Mens Sewed Straw Hats | Page 9

the domestic wholesale market with hats of domestic manufacture expenses for transportation, marine insurance, and consular fees must be incurred. In the season 1923-24 the charges specified amounted to approximately $1.10 per dozen for Italian hats and $1.35 per dozen for English hats.[3] Such expenses are set forth in the lower half of Tables 8 and 9.
[Footnote 3: Computed from consular invoices for hats imported at the port of New York in the six months, January-June, 1924.]
The methods of marketing foreign and domestic hats are similar, but because of minor differences in terms of sale, etc., it was not found practicable to institute a mathematical comparison of selling costs. Some domestic firms deal only with jobbers, others only with retailers. A few of the largest firms sell to both jobbers and retailers. When the manufacturer dispenses with the services of jobbers his selling costs are, of course, increased. Foreign straw hats are distributed principally by importing jobbers. Such firms are usually engaged also in the marketing of domestic hats and in some instances are manufacturers or have financial interests in domestic factories. Foreign factories occasionally deal directly with large retailers in this country. In such cases it is usual for the retailer's representative to travel abroad to inspect samples and place orders. One large Italian factory maintains a New York office through which it deals directly with domestic retailers.
FORMAL STATEMENT OF CONCLUSIONS
(1) Italy is the principal competing country. While Commissioners Costigan and Dennis agree with this conclusion, they are also of opinion that, with respect to hats valued at more than $9.50 per dozen in the country of exportation, Great Britain is shown to be the principal competing country.
(2) The average cost of production in the United States, as shown by the cost data for the season 1923-24, of men's sewed straw hats sold to jobbers for $10.55 to $16.52 per unit of one dozen is $12.74. The average cost of production, not including transportation costs, of imported men's sewed straw hats whose landed costs, duty paid, range from $8.51 to $13.10 per dozen, and which are like or similar to the domestic hats above described, is $5.98 per dozen. The difference in said costs of production, transportation costs not included, is $6.76 per dozen. The cost of production of the imported hats, including transportation costs from the foreign factory to the dock at New York, is $7.08 per dozen, and the difference in said costs is $5.66 per dozen.
(3) The average selling price of such imported men's sewed straw hats, in the country of exportation, as shown by said cost data, is $6.42 per dozen. The American selling price, as defined in subdivision (f) of section 402 of the tariff act of 1922, of similar competitive articles manufactured or produced in the United States, is $13.28 per dozen.
(4) If transportation costs be not included, the differences in costs of production in the United States and in said principal competing country are greater than the amount of the present duty of 60 per cent ad valorem increased by the total maximum increase authorized under section 315, subdivision (a), of said act, and said differences in costs of production in the United States and in said principal competing country can not be equalized by proceeding under the provisions of said subdivision (a); that is to say, by increasing to the extent of 50 per cent the existing ad valorem duty applied to the value of the imported article in the country of exportation.
(5) If transportation costs be included, the rate of duty shown by the differences in costs of production, necessary to equalize said differences, upon men's sewed straw hats valued at $9.50 or less per dozen in the country of exportation, is a rate of 88 per cent ad valorem based on the valued in the country of exportation, as defined in section 402 of said act.
(6) If transportation costs be not included, the rate of duty shown by the differences in said costs of production, necessary to equalize said differences, upon men's sewed straw hats valued at $9.50 or less per dozen in the country of exportation, is a rate of 50 per cent ad valorem based upon the American selling price, as defined in said section 402, of similar competitive articles manufactured or produced in the United States.
(7) The average cost of production in the United States, as shown by the cost data for the season 1923-24, of men's sewed straw hats sold to jobbers for $16.74 to $22.50 per unit of one dozen is $16.06. The average cost of production, not including transportation costs, of imported men's sewed straw hats whose landed costs, duty paid, range from $15.64 to $18.60 per dozen, and which are like or similar to the domestic hats above described, is $9.32 per