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BAR TO FOREIGN BREEDERS Under Tariff Act Provisions Thoroughbreds From Abroad Are Admitted for Only Six Months. WASHINGTON, D. C, Feb. 24. Foreign breeders who have shipped or wish to ship mares here to the courts of American stallions have run into a serious problem in the provision of the Tariff Act, which forbids the entry of foreign-owned animals for more than six months, it was revealed today by Harry R. Stringer, director of the National Thoroughbred Foundation. "As a solution, agitation," he said, "already has been started in certain quarters for the revision of the law." " Discussing the problem, Stringer said: "The provision in question has been in the Tariff Act for many years. Substantially, it restricts the admission into this country of animals for breeding, exhibition, or racing to a period of six months. Stock purchased abroad by Amercans for breeding purposes is, of course, admitted freely. "The provision originally was written int6 the act to permit residents of Canada and other foreign countries to send their thor-; oughbreds and other prize animals to this; country for racing and exhibitions, thej thought being that it would act as a stimulus to American breeding. At that time, American thoroughbred breeders were searching the markets of Europe for horses to build up their American stock. Europeans were sending no horses to this country for strictly breeding purposes. "The growing prestige of the American thoroughbred throughout the world is gradually reversing this situation. Americans are, not now buying so many horses abroad. Instead, the movement has turned the other way, and European breeders are beginning to send their mares to this country to be bred to our outstanding sires. "The six months exclusion clause presents a serious difficulty to these breeders. Shipping a horse to this country for breeding purposes is vastly different from sending it over for racing. Besides the ordinary hazards of ocean travel there are added dangers in shipping a mare in foal on another long trip within six months after her arrival and subjecting her to the sudden climatic changes which are entailed. "Patently, this contingency was not foreseen when the provision was drafted, but it is equally patent that it must be changed if foreign breeders are to be encouraged to send their mares to American thoroughbreds. It is unlikely, however, that Congress will do anything about it at this session, as its leaders are solidly opposed to doing anything with the tariff at all. "There also is another factor which may prevent the revision of this provision if Con- gress considers it when it writes the new Tariff ,Act. This is the growing opposition among American breeders to the importation of arr foreign thoroughbreds unless a heavy duty is imposed. Their view is that the act which permits the entry of thoroughbreds duty free has served its purpose, and that the importations now are injuring American thoroughbred markets."
