantage; that is to say, the maker of a belladonna ointment, or belladonna pill, or belladonna extract would be protected by a duty of 25 per cent, but PARAGRAPH 66-PLASTERS. the maker of belladonna plasters would have a duty of only 15 per cent. It would simplify matters if the word "plasters" was to be inserted in paragraph 55 of H. R. No. 20182, introduced February 15, 1912, or in similar tariff bills. There is no good reason why plasters should have ever been separated from other preparations of the same character. In considering the rate of duty the following should be borne in mind: In a number of countries in introducing plasters, medicinal and otherwise, we are confronted by a heavy protective duty. For example, Germany. In Germany there are some 30 makers of medicinal plasters of fairly respectable size, and about 100 small and large. The duty upon our own plasters in Germany ranges from 25 to 60 per cent. By the Underwood tariff the German manufacturers could introduce their plasters into the United States at 15 per cent duty. Our plasters in Germany would be subjected to a minimum rate of 25 per cent. The German manufacturer would also have an advantage in the way of certain kinds of raw material used in the preparation of these articles, and a great advantage in the way of labor. Hospitals. We understand that an effort will be made to revive the movement of 1909 whereby medicinal and surgical instruments, appliances, and apparatus imported by and for the use of hospitals and other institutions shall be admitted free. One great objection to this course is the fact that a great number of hospitals throughout this country are private or semiprivate institutions charging fees for treatment given. Only a minor number give treatment without pay, the latter being municipal or State institutions supported from city or State funds derived from the American taxpayer. Under the proposed amendment they would be able to import all supplies free of duty. Many physicians and surgeons obtain their medical and surgical supplies for use in private practice from hospitals with which they are connected. Should foreign goods for hospital use secure entry free of duty, this would have a serious effect upon American industries. The American factories devoted to the preparation of medicinal and surgical apparatus, utensils, instruments, and preparations have been built up by large investments, supplemented by devotion to scientific study, expert knowledge, mechanical and chemical skill, and have attained the highest development in the art of preparing these supplies. These industries are of great importance to the municipal, State, and Federal governments in time of peace and of utmost importance in the time of war. This alone should urge that they were entitled to a consideration. JOHNSON & JOHNSON. NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J. PARAGRAPH 67-PERFUMERY. [Telegram.] COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Being manufacturers of items in paragraphs 66, also surgical dressings, we respectfully protest against reduction or removal of present duty on medical and surgical apparatus, appliances, utensils, instruments, and preparations imported by or for hospitals and institutions. They are mostly private or semiprivate institutions, are largest customers of our industry, which would be ruined by duty-free foreign competition. PARAGRAPH 67. SEABURY & JOHNSON, Manufacturing Chemists, New York. Perfumery, including cologne and other toilet waters, articles of perfumery, whether in sachets or otherwise, and all preparations used as applications to the hair, mouth, teeth, or skin, such as cosmetics, dentifrices, including tooth soaps, pastes, including theatrical grease paints and pastes, pomades, powders, and other toilet articles, all the foregoing; if containing alcohol, or in the manufacture or preparation of which alcohol is used, sixty cents per pound and fifty per centum ad valorem; if not containing alcohol, or in the manufacture or preparation of which alcohol is not used, sixty per centum ad valorem; floral or flower waters containing no alcohol, not specially provided for in this section, twenty per centum ad valorem. For perfumery, see also Italian Chamber of Commerce, page 109; for toilet preparations, see also Park & Tilford et al., page 67. PERFUMERY. STATEMENT OF THEODORE RICKSECKER, OF THE MANUFACTURING PERFUMERS' ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES. Mr. RICKSECKER. I am chairman of the legislative committee of the Manufacturing Perfumers' Association of the United States, and represent them. Gentlemen, let us get into an atmosphere of flowers this morning. We respectfully submit the following in behalf of the Manufacturing Perfumers' Association of the United States: This association embraces a membership from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The proposed changes in our paragraphs are not for tariff revision downward, but for increasing the revenue by taxing all our raw materials 20 per cent, which are now free, and have been for many years. This proposed new tax, apparently unintentionally, shows lack of proper information and strikes a severe blow to our industry. Its depressing influence would also be felt by the auxiliary industries, bottle and box makers, lithographers, etc. This injustice would be well-nigh disastrous, and should be corrected for reasons below. In the formation of the Wilson bill, in 1893, for revenue, under President Cleveland, at which time I appeared on behalf of our industry, this question was thrashed out, resulting in giving us free raw materials in that law, which was agreed to by members of both sides in the Senate and House when they learned the facts. I could name some of the most distinguished Democratic Senators we had in |