America to choose more wisely by continuing our peaceful method of reciprocal trade treaty agreements. These reciprocal trade treaty agreements should not only be renewed with those powers opening their vast colonial empires for the expansion and continued increase of the sale of our industrial products; but these agreements should even be extended to include our Latin American neighbors particularly at this moment when they would cherish our friendship rather than the older European nations with their older worn out principals. We sincerely hope that every effort will be made to have these agreements renewed and extended, and that our present plea will be made part of the official record of the committee in conjunction with the pending joint resolution. Yours respectfully, Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, THE OTTO L. KRAMER Co., (Signed) OTTO L. KRAMER. (Typed) Otto L. Kramer, Esq. LONDON HOUSE, LTD., Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We would like to place ourselves on record as being strongly in favor of extending section 350 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (the so-called Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act) for a further period of 3 years. Very truly yours, Hon. ROBERT L. Doughton, LONDON HOUSE, LTD., SAMUEL LAMONT & SONS LTD., Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We wish to go on record as being 100 percent in favour of an extension, for a period of 3 years, the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act. Respectfully yours, Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, HERBERT SWANN. J. M. MACDONALD IMPORT Co., Inc., Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: In the interest of the expansion of foreign trade and its beneficial effects upon the people of all countries involved, we urge the extension of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act for another 3-year period. From our observation of the careful study given every item considered in the treaties that have been concluded, we are convinced that the methods employed represent the first and only attempt to adjust tariff rates scientifically. It has been a great step forward from the political processes by which previous tariff revisions have been accomplished. The Hawley-Smoot tariff, which brought retaliation and hatred from many countries, certainly needed modification. Under these trade treaties, reductions of rates of duties on products from some countries are prohibited to cheap-labor countries by price limitations. Thus, one article from England may enjoy a reduced-duty rate while the cheap quality from India does not. This is a most desirable feature. We strongly recommend favorable action by your committee on the joint resolution to extend the act for another 3 years and request that this appeal be made part of the official record. Yours faithfully, J. M. MACDONALD IMPORT CO., INC., Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, R. H. MACY & CO., INC., Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR Mr. DOUGHTON: We understand that there is pending before your committee, at the present time, a joint resolution of the House and Senate which would extend, for a period of 3 years, the so-called Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act amending the United States Tariff Act of 1930. We wish to add our request to those of the other importers throughout the United States in urging you to approve the extension, as set forth in that joint resolution, of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act. We understand that the power of the President to enter into trade agreements under section 350 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended in 1934, will expire on June 12, 1940. The vesting of this power in the President of the United States and the exercise thereof by him has assisted in making foreign markets available to the many branches of American production, with a consequent increase in the purchasing power of the American people. We believe that the further reciprocal development of foreign markets for products of the United States will be of great aid to business generally in the United States and will encourage the removal of trade barriers of other countries and create new sources of employment for United States citizens. We would appreciate it if you would make this communication a part of the official record of your committee in connection with the joint resolution now pending before you for action. Yours very truly, Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We are writing this in view of the impending public hearing which will be held on the resolution now before Congress with reference to the extension of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act for an additional period of 3 years. In our mind the adoption of this act in 1934 was an important step toward the establishment of the United States as one of the leading industrial countries in the world, and further, that the continuance of the act is a prime requisite for the maintenance of the United States as the arbiter in world affairs. The business of this corporation consists of 40 percent in merchandising American-made products and 60 percent in merchandising imported products. Although both the domestic and the imported merchandise we handle are competitive in the sense that both types fill the same consumer needs, we wish to advise that not only the import division of our business benefited under the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act, but likewise our domestic division has also progressed very satisfactorily over the same period of time. As far as we are concerned then this may be taken as an actual indication that the adoption of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act does not hamper all domestic business even though same be more or less in competition with imported merchandise, the costs of which have benefited by the negotiations entered into with foreign countries under the act. We hope the foregoing will be given due consideration, and that this letter will play a small part in arriving at a decision to permit the continuation of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act. Very truly yours, GEO. E. MALLINSON IMPORTING CO., INC., HENRY MATIER & Co., LTD., Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: The writer has read with interest Secretary Hull's explanation of the reciprocal tariff, inasmuch as our industry has benefited from these agreements, due to the fact that it has brought the price of linen handkerchiefs down whereby the average consumer in the United States can purchase same, and we do not believe that the lower duty on linen cloth for handkerchiefs has in any way affected the consumption of cotton handkerchiefs. There was an in-between space from the high-price cotton handkerchief to the lowest linen price on the old tariff which has now been filled by the reciprocal rates and we think that, in justice to the consumer and also to our import trade, these reciprocal agreements should be allowed to be renewed. We would appreciate any effort toward this by you. Yours very truly, HENRY MATIER, & Co., LTD. THE MINE & SMELTER SUPPLY CO., CLERK OF WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: I understand that the Ways and Means Committee will hold hearings shortly, with the thought in mind that they would like to get opinions in regard to renewing the Trade Agreements Act. Although I am writing from a city that is a thousand miles inland, I can truthfully say that many businessmen of this intermountain area are looking to foreign markets more today than ever before. Our own company has done an export business for years, as we have built equipment that is now in operation in every important mining camp on the face of the globe and we have recently taken steps which will enable us to become more aggressive in our foreign business. There are other companies who up until now have never before given any thought to foreign markets, but are now in the midst of a program that will enable them to sell more of their goods abroad. I am a firm believer of the policy that other nations, in order to buy from us, must first be in a position to buy, which implies that free trade, or a freer trade than we have at present, is a necessity. We are hopeful, therefore, that whatever investigations may be made by the Congress of Secretary Hull's program will be done in a constructive manner and will help in the final result of building up a larger volume of world trade. It seems to me that we will never find the answer to the peace question until this problem is first solved. Yours very truly, Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, THE MINE AND SMELTER SUPPLY CO., MAX MANDEL LACES, INC., Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. HONORABLE SIR: As I understand that the public hearings in regard to the reciprocal trade agreements will begin on January 15, 1940, I am taking the opportunity as an importer to write you, that it would be very much advisable that we shall renew our treaty which will terminate on June 12, 1940, for another 3 years, as I am sure that these treaties are doing good for both countries and help along in keeping up the friendship between these countries. Therefore I would strongly recommend that you use your influence and see that this Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act shall be renewed. Sincerely yours, MAX MANDEL. Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, MUTUAL CHINA CO., Indianapolis, Ind., January 10, 1940. Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: Referring to the joint resolution now proposed in Congress to extend the so-called Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act for another 3 years, we would like to register our strong endorsement of this resolution. We view the reciprocal trade agreements not only from a business standpoint (as we are importers) and not only from the viewpoint that the United States must buy goods in order to be able to dispose of surplus stocks and manufactured goods, but also on the broad principle that cordial trade relations between nations are conducive to good will and peace for all. We believe also that the most satisfactory and effective method of obtaining these results is through the reciprocal trade agreements, as negotiated under the authority of the President. We respectively ask that this letter be made part of the official record of your committee in connection with the pending joint resolution. We remain, Dear Sir, Yours very respectfully, MUTUAL CHINA Co., FERD L. HOLLWEG, President. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE IMPORTERS, INC., Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: At a meeting of the board of directors of the National Association of Alcoholic Beverage Importers, Inc., the following resolution was adopted unanimously: "Resolved, that the National Association of Alcoholic Beverage Importers, Inc., go on record as strongly favoring the extension of the reciprocal trade agreement law, and that the executive vice president so notify the Secretary of State, the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, and the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee." Very truly yours, HARRY L. LOURIE, Executive Vice President. NEW YORK, January 12, 1940. Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. DOUGHTON: I want to be on record as being heartily in favor of the renewal of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act. I consider this act as the greatest blessing to humanity and the most beneficial law enacted by the present administration. I feel in my heart that Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, has been divinely guided in his endeavors through which the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act was created. Nothing has been more beneficial to this Nation, as well as to those other nations of the world than this act. It has done so much towards overcoming the feeling of resentment and animosity and hatred brought forth against us by all the nations of the world by the enactment of the Hawley-Smooth Tariff Act. I firmly believe that if this Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act is not renewed, we will again face the retaliation of the nations of the world, and therefore a return to the sad time after 1929 mainly caused by the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act. We cannot be a "law unto ourselves." We cannot stand up before the world in all the glory to which this great country of ours is entitled, if we ignore this feeling of anomosity which would be engendered, if we do not uphold the principles of this act. We cannot be a "law unto ourselves." We cannot say "we will sell but we will not buy." We cannot be a "one way street." By this act we are overcoming thoughts of the world that we are only a nation of "dollar chasers" and we cannot blame them for this attitude and contempt, if we do not renew this noble act. To my mind it is an act of God. Christ stated that the second greatest commandment was "Love thy neighbors as thyself." Who are our neighbors? The whole world today are our neighbors, being brought closer and closer together as time goes on by the wonderful inventions of the present day. We are endeavoring to create a great mercantile marine. Can we send our ships abroad with cargoes from our shores and have them come back empty? Would it pay? It must be a "give and take" problem, otherwise it cannot be successful. This Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act should not be under any consideration a political controversy, as it is an act for the benefit of the entire country. I exceedingly regret to learn from the newspapers that a great number of members of the Republican Party are against this act; also that some members of the Democratic Party are opposed, owing to certain products produced in their constituency which they think would be benefited by higher tariffs. I exceedingly regret that so few have the big broad vision necessary to consider the welfare of the country as a whole, and not of their individual constituencies whom they I have not gone into any statistics in this letter and only desire to present to you my viewpoint for the continuation of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act from a humanitarian standpoint. If I can be of any service to your honorable committee in your search for information don't hesitate to command me and I will be glad to be at your disposal. Very sincerely yours, CHAIRMAN, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, AARON NEUMANN. PACIFIC FOREST INDUSTRIES, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: (1) The Pacific Forest Industries is a cooperative organization owned and operated by all producers of Douglas fir plywood in the United States. It works exclusively in the export field and is established under the Webb Export Act. We have developed a satisfactory market for our products in nearly 50 foreign countries. (2) Since our plywood is a highly manufactured wood product, involving about $25 per ton in wages, we have encountered great difficulties in many foreign countries desiring to protect their own local industries even in cases where they have to import the raw material, chiefly from the United States. (3) We believe that the Trade Agreements Act should be renewed because the complicated nature of our business and its relation to the conservation of our timber resources requires a detailed study and a thorough understanding of broad national questions, only possible to obtain through years of contact with our industry. (4) Our industry is concentrated in the forest regions of Washington and Oregon and its tariff problems are, therefore, of little interest to other sections of the United States. For this reason our case would in all probability receive better attention if handled by a nonpolitical body in charge of the administration of the Trade Agreements Act. (5) On account of circumstances beyond the control of the Trade Agreements Act administration, we have not secured any worth-while tariff advantages since the trade agreement program was put into effect. Nevertheless, we are strongly supporting a continuation of the trade agreement work on the present basis since we feel that it would be detrimental to our industry to be subjected to the hazards of having our foreign tariff policy handled in any other way. In conclusion, may we state that we have complete confidence in the integrity and energetic efforts made by the Trade Agreements Act Administration, and that regardless of whether we would secure any direct benefits from this work in the future, we would still favor the renewal of the Trade Agreements Act as a matter of national interest. Respectfully submitted. PACIFIC FOREST INDUSTRIES, Managing Director. |