REPLTES TO CARD AND SCHEDULE INQUIRIES, 413
Spoor. CoTToN (SCOTLAND), ‘

The *“spool-cotton” business is practically controlled in Paisley, Scotland.
by J. &amp; P. Coats Co., despite the legal dissolution of the American Thread Co.
by the United States courts. ‘This Scottish firm controls the English Sewing
Cotton Co., Ltd., which in turn controls the American Thread Co. (From
a man prominently identified with the cotton-manufacturing industry.)
Toracco (GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, ITALY, AUSTRIA, SPAIN).

We meet the active competition of the British-American Tobacco Co. and of
the Tobacco Rehandling Co., Ltd, of England, composed of a combination
of W. S. Matthews &amp; Sons, until three or four years ago a component part of
the British-American Tobacco Co., with certain other English companies.
(From a tobacco manufacturer.)
In England they have a tobacco trust, in which also some American capital
Is interested. This company has its own buyers in American markets and
other independent buyers can not sell to them. In other countries like France,
Italy, Austria, Spain, etc.. the Government owns the tobacco factories and at
the end of this war, without doubt, most every other country will adopt or
confiscate this business. (From a tobacco merchant.)
Toys (GERMANY).

A few years ago in Germany the German manufacturers copied our line and
then that Government shoved up the tariff so as to practically exclude our
line. We understood this was done by one of the trade associations. (From a
manufacturer of toys.)

VELVET (GERMANY, FRANCE, AUSTRIA).

The most serious handicap, we have to deal with, is the syndicate of foreign
manufacturers, which has heretofore existed, covering all the velvet and plush
products made on the European Continent. The pile-fabric. manufacturers,
doth of Germany and France, have had a definite and signed agreement covering
 the distribution and production of merchandise, allotting the same to the
various members of the manufacturing industries (including practically the
entire plants of Germany, France, and Austria) and having an understanding,
though not a written agreement, even with the English manufacturers on the
same line.
These agreements demanded of the purchaser that he limit his purchases in
these products to only the members of the syndicate, and in case he complied
with this request, he was granted a very large rebate, amounting to about 20
per cent. This he forfeited if he undertook to buy from anyone else the
products which were obtainable by buying them from the members of the
syndicate. This syndicate still exists among the manufacturers of France and
among the manufacturers of Germany, though there is now, of course, no combination
 between the two groups of manufacturers.
Likewise, there is an understanding between the dyers and spinners of raw
materials, assisting the syndicate in carrying out its plan by denying advantages
 to those requiring the products of these institutions who may not be
members of the * * * gyndicate. (From a manufacturer of plushes, etc.)
Wire CrotH (GERMANY).

The wire [manufacturers] (brass screen cloth for paper machines) have a
selling organization in Germany. (From a manufacturer of paper.)
The only competition we really have had in foreign countries has been
German-made cloth. Their quality is inferior to American goods, but their
prices are lower. We have been able, however, to sell our goods at higher
prices because of quality, but in many of the countries, they consider price only.
The German Government has aided the German manufacturers to such an
extent that they have many advantages in tariffs, banking, and shipping
facilities. (From a manufacturer of wire cloth.)
SPRUCE, HEMLOCK, AND SOFT Woops (AUSTRIA, ROUMANIA, AND BOSNIA).

For a number of years prior to the war in Europe, several of the largest
manufacturers of spruce, hemlock, and other soft woods in the eastern States