The Moving picture world (December 1920)

December 18, 1920 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 837 Film Industry to Express Views on Proposed Tariff Revisions SIX weeks of hearings on a general revision of the tariff will begin January 6, according to an announcement by Representative Fordney of Michigan, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means. The moving picture industry will be given an opportunity to present its ideas for changes in the law on February 8, 9 and 10, which have been scheduled as the days on which Schedule N (sundries) will be discussed. The present tariff law provides for an import duty of two cents per running foot on exposed, but not developed, moving picture films; three cents per foot on exposed and developed films, and one cent per foot on all positives. The tariff law of 1909 provided for a duty of 25 per cent, ad valorem on negatives and one and one-half cents per foot on positives. A considerable investigation of the moving picture industry has been made by the United States Tariff Commission, and the results embodied in a "Summary of Tariff Information," which has been prepared for the guidance of Congress in revising the tariff law. "The manufacture of flexible photographic fdms for motion pictures is now a very large industry," the commission declares in its report. "Pyroxylin is made by nitrating cotton waste. A solution is made of pyroxylin and camphor in a mixture of wood alcohol, amyl acetate and other solvents. This is spread out on a smooth surface, such as a revolving metallic drum. When dry the film is stripped off, slit into the desired width and cut into lengths. The output in 1914 of photographic materials (plates, fdms, etc.) was $34,768,000, by fiftynine establishments, with capital of $31,991,000; 6,658 employes, and wages of $4,256,000. Materials cost $10,004,000, and value added by manufacture was $24,764,000." Imports in 1918 of sensitized but not exposed moving picture films amounted to $739,135 ; of film negatives, exposed but not developed, to $18,407; of film negatives, exposed and developed, $144,422 ; and of film positives, $181,409. Over one-half the entire importation came from England and France. In 1914 imports were much larger, totaling $2,913,292, of which about 30 per cent, were positives and 30 per cent, sensitized but not exposed, coming mainly from England, France, Italy and Germany. Exports of unexposed moving picture films decreased from $4,264,722 in 1914 to $1,125,895 in 1917, but increased to $2,204,273 during the fiscal year, 1920. Exports of exposed moving picture films increased from $2,282,294 in 1914 to $6,757,658 in 1916, and to $8, 888,535 in 1920. In view of the fact that our imports of moving picture films during the fiscal year, 1920, totaled only about a million and a half dollars, while our exports amounted to eleven millions, there is strong opposition in the industry to any attempt to increase the tariff. Very little additional revenue can be secured by an increase in the duty on moving picture films, it is pointed out, and any increase that might be made be followed by retaliatory action on the part of foreign countries which would result in materially reducing our foreign trade in this commodity. It is probable that a number of men prominent in the moving picture field will attend the hearings in February for the purpose of expressing these and other sentiments of like nature to the members of the committee. Members of the committee have assured the business world generally that its representatives will be given every opportunity to express their views, since revision of the tariff is undertaken, not primarily to increase our revenues but to protect the new industries that have been developed in this country since the beginning of the war and to protect American manufacturers from "dumping" action on the part of foreign manufacturers who, by reason of low labor costs and a desire to regain lost markets even at a loss of profit, will attempt to shut out American manufacturers by quoting prices far below the cost of production in this country. The committee has asked that all persons desiring to appear at the hearings to make application to the clerk at an early date, in order to be assigned a place on the proper daily calendar. It is the plan of the committee to conclude the hearings and complete necessary printing incident thereto prior to the adjournment of the short session on March 4, so that the actual work on the drafting of a bill can be commenced without delay under the new administration. "It is a foregone conclusion that Mr. Harding will call Congress in extra session shortly after the inauguration," declared Chairman Fordney, in commenting on the subject, "and, in the opinion of myself and other members of the committee, the final enactment of a tariff measure at the special session could not be accomplished if hearings were to be delayed until the new Congress is convened. In 1908 hearings were commenced November 10 and the bill was not finally enacted until August 5, 1909, the elapsed time being five days short of nine months. In 1913, hearings were begun on January 6 and the bill was enacted October 3, three days less than nine months being employed." CLARENCE L. LINZ. Sam Spedon Dies (Continued from page 836) now including John Bunny, William Shea, Bill Ranous and Bill Phillips, the latter named all having been mainstays in the directing and acting ends of the Vitagraph studio during the pioneer days. Wright's Appreciation William Wright, of Vitagraph, one of the men with whom Mr. Spedon was associated, expressed sorrow at his death and paid a tribute to his oldtime fellow worker at Vitagraph. "Sam was a good mixer," he said, "and when he made friends he kept them. He personally appeared at many picture houses with our stars and thus gained a wide acquaintance. My sorrow at his death is alleviated by the knowledged that Sam died as he would have chosen to do — in harness." Blacktons A ppreciation J. Stuart Blackton's appreciation follows : A quarter of a century ago — it seems a very long time — I was a cartoon entertainer doing a turn on the lyceum circuit. One fortunate day, I came across another man engaged in a similar line of work. A warm friendship then started and continued through the quarter of a century following. That man was Sam Spedon. And now, after all these years of cordial relationship and professional association, I learn that my old friend is dead, and I am asked by Moving Picture World, the publication which he last served, to write something of my recollection of these years of our acquaintance. It is not easy. A long friendship like this with a man such as Sam Spedon viewed in perspective is so filled with memories that it is difficult to get oneself together in the first shock of realizing that he has passed on and write, coherently and intelligently, an adequate statement on the man and his work. After our work together on the lyceum courses, I began my motion picture career, and soon I had my old friend of the platform join me at the Vitagraph studios. There he worked (Continued on page 842)