SCHEDULE N-SUNDRIES. BEADS. [Paragraph 408.] THE EMBROIDERY AND LACE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES SUGGESTS AN AMENDMENT TO THE TARIFF PROVISION FOR BEADS. 488 to 492 BROADWAY, New York, November 27, 1908. The COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: We recommend that paragraph 408 (Schedule N, sundries) be amended so as to read as follows: PAR. 408. Beads of all kinds, not threaded or strung, thirty-five per centum ad valorem; fabrics, nets or nettings, laces, embroideries, galloons, wearing apparel, ornaments, trimmings, and other articles not specially provided for in this act, composed wholly or in part of beads or spangles made of glass or paste, gelatin, metal, or other material, sixty per centum ad valorem: Provided, That no article composed wholly or in part of beads or spangles made of glass or paste, gelatin, metal, or other material shall pay duty at a less rate than imposed in any schedule of this act upon articles without such beads or spangles. The object of this proviso is the same as a similar proviso at the end of paragraph 339 in Schedule J, so as to preclude the possibility of any article coming in at a lower rate than intended by the mere addition of some beads or spangles, and thereby defeating the intent of the act in regard to such articles. Yours, truly, THE EMBROIDERY AND LACE MANUFACTURERS' Per A. H. KURSHEEDT, President. AMERICAN BRAID MANUFACTURERS RECOMMEND A NEW CLASSIFICATION FOR BEADS OF ALL KINDS. WASHINGTON, D. C., December 1, 1908. COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN:" Beads of all kinds, not threaded or strung, thirty-five per centum ad valorem; fabrics, nets or nettings, laces, embroideries, galloons, wearing apparel, ornaments, trimmings, and other articles. 6393 not specially provided for in this act, composed wholly or in part of beads or spangles made of glass or paste, gelatin, metal, or other material, but not composed in part of wool, sixty per centum ad valorem." We recommend that paragraph 408 be amended so as to read as follows: Beads of all kinds, not threaded or strung, thirty-five per centum ad valorem; fabrics, nets or nettings, laces, embroideries, galloons, wearing apparel, ornaments, trimmings, and other articles not specially provided for in this act, composed wholly or in part of beads or spangles made of glass or paste, gelatin, metal, or other material, sixty per centum ad valorem: Provided, That no article composed wholly or in part of beads or spangles made of glass or paste, gelatin, metal, or other material shall pay duty at a less rate than imposed in any schedule of this act upon articles without such beads or spangles. The object of this proviso is the same as a similar proviso at the end of paragraph 339 in Schedule J, so as to preclude the possibility of any article coming in at a lower rate than intended, by the mere addition of some beads or spangles, and thereby defeating the intent of the act in regard to such articles. Respectfully submitted. BRAID MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES, STRAW BRAIDS AND HATS. [Paragraph 409.] PARSONS BROTHERS, BROOKLYN, N. Y., ASK AN ADVANCE OF DUTY ON BLEACHED AND DYED CHIP AND STRAW BRAID. Hon. SERENO E. PAYNE, WASHINGTON, D. C., November 24, 1908. Chairman Ways and Means Committee, House of Representatives. GENTLEMEN: We have the honor to invite your attention to the needs of a higher duty on dyed and bleached chip and straw braids which are used in the manufacture of hats. The present duty on bleached and dyed braids is but 5 per cent more than that charged on the raw material-i. e., "not dyed or bleached, 15 per cent; if dyed or bleached, 20 per cent "-and this 5 per cent does not give the American dyer a sufficient margin to compete with the foreign dyer, who has the advantage of cheaper labor and materials. The chemicals and dyes entering into the dyeing and bleaching of braids to the extent of nearly 60 per cent of the cost of production, and these chemicals and dyes are dutiable under the present tariff, 25 per cent. Therefore, we pray you that the duty on bleached and dyed chip and straw braid (Schedule N, No. 409) be advanced from 20 per cent ad valorem to 30 per cent ad valorem. Respectfully submitted. PARSONS BROTHERS (INCORPORATED), BRIEF FILED BY R. H. COMEY COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, N. J., AND PARSONS BROTHERS, OF BROOKLYN, N. Y., RELATIVE TO DUTY ON STRAW BRAIDS. WASHINGTON, D. C., November 28, 1908. Hon. SERENO E. PAYNE, Chairman, and the House of Representatives. GENTLEMEN: We have the honor to invite your attention to the need of a higher protective duty on dyed and bleached straw and chip braids, which are used in the manufacture of hats. The paragraph which we wish changed is No. 409, Schedule N, of the present law. Our desire is that it should be changed to read thus: 409. Braids, plaits, laces, and willow sheets or squares composed wholly of straw, chip, grass, palm leaf, willow, osier, or rattan, suitable for making or ornamenting hats, bonnets, or hoods, not bleached, dyed, colored, or stained, fifteen per cent ad valorem; if bleached, dyed, colored, or stained, thirty per centum ad valorem; hats, bonnets, and hoods, composed of straw, chip, grass, palm leaf, willow, osier, or rattan, whether wholly or partly manufactured, but not trimmed, thirty-five per centum ad valorem; if trimmed, fifty per centum ad valorem. But the terms "grass" and "straw" shall be understood to mean these substances in their natural form and structure, and not the separated fiber thereof. Our reasons for desiring this change, which we consider good and which can be fully substantiated, are as follows: The business of dyeing straw and chip braids is very similar to the business of dyeing cotton and woolen yarns. On these last-named articles the present duty is 3 cents per pound on raw material and 6 cents per pound on dyed or bleached material, the duty on the dyed or bleached being double that on the raw. The present duty on straw or chip braids, raw, is 15 per cent and the duty on dyed or bleached braid is 20 per cent. We are thus afforded a protection only 333 per cent greater than the duty on the raw material, as compared to the double duty on dyed yarns. There is a certain pattern imported from Italy to the extent of several million pieces annually which costs in Italy only 6 cents per piece in the raw or undyed state. Our Italian competitors can afford to dye this pattern for onehalf cent per piece in our money. The lowest possible price at which we can dye the same pattern is 13 cents per piece. The extra 5 per cent duty in this case means only less than one-half cent per piece each added to the cost of the raw material, which enables importers in this country to bring this braid in all dyed and bleached and sell it at lower cost than that at which we could possibly produce it. Our average labor costs us $2 per day. In England the average labor employed in the same business costs 60 to 75 cents per day, in Italy 40 cents per day, and in China and Japan 12 cents per day. Chemicals and dyestuffs which we use in producing our colors and bleaches are dutiable at from 25 to 35 per cent, averaging 30 per cent. The flax and hemp twine that we use is taxed 35 per cent. All of these articles can be obtained by foreign dyers much cheaper than we can buy them in the American market, and this, together with |
