08. It shall be unlawful for any member of the United
States Tariff Commission, or for any employee, agent, or clerk of
said commission, or any other officer or employee of the United
States, to divulge, or to make known in any manner whatever not
provided for by law, to any person, the trade secrets or processes
of any person, firm, copartnership, corporation, or association
embraced in any examination or investigation conducted by said
commission, or by order of said commission, or by order of any
member thereof. * * *

_Rates of duty:_

Act of 1922--Not blocked or trimmed } 60 per cent. } Par. 1406.
Blocked or trimmed } }

Act of 1913--Not blocked or trimmed } 25 per cent. } Par. 335.
Blocked or trimmed } 40 per cent. }

Act of 1909--Not trimmed } 35 per cent. } Par. 422.
Trimmed } 50 per cent. }

_History of the investigation._--On May 29, 1924, the commission ordered
an investigation of men's sewed straw hats for the purposes of section
315 of Title III of the tariff act of 1922, and on the same date ordered
a preliminary hearing for June 12, 1924.

An application was received from the National Association of Men's Straw
Hat Manufacturers of America requesting an investigation looking toward
an increase in the rate of duty on men's sewed straw hats, now dutiable
at 60 per cent ad valorem under paragraph 1406 of the tariff act of 1922.

The domestic field work was carried on during the period August to
October, 1924, and the foreign work in Italy and England during the
period October, 1924, to February, 1925. After due notice, as prescribed
by law, public hearings were held in the offices of the commission on
June 12, 1924, and on May 4, 1925. The latter hearing was continued on
May 14, 15, and 16, 1925. Oral argument was waived and the date for
filing briefs was set for June 6, 1925.

_Scope of the investigation._--Costs of production were obtained for
hats sold in the straw hat season of 1924 by companies whose fiscal
years ended at or about June 30, 1924. This period was the latest for
which cost data could be obtained at the time the investigation was
made.

Domestic costs were obtained from 19 concerns in Maryland, New York,
Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The total production of these concerns
amounted to 718,265 dozen hats. Of this number, 55