New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-16
RAILROADS AND RAILROAD MEN.

RA1LROADS AND hAILtOAD MEN,
We had occasion few months since to call the
attention of our readers to the fact that Messrs.
yinton. Ashmun and Poor had established them
selves in Washington as boring com nttee for
the purpose Of having the duty removed from
railroad iron. and Of earning c)mmission of a
few hundred thousand dollars, to be divided
among themselves and their asso GATES in the
dirty work; and we now have occasion to resume
the subject the effort having again been recon-
menced.
The reasons now offered to Congress for enabling
these persons to earn the commission promised
them By railroad makers at home and railroad.
iron makers abroad are, as we learn from CO.
temporary, as follows:
al That the tax on railway iron is an unnecessary
burden 10 the National Treasury and thstt has with
drawn from circulation nearly ten millions of coin
within three years basis OF full thirty mIoLs OF
credit for the purposes of commerce.
"2 1t does not protect the American manufacturer,
the imports of foreign railway iron having Increased
in spite OF IT, 300 per cent within the six years ending
rilb January, 1854
The Tariff of l9i2 did give protection to iron,
and had it been maintained, the Treasury would
long siuce have cea.ed to receive any duties on
have been so abundanty supplied with good iron
at price so low ss efectually 10 have terminated
the importing for any purpose whatsoever. That
however did not suit our British free trade freods
and the duty was so far reduced a, to crush
large portion of the iron masters; and then. when
the domestic competition was reduced the price
went up; and then the British iron masters we're
enabled TO charge double prices for poorer iron,
and we were forced to go to them for, as is here
stated three hundred thousand tuDs, upon which
We have paid in single year, in extra prce, more
tax for the support of British furnaces than would
have built furnaces at home cap sble of producing
three hundred thousand tuns year.
The Tariff Of 1916 was to give US cheap iron,
but it has given us dear iron 1t was to give US
cheap lead, but it has given US dear lead. twas
to give cheap COAL but it has given US dear coal
and these things it has done because of the ruin
that before the influx of California gold. il spread
among the producers of coal, iron and lead. 1t
was TO give us money in great abundance, aud yet,
notw outstanding the discovery Of the mines Of
California and Austr Ala, money has become
an almost unattainatle commodity. 1t was
10 make our merchants rich, but it is
making them poor. 1t was to cause US to supply
the world with breadstuifs, yet food is now be-
coming TO the laborer a commodity almost as 10
attainable as is gold 20 the merchant. 1t has
failed in ali its promises and the true course
would seem to be tina. of z ing back 70 protec-
ton but Messrs. NintOn Il Co. say, No let US
"go ahead and repeal the whole duty. As yet
ave have enabled the foreign manufacturer to
put In his pocket only one half of the duty that
would have been payable under the act of 1912,
ard iron is only forty per cent. higher THAI it
would bsye been had that act been IN sintained,
"bu. let Us low give him the rest, aud les him
break down ali the furnaces aud rolling mills Of
"the country and then we shall have iron sull
higher and it's makers will find no difficulty in
buying railroad bonds with their extra profits,
"and We ourselves will earn large COMM ,sions
"sbd grow rich"
This is precisely what tie &C, Of 1916 has done.
1, hss filed the pocket Of British iron-ma.tsrs,
and our railroad makers have been first taxed in
the extra price and then graciously permitted to
give FOR il bonds bearing eight ten aud twelve
per cent interest. And this they have done IN
Ill bonds can no longer be cold. and roads can no
longer be made. How long they will continue to
shut their eyes to the fact ths, they are thus
taxed, and that all their difficulties result from
being forced to 20 abroad for iron that should be
made at home, we cannot tell; bu. sure we are
that there cannot DO al intelligent man
among them who does not see that IL tho
constant drain Of gold could be stopped, they
would soon cesse to have any difficulty 10
buying iron and making roads. At present our own
workmsn arc being discharged In Thousands and
tens Of thousands, and We arc thus wasting labor
in every direction 10 an amount that would moro
than pay for mile Of double track road per day.