PARAGRAPH 544. PARAGRAPH 544-COPPER. Copper ore; regulus of, and black or coarse copper, and copper cement; old copper, fit only for remanufacture, clippings from new copper, and copper in plates, bars, ingots, or pigs, not manufactured or specially provided for in this section. COPPER. BRIEF OF ARTHUR SELIGMANN, NEW YORK, N. Y., ON COPPER. NEW YORK, January 28, 1913. Hon. OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD, Chairman Ways and Means Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We respectfully wish to call your attention to an oversight in the last tariff law in so far as it was overlooked to state that copper in all forms is free. Such stipulation was in the previous tariff law and lately there have been difficulties to determine the correct classification under which certain forms of copper should come in. We particularly refer to copper ashes or residues which are sometimes also called copper scale and are a refuse material which is accumulated by the manufacturers using the pure copper. Naturally, as long as the refined and pure copper comes in free, the refuse material should also come in free of duty. Lately the appraisers have been undecided as to what to do with these importations, as they are not classified, and their opinions are divided as to whether such material as we mention above should not come in as waste material (not specially provided for) and pay 10 per cent ad valorem. Needless to say, the intention of the framers of the tariff law was not to levy a duty on ashes or residues of copper as long as they are allowing free import of the pure and refined metal. I might add that the above-mentioned article is only fit for remanufacture, and as it shows only about 80 per cent of copper, balance being mostly detrimental ingredients, the value is correspondingly lower than pure copper. We would thank you for looking into this matter and, if possible, add a stipulation in the proposed tariff law that " copper ashes, residues, or scale are free of duty." If this should not be feasible, we would suggest that the old wording that "copper in all forms" is free, be again adopted, which could give the officers of the customhouse the necessary classification under which such refuse material as we mention above would be imported free. I also wish to mention that if there is any duty levied it would be impossible to import these goods, as naturally it would be cheaper for the buyer to pay the price of pure copper than to buy the refuse with a duty added. Your kind attention will greatly oblige, yours, very truly, ARTHUR SELIGMANN. L. VOGELSTEIN & CO., NEW YORK, N. Y., WRITE ON COPPER ASHES, ETC. NEW YORK, January 13, 1913. Hon. OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD, Chairman Ways and Means Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: In view of the motion on foot to place a duty on copper scale, we respectfully beg to submit the following: Heretofore copper scale has been imported free of duty, being classified as black or coarse copper, which is on the free list under paragraph 544. Copper scale is a byproduct coming from copper rolling mills. It is the oxide or scale which forms on the surface of the copper when in the annealing furnace, and it is being gathered principally from the water tanks in which the copper is being cooled in order to give it the red color, but partly it is being swept up under the rolls. The latter product has absolutely no value except for remelting or for dissolving in acid. The former product has some other usages. The production of clean copper scale in this country is insufficient to supply the demand, and we think that copper scale can properly be classified under paragraph 544, which includes also the clause that it is "old and fit only for remanufacture," but, in view of the fact that the collector recently intended to classify copper scale under paragraph 479, we respectfully suggest that the article be specifically mentioned as being free under the new tariff. We feel sure that it is the intention of a paragraph like 544 to have such products come in PARAGRAPH 549-KRYOLITH. free, and it would only hamper American industries if a tariff was imposed on such material. Yours, very truly, L. VOGELSTEIN & Co., Agents for Aron Hirsh & Sohn. PARAGRAPH 545. Composition metal of which copper is the component material of chief value, not specially provided for in this section. PARAGRAPH 546. Coral, marine, uncut, and unmanufactured. PARAGRAPH 547. Cork wood, or cork bark, unmanufactured. PARAGRAPH 548. Cotton, and cotton waste or flocks. PARAGRAPH 549. Cryolite, or kryolith. KRYOLITH. PENNSYLVANIA SALT MANUFACTURING Co., Hon. OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD, Chairman Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. 115 CHESTNUT STREET, Philadelphia, December 13, 1912. DEAR SIR: This article, which is a mineral mined in Greenland and shipped into this country, has been on the free list over 40 years and properly so. In order, however, that the item should not be subject to misconception, we respectfully recommend the addition of the word "crude," this making the article on the free list read "Kryolith, crude." We suggest this in the knowledge that a synthetic article, distinctively a chemical compound, has been passed free by the customs authorities, though manifestly subject to a duty. Crude kryolith, in order to be made marketable, must be subjected to an expensive treatment for separating from impurities, as the original article contains many other minerals besides kryolith itself, and the selling of a manufactured imitation under the pretense that it is the real article is made possible by its free admission, all of which would be corrected by the introduction of the word "crude” as above stated. Diamonds and other precious stones, rough, or uncut, and not advanced in condition or value from their natural state by cleaving, splitting, cutting, or other process, including glaziers' and engravers' diamonds not set. PARAGRAPH 566-MINERS' DIAMONDS. PARAGRAPH 556. Miners' diamonds, whether in their natural form or broken, and bort; any of the foregoing not set, and diamond dust. MINERS' DIAMONDS. BRIEF OF A. L. A. HIMMELWIGHT, NEW YORK, N. Y. THE STEEL SET DIAMOND Co., ROOM 910, No. 46 WEST TWENTY-FOURTH STREET, UNITED STATES CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIRS: In behalf of the Steel Set Diamond Co., which concern was obliged to discontinue business a year ago, the writer wishes to call your attention to what in his opinion is an injustice and which caused the discontinuation of the Steel Set Diamond Co.'s business. I refer to the present conditions in regard to the importation of drilled diamonds. About 10 years ago the Steel Set Diamond Co. imported a large number of drilling and polishing machines at considerable expense and engaged in manufacturing diamond wire dies on a large scale. A large number of stones were drilled and polished from which dies were made. Later it was discovered that competitors of the company were importing the stones already drilled and could sell dies made by them at a fair profit and at a price that represented less than the actual cost of manufacturing to the Steel Set Diamond Co. Owing to the superiority of the dies manufactured by the Steel Set Diamond Co., which fact it was possible to establish after a few years, the company was able to sell a number of dies at higher prices, but it was impossible to build up a sufficiently extensive business under those conditions to make it profitable, so that last year the company was obliged to suspend business and discontinue. Your attention is called to the duty on imported drilled stones, which is so low at the present time as to prevent American workmen from competing in producing these dies. The duty on imported drilled diamonds of this character should be increased at least $2 or $3 per drilled stone in order to enable American workmen to compete. It is understood that imported drilled stones coming from European countries, where exceedingly low wages are paid the workmen, permit the manufacture of dies in this country at prices that American manufacturers can not compete with. If diamonds were produced in this country, the situation would be entirely different, but as the stones must be imported there is no other possible means of protecting American workmen and concerns in this line. It is hoped that the new administration in taking up the tariff revision will give this specific matter some attention and adjust the duties so that American workmen can compete in drilling the stones used in the manufacture of wire dies. Yours, very truly, PARAGRAPH 557. Divi-divi. PARAGRAPH 558. Dragon's blood. A. L. A. HIMMELWIGHT. PARAGRAPH 559-CRUDE DRUGS, ETC. PARAGRAPH 559. Drugs, such as barks, beans, berries, balsams, buds, bulbs, bulbous roots, excrescences, fruits, flowers, dried fibers, dried insects, grains, gums, gum resin, herbs, leaves, lichens, mosses, nuts, nutgalls, roots, stems, spices, vegetables, seeds (aromatic, not garden seeds), seeds of morbid growth, weeds, and woods used expressly for dyeing or tanning; any of the foregoing which are natural and uncompounded drugs and not edible and not specially provided for in this section, and are in a crude state, not advanced in value or condition by any process or treatment whatever beyond that essential to the proper packing of the drugs and the prevention of decay or deterioration pending manufacture: Provided, That no article containing alcohol, or in the preparation of which alcohol is used, shall be admitted free of duty under this paragraph. CRUDE DRUGS, ETC. TESTIMONY OF W. J. SCHIEFFELIN, OF SCHIEFFELIN & CO., NEW YORK. The witness was duly sworn by the chairman. Mr. HARRISON. You may proceed, Mr. Schieffelin. Mr. SCHIEFFELIN. I have submitted a brief regarding crude drugs that are now on the free list, showing the number that were imported last year and the values, and the small amount of revenue that would accrue if they were made dutiable, and our plea is that they are scarcely what could be called luxuries, hardly anything of these things people would buy if they could avoid them, and that enhancing their cost would be adding to the suffering of those who are sick. Mr. HARRISON. You do not believe that they are covered by the definition that has been used here by several gentlemen as articles of voluntary consumption. Mr. SCHIEFFELIN. Scarcely. Now, the suggestion has been made in a separate bill introduced last spring that preparations as well as surgical instruments used in hospital practice should have a reduced duty or be put on the free list. Of course, in the interest of the hospitals which are doing charitable work absolutely free, there is a strong argument in favor of that, and I believe those who are to ask that such things be put on the free list will appear before you to-day or to-morrow, and I simply want to urge that in the case of patented drugs that are more or less experimental, and that are not made in this country, and where the hospitals are regarded as educational and experimental institutions, such an exception might well be made. For instance, new drugs like "Salvarsan" ought surely to be gotten here at as low a price for trial as possible, but there is a very serious aspect in the suggestion to make this cover all the drugs used by the hospitals, because it might very well cause such inroads into the sales of those who make medicinal chemicals and plasters, the manufacturers on this side, that it would discourage and minimize the production to such an extent that if there came a time when for any reason, war or otherwise, we had to depend upon our own products, it would be a matter of serious public concern to be unable to produce a sufficient amount, and therefore, I would suggest that if any such provision be made, it be made to apply to those medicinal products not now manufactured in PARAGRAPH 559-CRUDE DRUGS, ETC. this country; and we would be glad if the committee would get the opinion of those who are advocating this change when they come to appear before them. Mr. HILL. Would not you strike out the word "now"? Mr. SCHIEFFELIN. How do you mean? Mr. HILL. Haven't you made a suggestion "not manufactured in this country," so that the law would be continuous in effect? Mr. SCHIEFFELIN. Certainly, I think that would be perfectly fair, and I think in the brief I have submitted the question of crude drugs is detailed. There is one point, it is very likely that the trouble and cost of collecting the duties would not leave a very large balance to be applied to revenue, and I think the total revenue that could be obtained will be in the neighborhood of a half million dollars, and I trust the committee will agree and decide that these are hardly subjects of added revenue. The witness at a later date filed the following documents: The COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, NEW YORK, December 3, 1913. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: In behalf of the wholesale druggists of New York, and also of my own company, I have the honor to plead that crude drugs be kept upon the free list. The importations reported by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce for the year ending June 30, 1912, as per annexed list, amounted to $4,041,590, made up of 36 different articles used in medicine. We urge that the revenue which might be secured by imposing duties upon these goods would be inconsiderable in comparison to the hardship which the enhanced price would inflict upon the sick and suffering. The time-honored policy of admitting free of duty crude medicinal substances, which are almost without exception not produced in this country, should not, in our opinion, be reversed. If a duty were imposed, it would doubtless have to be a specific duty in each case, owing to the fluctuations in values. While there is no doubt that it will be feasible to increase prices in order to meet such duty, it must not be forgotten that the cost of collection on such a wide variety of products will considerably reduce the net revenue obtained therefrom. Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Metropolitan Drug Club, composed of the wholesale druggists of New York, Schieffelin & Co., and drug trade section of the New York Board of Trade and Transportation. WM. JAY SCHIEFFELIN, President. The importations of crude drugs on the free list for the year ending June 30, 1912, were valued at $4,041,590.93. Hon. O. W. UNDERWOOD, Chairman Committee on Ways and Means, NEW YORK, December 28, 1912. Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: Under Schedule A, we respectfully submit that crude drugs and medicinal chemicals, now on the free list, should be allowed to remain free of duty. The revenue obtained would not be large, and the enhanced price would have to be borne by those least able to pay it, namely, the sick. For the reason we suggest that codliver oil should have a lower duty, and also olive oil, which, however, would come under the head of "Foods." Under Schedule G, section 287, we urge the reduction or abolition of the duty on extract of meat, which is used for preparing bouillon, and the bulk of which is now, we believe, sold in the form of bouillon cubes. During the year ending June 30, 1912, the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce reported that the amount collected as duty on extracts of meat amounted to, i round figures, about $57,000. |