Show OPENS ON COPPER TARIFF Red Red Metal Tax Draws Support And Opposition Senate Body Swamped Pleas for and Against Imposts PRODUCERS FAVOR DUTY DUry Charge Made U. U S. S Flooded With Metal to Beat Tariff B Er Br Associated Press Frets WASHINGTON April 19 19 Corn Com Complaints plaints against taxes already in the revenue bill and appeals for tor new levies were leaped heaped before the senate senate sen sea ate finance committee today by a aI stream of ot witnesses I Both sides of the copper tariff I question were presented A. A E. E Pe- Pe of ot the Calumet and Arzona Arizona Arizona Ari Ari- zona Copper company said a five- five cent tax on copper imports was necessary necessary necessary I essary to save the industry Heath Steele of the American Metal company company com corn pany of New York a a firm which has some foreign copper interests argued the duty would increase rather than decrease unemployment at the mines The committee also heard opposition opposition tion to an 8 per cent levy on the amount paid for tra transportation sp of oil by pipe lines related that the tariff commission had reported foreign copper copper copper cop cop- per per cost less at American ports than the domestic metal So far as I know said there has been no opposition to a copper tax on the part of any American American Amer Arner- ican lean producer After telling the group that the copper ind industry stry must have some re relic relief re- re lid lief continued END RIGHT NOW The end is right now Unless something something something some some- thing is done most the mines will be closed in six months months' and the workers work work- ers will have to have r relief lie from either cither the state or federal government govern govern- ment These people are facing a disaster disaster disaster ter just as real to them as a aire ire fire or flood They know this is a permanent permanent permanent perma perma- nent condition unless something is done said he felt the tax was germane Jermane to the bill and asserted the industry is on the way to de destruction de- de in in fact it has bas already com com- This is due entirely to new foreign foreign for for- eign competition which has come Into the picture since 1928 he added citing increasing imports from Canada Canada Canada Can Can- ada and South America and saying the African fields were taking European European European Euro Euro- markets The worlds world's copper is simply pouring pouring pouring pour pour- ing into the United States cheaper than we can produce it said Every ounce of copper produced in the world comes in direct compe- compe on Pa Pace e Two fio t RED METAL TAX ORA WS DEBATE Continued From Pace Paco One Ond with United States production Today that is a billion pounds of foreign copper in excess of ot the foreign foreign foreign for for- eign demand Senator Reed CR R. R Pa said he was convinced a prima facie case for lor tora a copper tariff tarm had been made but buthe buthe buthe he expressed doubt on the rate which should be levied We think a five cent rate will protect protect protect pro pro- a large part of American producers producers producers pro pro- said but even evenso evenso evenso so many producers still will have to o pass out of the picture Senator Hull D. D Tenn Interposed Interposed interposed Inter Inter- posed that the copper industry was wasn in n no worse condition than the wheat industry and others which are covered covered covered cov cov- ered up with wilh tariffs and argued the copper duty duly would not meet the sit sit- ua hone Opposition to the proposed copper tari tariff was voiced by Heath Steele of the American Metal company of New York He said his company had some foreign copper interests The dut duty duly will not relieve at t the mines he said and on the contrary it will increase unemployment un tin- employment America owns most of the copper copper cop- cop per Der in the world and a t tariff wont won't meet the problem Increased consumption consumption consumption con con- is the answer to the situa situation sit sit- ua tion Exports have exceeded copper Imports imports imports im Im- ports over a il long Ions period of ot years ar argued argued argued ar- ar gued Steele NO CONGO COPPER Steele asserted that not one pound of ot Congo copper has been sold old in this country It is no secret that American producers producers pro pro- can put out copper as cheap as is any country in the world he said Steele contended the copper duty would bring brins in no revenue because there will be no imports of foreign copper Replying to Senator Hull the witness wit ness said there is an agreement among producers to curtail the output 20 per cent The flood lood of oC copper coming Inhere Inhere in inhere here now is to beat the tariff now insi insight in insight si sight ht Steele added He told Senator Connally CD D D. Tex that hat his company was waS' in on the world orld agreement which he described as verbal verbal a a gentlemen's agreement So the courts cannot get at it observed C Connally Philip D D. Wilson of or the United States Metal Refining company Carteret Car Car- cret N N. J J. joined in opposition ar arguing arguing ar- ar r. r guing the copper import tax would I involve changes in 44 tariff items and still fail tail to help the condition of copper producers Wilson argued the copper miner was vas asking special discriminatory legislation You believe in the doctrine of free tree trade asked Senator R R. Cam No sir s said Wilson but I dont don't a tariff does any good where here theres is a large exportable surplus WOULD CHANGE TRADE Robert H H. Patchin vice president of W. W H H. Grace do Co New York exporters exporters ex ex- porters and importers told the committee com com- millee the copper tax would work a great relt change in the trade between the he United States Stales and Chile and Peru Imports from irom Peru last year included ed 77 per cent copper he said while 56 58 per cent of or the imports from Chile Chilen in n 1929 1920 was copper A tariff amounting to an embargo such uch as is this he contended would almost destroy trade between the United States and the west coast of South America Everett Morse of or Boston speak speak- lag ing ng for or copper fabricators also alst assailed assailed as as- sailed the copper duty Morse said a year two supply of copper was on hand and the probe lem is consumption not consumption not a tariff lariff All I say is that in this crisis dont don't rock the boat H H. W. W representing 12 Independent brass and copper fabricators fabricators fabri of Bridgeport Conn joined support for the copper dut duty along with Representative Douglas D D. D Ariz TONNAGE DECREASES Douglas said copper tonnage had decreased almost 90 per cent from rom his state slate and railroad shipments into the state had decreased almost corre corre- The mining communities have a population of ot more than he explained h By r t the First of or July there will be destitute people there It isa isa is isa a real emergency and we ask you to meet it You have heard here today appeals for tor the foreign producer I Iam Iam Iam am here sir pleading the cause of the American producer Senator Oddie R R. Nev Nov indorsed t the eloquent plea pIca of the tive Live from Arizona and urged careful consideration Emerson Ela of or Madison Wis speaking for the northern Wisconsin tobacco pool supported an increase In n the tax for manufactured tobacco |