Tariff Information Surveys on the Articles in Paragraph 1- of the Tariff Act of 1913 and Related Articles in Other Paragraphs

was waste, refuse, or shavings, the remainder being natural cork. Very little cork cut into squares, cubes, or quarters was imported. The value of manufactured imports was $1,969,203. The chief items were disks three-sixteenths inch or less in diameter, $905,429; cork insulation in slabs, boards, or planks, $771, 123: cork paper, $62,560; corks less than three-fourths inch in diameter, $88,509; over threefourths inch in diameter, $39,504. The largest increase is shown for cork insulation, this total having been reached from a value of only $201 in 1914.

The imports of corks over three-fourths inch in diameter decreased to the above figure from a total of more than $2,000,000 in 1913, the drop being most abrupt in 1914, although the rate of duty was reduced that year. The decrease is primarily due to the vastly increased use of the domestic tapered cork and the crown cork. The straight cork was made in only a few sizes and, therefore, these sizes could be imported in large quantities to meet all demands. With the tapered cork this is different, as it is made in numerous qualities and many different sizes.

The decided decrease in imports of cork disks three-sixteenths of an inch or less in thickness for 1919 and 1920 is due to the increased use of the composition disk and the prohibition on brewing beer. The bottlers of beer were the chief users of the imported disk, preferring the 1-piece disk to that made of composition.

These imports are almost entirely from Spain, with the exception of 1919 when imports from Canada were considerable.

The proportion of imports which are made by American owned factories in Spain is not known.

TARIFF HISTORY.

Under the act of 1883 all manufactures of cork bark were dutiable at 25 per cent ad valorem; the act of 1890 divided the manufactures into bark cut into squares and cubes, dutiable at 10 cents per pound, and manufactured corks, dutiable at 15 cents per pound; by the act of 1894 corks, wholly or partially manufactured, were dutiable at 10 cents per pound, bark cut into squares or cubes not being specially provided for; the act of 1897, however, included bark cut into squares or cubes, making them dutiable at 8 cents per pound, and divided the classification of corks into corks over three-fourths of an inch in diameter at the larger end, 15 cents per pound, and corks three-fourths of an inch or less in diameter at the larger end, 25 cents per pound. These duties remained the same in the act of 1909, and at the present are, cubes, squares, or quarters, 4 cents per pound; corks over three-fourths of an inch in diameter, 12 cents per pound; three-fourths of an inch or under, 15 cents per pound.

Artificial cork or cork substitute manufactured from cork waste or granulated corks was first included in the act of 1897 at 8 cents per pound; it was reduced to 6 cents per pound in 1909, and at present is dutiable at 3 cents per pound.

Manufactures of cork not specially provided for, under the act of 1894 were dutiable at 25 per cent ad valorem; and at the same rate under the act of 1897. In 1909 the designation was broadened to include manufactures of artificial cork or cork substitutes not spe

cially provided for, and the duty increased to 30 per cent ad valorem. Under the present act the duty is 30 per cent ad valorem.

Unmanufactured cork wood or bark has been free under all acts. The act of 1913 included several new classifications; cork disks, wafers, or washers three-sixteenths of an inch or less in thickness, 15 cents per pound; three-sixteenths of an inch in thickness 12 cents per pound; cork insulation, one-fourth cent per pound; cork paper, 35 per cent ad valorem.

COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS.

Spain is the country whose competition is most keenly felt. The initial advantage possessed through its native supply of raw material is augmented by the imposition of an export tax on unmanufactured cork bark by both Spain and Portugal. This advantage is intensified when tax and freight costs are considered in connection with the large percentage of waste in cork bark. This is not compensated for by the utilization of cork waste, as the freight rate on cork bark is much higher than that on cork waste. The American manufacturer, therefore, who is engaged only in the cutting of cork is at a disadvantage in disposing of this waste.

In the tariff hearings of 1913 it was stated that the labor costs in Spain were about one-third those here. Later information furnished by the trade indicate that this difference is now greater, as the wages in Spain have not increased equally with domestic increases. Cork cutting having been followed by Spanish families for generations, the Spanish workman is very efficient, some manufacturers stating that the skilled Spanish cutters are superior to the American workmen. Modern machinery is used, and production is as efficient as here at a less cost of labor and material.

The products most affected are cork paper, cork disks, such articles as seine floats, cork for life preservers, and cork insulation board. Practically no cork paper, seine floats, life-preserver cork, etc., are produced in this country because of inability to meet this competition; but composition cork disks made in this country compete with. natural cork disks.

Cork, manufactures of 5—Production in United States-States-1914.