Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act be continued, we are writing you in the hope that you will use every effort in this direction, and that this communication be made part of the official record of the committee, in connection with the pending joint resolution. Yours truly, Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, STRAUSS BROS. D. STRAUSS Co., Inc., Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: For the interest of all concerned, we consider it very essential, especially from our business and trade standpoint, that section 350 of Tariff Act of 1930, which terminates on June 12, 1940, be further extended as a reciprocal trade agreement act for another 3-year period. May we ask that same be made part of the official record of the committee in connection with the pending joint resolutions. We thank you in advance for your kind interest and good counsel in accomplishing the extension of this act, which we consider very important to our industry. Per D. STRAUSS Co., INC., Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, ALEX. LEE WALLAU, INC., Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: The present serves to urge the extension, for a period of 3 years, of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act. We feel that this act, and the resulting treaties, has done more to help the commerce of the United States and the peace of the world than any other factor, and it is for that reason that we urge this extension. We respectfully request that this communication be made a part of the official record of the Committee on Ways and Means, in conjunction with the pending resolution. Yours respectfully, ALEX. LEE WALLAU, INC., ALEX. LEE WALLAU, President. WAUKESHA MOTOR CO., Waukesha, Wis., January 17, 1940. CLERK OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: Knowing that the hearing before your committee will be open and brief, we hasten to place our beliefs and convictions on record to the effect that this country needs a liberal extension of the Trade Agreements Act. The Waukesha Motor Co. believes the past advantages of the Trade Agreements Act have been, and if the act is extended, should continue to be as follows: 1. It is basically and economically justified and desirable to maintain low import duties, levies on goods and/or semiprocessed, and/or manufactured abroad, when such goods are not normally procurable and/or made available within this country within the needed quantities, quality, and at a fair price to the consumer. We recognize an exception to this as regards certain and vital items of national defense which should, of course, be made in this country. 2. To the extent that the practice does not become a dislocating economic factor to either nation, it is good for both buyer and seller nations to exchange their surpluses, whether it be in goods or in labor, for their needs so as to benefit by the higher standard of living thus attained. 3. The Trade Agreement Act has been thus far a tonic to the United States since its average effect has been to (a) increase exports, (b) increase imports, (c) increase excess of exports over imports as regards any particular country with whom United States has signed a reciprocal trade agreement. This can mean but one thing when obtained without the making of unsafe, unwise, and embarrassing loans, namely, more business, more employment, and a greater medium to permit the payment of high taxes. 4. It is an enviable record that the administration of the trade-agreement acts has made from 1933 to date on the reciprocal trade agreements with 19 nations, namely, that our increase in trade with these 19 nations since 1933 has increased at twice the rate for other nations. This general proof leads us to wonder how for the good of the country as a whole any radical change of the Trade Agreement Act could even be contemplated. 5. This country is no exception to the rule that mutually beneficial commerce promotes mutual understanding, and that mutual understanding must be a forerunner to living peacefully among worldly neighbors. Therefore, let us not disregard this sorely needed instrument-mutually beneficial commerce-at a time when national neighborliness should be cultivated and so maintained. We hold that the provisions for the making of treaties leading to new and increased mutually beneficial commerce between this and other countries is the clear duty of Congress. Conversely, a lapsing of this important treaty-making machinery can but take its toll in diminished employment in industry, commerce, and maritime activities with the inescapable reduction in consumption of our own agricultural products. 6. Today the world needs the stimulus of evidencing nations among their own free choosing making mutually beneficial commercial treaties with the United States, and the keeping of these treaties inviolate. Let us continue this worthy exemplary role. We still need the benefits that in the past have accrued from the Trade Agreement Act, so in all sincerity we ask why lose them now. Respectfully submitted. WAUKESHA MOTOR CO., Vice President and Chief Engineer. JOSIAH WEDGWOOD & SONS, INC., OF AMERICA, Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: It has come to our attention that a joint resolution on the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act will shortly come up in Congress to extend this act for a further period of 3 years. We are vitally interested in this act and trust that the extension will be passed by the House. Please have this letter made a part of the official record of your committee in connection with the pending joint resolution. Yours very truly, JOSIAH WEDGWOOD & SONS, INC., Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, WESTERGAARD, BERG-JOHNSEN CO., Brooklyn, N. Y., January 11, 1940. Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We hereby take the liberty to inform you that we urge the extension, for a period of 3 years, of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act and at the same time request that it be made part of the official record of the committee in connection with the pending joint resolution. We remain, Yours very truly, WESTERGAARD, BERG-JOHNSEN Co., WINSOR & NEWTON, INC., Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. We are a corporation, organized under the laws of the State of New York, and have, for about 50 years, been engaged in business as importers of artists' materials. Since the original adoption of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act, reduced rates of customs duties have been made applicable to a number of the products which we import, but we have found no evidence whatsoever to indicate that American manufacturers of artists' materials have been or are being injured by reason of such reduced rates. We may say further that the imported products to which we refer are all of high quality and fill a definite consumer need in this country, and this need would be severely penalized if the very high rates provided by the Tariff Act of 1930 were eventually restored by the lapse of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act. We, therefore respectfully request that your committee will favorably report the extension of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act for a period of 3 years and that this communication be made a part of the official record of the committee in connection with the pending joint resolution. Respectfully yours, Subject: Renewal of Trade Agreement Act. WINSOR & NEWTON, INC., WISCONSIN EXPORTERS CLUB, Milwaukee, Wis., January 16, 1940. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: We have just learned that the hearing before your committee will be open and brief and consequently hasten to add our statements of conviction that this country needs an extension of the Trade Agreement Act to the impressive list of benefactors of this act and from whom you must already have heard. At the regular meeting of the Wisconsin Exporters Club, 611 North Broadway, Milwaukee, Wis., on January 11, 1940, it was unanimously voted by representatives of the companies listed below that this active group express its sincere and studied opinion and wish that your committee report favorably on the extension of the Trade Agreement Act, and that in due course Congress provide for the continuance of this excellent piece of stabilizing legislation. Respectively submitted. WISCONSIN EXPORTERS CLUB, Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, Wis. Chain Belt Co., Milwaukee, Wis. Cutler-Hammer Co., Milwaukee, Wis. The Fulton Co., Milwaukee, Wis. Harnischfeger Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis. Murphy Diesel Co., Milwaukee, Wis. Nordberg Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, Wis. Vilter Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, Wis. Mr. Valley Smith, Exporter. Master Lock Co., Milwaukee, Wis Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, THOMAS YOUNG INC., Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act under the direction of Secretary Cordell Hull is definitely the most sensible tariff policy that we have had since the adoption of the most-favored-nation principle. I urge the extension of this act for another period of 3 years, and ask that this request be made part of the committee's official record. Yours very truly, Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, JOHN H. Young. [Telegram] NEW YORK, N. Y., January 10, 1940. Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. We strongly urge that the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act be extended for a period of 3 years and we request that this telegram be made a part of the official record of the committee in connection with the pending joint resolution. H. REEVE ANGEL & Co., INC. NEW YORK, N. Y., January 11, 1940. Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means: We are strongly in favor of reciprocal-trade agreements and of entering into additional agreements with other countries. Therefore we urge the extension of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act by all means. FISH SCHURMAN CORPORATION. AKRON, OHIO, January 17, 1940. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, House of Representatives: Our company anxious to have Trade Agreements Act renewed. Trade treaties have benefited our export business and that of the rubber industry in general. THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER Co., By CHARLES A. STILLMAN, Vice President. Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, NEW YORK, N. Y., January 12, 1940. Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives: We urge the extension for a further 3 years of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act. Request above be made part of official record at committee meeting. HENSEL, BRUCKMANN & LORBACHER, INC. Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, NEW YORK, N. Y., January 16, 1940. Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives: Strongly urge extension of Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act for another period of 3 years and ask that this request be made part of official record of committee in connection with pending joint resolution. LEACOCK & Co., NEW YORK, N. Y., January 12, 1940. House of Representatives: Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, We urge you to extend the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act for another 3 years. As we consider this act most beneficial to the country at large. Also that this communication be part of the record of the committee in connection with the pending joint resolution. HENRY W. T. MALI & Co. NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 12, 1940. CLERK OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, House of Representatives: The New Orleans Association of Commerce desires to go on record as a civic organization representing over 4,000 business and professional men that have staunchly supported the United States Trade Agreements Act since its inception and has recognized the beneficial effects which in general, it has brought to our trade relations with foreign countries. We learn that the Ways and Means Committee of the House will hold hearings beginning January 11 on legislation to renew the said Trade Agreements Act expiring June 12, 1940, and learn further that beginning January 15 hearings of the committee will be open to all interested parties and as such we request that you make this telegram a part of your files in support of the renewal of the Trade Agreements Act. Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, House of Representatives: H. G. MEADOR, President. NEW YORK, N. Y., January 10, 1940. We, who are employers of over 50 American citizens and paying them good wages, feel that it is absolutely essential for us to continue in business, that the Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act be extended for further period of 3 years, and that your committee should report this bill favorably. Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, PIONEER MDSE. CO., INC. NEW YORK, N. Y., January 12, 1940. Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives: Firmly believe Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act is for best interests of our country and strongly urge its extension, particularly so during present war conditions as peaceful means of fostering trade with neutral countries. Hope your committee will take favorable action and request that this communication be made part of official record of committee. Hon. ROBERT L. DOUGHTON, OTTO ROTH & CO., INC. NEW YORK, N. Y., January 11, 1940. Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, House Office Building, Washington, D. C.: In the interest of American commerce and labor we respectfully urge extension of Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act and request that this communication be incorporated in official record of your committee relative to pending joint resolution. SELSI CO., INC. |