the United States who have no Canadian factories. This acid is now largely produced in this country as a by-product in the reduction of zinc and copper ores, and its cost of production is probably less than in any other country.

By paragraph 65 this acid is admitted free for agricultural uses, but this paragraph is also one of the few provided with a reciprocity clause, which causes a duty to be assessed on importations from Canada. And this circumstance has caused the Canadian government to maintain a duty which is sufficiently high to shut out the product in this country. The sum of attainment is protection and large profit to a virtual Canadian monopoly, which is controlled and directed by the largest makers in this country. If a commercial treaty could be negotiated between the United States and Canada which would provide for the free entry of sulphuric acid of all grades into that country, it would open up a large and profitable market for this country, and would give Canadian consumers acid at much lower cost.

We aver that sulphuric acid is one of the most important manufactures of all countries; that it is a barometer of industrial conditions; that besides being a very important adjunct in manufactures from steel, refining of oils, tanning of leather, etc., it is of equal importance with phosphate rock in the manufacture of fertilizers for agricultural purposes.

BARIUM PEROXIDE, 88 TO 90 PER CENT.

(As "Chemicals not otherwise provided for "-Duty 25 per cent.)

Par. 3. We respectfully submit that the import duties assessed on these goods under this general classification are unnecessary, unfair, and a hardship to consumers. The goods are chiefly used in the manufacture of hydrogen peroxide (an antiseptic of much importance in medicine) and by industrial bleachers. We aver that these consumptions are practically the entire use for the material; that the material is only obtainable from foreign countries; that the material is not procurable in the United States; that the removal or reduction of import duty of 25 per cent would have the natural effect of reducing selling prices of hydrogen peroxide for medicinal and commercial purposes and accomplish distinct benefits to medicine and industry without working a hardship to any interests in this country.

66

CARBON TETRA CHLORIDE.

(As Chemicals not otherwise provided for "-Duty 25 per cent.) Par. 3. We respectfully submit that the duty levied upon importations of this chemical has not accomplished its intent in attaining any important production in this country.

We aver that this chemical is not produced in any material quantities in this country, and that the textile and metal industries and householders should have the benefit of lowest possible cost of this new and important solvent and cleanser.

We also aver that this new solvent is an important safeguard against fire and explosion in factory and household, and that its use

in place of naphtha is a considerable assistant in the attainment of lowest possible insurance rates.

TITANIUM POTASSIUM OXALATE AND TITANOUS SULPHATE.

(As "Chemicals not otherwise provided for "-Duty 25 per cent.)

Par. 3. We respectfully submit that the duties levied on these articles are unnecessary, unfair, and a hardship to consumers such as manufacturers of chrome leathers or dyers of chrome tanned leathers where fast colors are required, calico manufacturers, yarn dyers, finishers of fancy colored goods, etc.

We aver that these products are comparatively new mordants and aids in industries aforesaid; that they are manufactured by patented processes; that the removal or reduction of the duty will accomplish distinct gains to the industries mentioned; that there is no so-called "discharge of strength " in titanous sulphate, so that any said reduction or removal of existing duty would work no hardship upon any industry in this country.

MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE.

(As "Chemicals not otherwise provided for "-Duty 25 per cent.)

Par. 3. We respectfully submit that the existing duty is unnecessary, unfair, and that its only attainments are unreasonable prices to

consumers.

We aver that this chemical is not produced in this country in any material way and that it is coming into extensive use in the manufacture of artificial stone for flooring, for steel cars, etc.,; that the discontinuance of duty would only have the effect of lowering prices to consumers and not be a hardship to any interest in this country.

AMMONIA PHOSPHATE, 98 TO 100 PER CENT.

(As Chemicals not otherwise provided for "-Duty, 25 per cent.)

Par. 3. We respectfully submit that this duty is unnecessary, unfair, and a hardship to consumers-such as makers of fireproofing cloth, fireproofing paper, etc.; that ammonia phosphate of this grade is not produced in this country, but is only procurable from foreign countries; that the removal or reduction of the duty would accomplish a lower cost for the above-mentioned purposes without imposing any hardship upon any interests in this country.

SODA ACETATE.

(As "Chemicals not otherwise provided for "-Duty, 25 per cent.)

Par. 3. We respectfully submit that the existing duty is unfair, unnecessary, and a hardship to consumers, viz, textile manufacturers. We aver that there is only a limited production of this material in the United States; that the goods have continuously sold at a reasonable price; and that there is no reasonable cause or necessity for a

duty which prevents reasonable importations whenever the domestic production does not equal the consumption (as has been the case at frequent periods).

SODA PHOSPHATE AND SODA PHOSPHATE TRIBASIC.

(As "Chemicals not otherwise provided for "-Duty, 25 per cent.)

Par. 3. We respectfully submit that the existing duty is an unnecessary protection to interests which are allied in maintaining uniform values for this material. The chemical is largely used in the manufacture of silk and cotton and for medicinal purposes.

We aver that the removal or reduction of the duty would be a benefit to the consuming interests, as above, without working any hardship upon producers in this country.

ALUM, CRYSTAL AND GROUND, AND SULPHATE OF ALUMINA.

(Duty, one-half cent per pound.)

Par. 4. We aver that considerable quantities of the latter are now exported to Canada; that as this country now has its own raw material (bauxite) the duty of 1 cent per pound is unnecessary, unfair, and in absurd comparison with the prices at which the goods, are selling in this country, viz, from $1 to $1.65 per 100 pounds.

We aver that the abolition or reduction of this duty would only have the effect of always maintaining reasonable price for these goods in the United States and always permitting free competition for export business.

BLUE VITRIOL (OPPER SULPHATE).

(Duty, one-half cent per pound.)

Par. 9. We respectfully submit that the existing duty is unnecessary, unfair, and that its only attainments are unreasonable profits to allied makers and unreasonable prices to consumers in this country.

In the report of Foreign Commerce and Navigation compiled by the Department of Commerce and Labor for the year ending June 30, 1906, it is shown that the total number of pounds of this material exported is 21,310,313, out of which 19,000,000 pounds was sent to Europe. During the same period the imports were 71,136 pounds, on account of which the duties amounted to $355.69.

We aver that an unreasonably high price has been maintained in the United States for the benefit of certain allied copper interests. and also by reason of agreements by such copper interests with English makers; that more than 50 per cent of the copper sulphate manufactured in this country is exported to Italy and the Continent at very much less net return than is obtained from consumers in the United States; that a discontinuance of the duty on copper sulphate would only have the possible effect of fairly reducing the price to United States consumers within bounds of reasonable profit to manufacturers; that this chemical is now an important article of consumption among agriculturists (who use very large quantities of it in

making the Bordeaux solution for vineyards, truck gardening purposes, preventing wheat smut, etc., and is also largely used by Paris-green makers, textile manufacturers, wire manufacturers, etc. As an instance of the injustice of this protection, we recite that before the American and English makers were in agreement sulphate cf copper made here was sometimes purchased in Italy and brought back at less than United States prices.

CRESOL.

(As" Coal-tar product "-Duty, 20 per cent.)

Par. 15. We respectfully submit that the duty which has been assessed and collected on account of importations of this material is a distinct hardship to argriculturists and householders in this country.

Although distinctly used as a sheep dip and for disinfectant purposes (it was invaluable in San Francisco after the earthquake), the consumer is obliged to pay an unreasonable cost by reason of the duty as aforesaid.

We aver that the abolition of duty on this material for the above purposes would not work any hardship to any industries in this country, but be a distinct benefit to the agriculturists and householders, as aforesaid.

IRON OXIDE, 97 TO 98 PER CENT.

(As" Paint material not otherwise provided for "-Duty, 30 per cent.)

Par. 58. We aver that this duty was effected at the instance of the steel industry, who have since discontinued all interest and manufacture.

The material is used in the manufacture of high-grade papers, artificial flooring, paints, etc., and the abolition of the duty would work no hardship to any domestic interest but be a particular benefit to the industries aforesaid.

SILICATE OF SODA.

(Duty, one-half cent per pound.)

Par. 79. We respectfully submit that this duty is unnecessary and in absurd comparison with selling prices in this country.

We aver that silicate of soda of domestic manufacture sells in a very large way in this country at about 50 cents per 100 pounds f. o. b. cars at manufacturer's plant; that the removal or reduction of the present import duty might be of benefit to consumers and could work no hardship to producers.

SULPHATE OF SODA.

(Duty, $1.25 per ton.)

Par. 80. We respectfully submit that the manufacturers of these goods in this country no longer need any protection; that the protection of the past only caused an alliance and unfair values: that

the present production in this country is so much in excess of the consumption that manufacturers are generally seeking and obtaining important foreign outlets; and that the abolition or removal of the duty would not be a hardship on anyone.

SULPHUR—REFINED, SUBLIMED, OR FLOWERS.

(Duty, $8 per ton.)

Par. 84. We respectfully submit that the existing duty is unfair and a particular hardship upon agricultural and industrial interests in this country.

The material is chiefly used by hop growers, fruit evaporators, rubber manufacturers, etc., who would be materially benefited by an abolition of these duties, which have also only attained unreasonable profits for a very limited number of refiners who have continuously been allied in the maintenance of uniform prices.

We aver that within the last five years the production of crude brimstone in this country has enabled important exportations (previously only obtainable from Sicily) and that a continuance of the duties can only have the effect of maintaining unnecessary hardship for the consumers and unreasonable profits for the refiner without any substantial income from duties.

We are at your service for any further particulars which you care to command.

Very respectfully, yours,

THE CHARLES E. SHOLES COMPANY,
President.

LITHOPONE.

THE BECKTON CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA., CLAIMS THAT THERE IS AN IRREGULARITY IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF BARYTES PRODUCTS.

Hon. SERENO E. PAYNE,

PHILADELPHIA, December 3, 1908.

Chairman Ways and Means Committee,

Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR: As manufacturers of lithopone, we beg to call your attention to an obvious irregularity in the present tariffs on barytes and its products.

Lithopone is now taxed at the rate of 14 cents per pound. Lithopone is a chemical combination of barytes and zinc, consisting, in the ordinary standard grade, of about 70 per cent of barytes and 30 per cent of zinc.

Charleton white enjoys under the present tariff a special classification, the import duty on this being 1 cent per pound.

Charleton white is nothing but a trade name of one particular foreign manufacturer for a straight, standard lithopone. We think that the duty on this article should be made uniform with other brands of lithopone.