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From International Socialist Review, Vol.19 No.4, Fall 1958, p.129.
Transcription & mark-up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
The need for legislation to lower restrictions on trade with other capitalist countries has been urged by Eisenhower as “vital” to “free world” strength. That the message did not fall on unitelligent minds is illustrated by the record of Congress at its last session.
Exemption on duties was granted muzzle-loading pistols and revolvers, since these are “artistic antiques” and would have “no adverse effect on American employment.”
Also duties on harpsichords and clavichords were lowered from forty to the eighteen per cent levied on pianos. The old rate, naturally, must be paid on instruments imported from Communist-controlled countries.
The legislators likewise did their duty by beating back an attempt to restrict imports of wood charcoal by charging a tariff of $4 a ton, another attempt to bar imports of cobra snakes and eggs, and still another to regulate imports of piranha fish for tropical aquariums.
However, on the other side of the ledger, the congressmen killed a bill to give exemption to bagpipes, kilts and other items “particularly and specifically pertaining to Scottish Highland attire and use.”
Similarly to be weighed against their achievements was rejection of a measure that would have ended import duties on “common horse, mule or ox shoes, of wrought iron or steel.”
Finally, before adjourning, they refused to permit free import of Cheddar cheese for “the international Cheddar cheese scoring contest at Fond du Lac, Wis.”
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