New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-15
TIE STEEL DIFFICULTY.


ton OF TIE TRIBUNE, now evidently applying their
sedcrs arguments at least of the weekly papers
OF that city, hitherto one OF the warmest advocates
IN the interests of Protection. refer to The Iron Age
which in its late issues and especially In that of the 2ls
October assumes neutral ground In the pending "Seel
Controversy" but with very decued bearing to"au
the English steel manufacturers.
The editor Of The Iron Age knows very wen that
would not willingly him the least injustice; but no
dspassonate reader fail to perceive remarkable
change OF tone that paper unfayorabe TO the Amer
can steel manufacturers
The editor says We do not hold ourselves responsible
for statements and rerS girel other authority man our
ocn" and cannot take upon ourselves 10 DECIDE me
merits Of The conhOrersv until both sides hare been J""y
heard" So far the scales held pretty evenly But IN
another place The Iron ge contains brief article from
the bulletin Of the American Iron and Steel Association
headed Steel Frauds by two columns Oh replies
from English steel manufacturers, viz: sanderson
Brothers & Co. Jessop & Sons, Francis Hobson Son.
and one other who. the editor says "is gentleman
whose name would add weight it, did not his modesy
lead him to withhold it," We think here is conclusive
evidence OF the leaning" Of The Iron Age; but perhaps
the animus OF its present attitude TO be found in its
advertising columns, which appear TO be literally patron
lied by the foreign manufacturers OF STEEL as well q, by
our own In pursuing the history Of the Steel Difficulty"
the reader should be that IL is controversy be-
tween the United States Treasury Department and the
foreign steel makers The charges Of fraud upon the
revenue by INTERPRETATIONS enabling the manufacturing
Houses at a loss IN duties tho United States varying
from SIC so 10 $40 per tun are made by W. Farwel esd
one OF agents OF Government In Europe
after very careful and searching investigation III con-
junction with the Hon. George l. Abbot the American
Consul at Sheffield. This investigation was not Cd.
tanned by any procurement or contrlvance OF
the American steel manufacturers; but was solely
brought about by wellfOunded suspicious on
the part OF our authorities, that the revenues
were systematically defrauded by
the revelations therein became known TO the american
that they waited % M 6 5 aS
ney the other parties, the rigid enforcement OF TIE
laws to protect them from the alleged fraudulent prac
tees Of their foreign competitors ~ avoiding the pay
OF the proper duties imposed by the existing tar
This tho Secretary of the Treasury promises shall be
done and spirit and this is the very head and
front Of our offending.
facturers I'd est importers, In the last Iron age not forget
ting pay my respects 10 the gentleman whose weight
and modesty forbid the OF his name.
This writer admits that In April 1861 the manufacture
OF steel in England met and adopted special price
TO do but which believe did not fairly represent what
our law requires that the invoice price shall be the
market value or wholesale price ID she,ed OF vefpC1
arranged SO as TO evade the proper duties IN
IL is no uncommon thing for manufacturers to
combine prices but IN this case 1t is not so innocent
transaction would be If its obvious purpose and ef
feet we verify believe not TO defraud the Gov
and 10 discourage the manufacture OF steel In
the United States. Our Dameless writer shocked that
such an accusation should be made against firms OF so
high character as those Implicated at the same time
muutuR purely selfish motives 10 their aSsallants mean
Ing the American steel manufacturers, and especially
of Pittsburgh To prove that am correct In this
inference, quote from Sanderson Brothers Co. letter
The Pittsburgh gentlemen have been in great hurry TO
publicly ndorse the unfounded charges OF the revenue
pressing our this crusade is conspiracy
ON their part to defeat healthy competition" l also
statement that the importers fraudulenty conceal the
quality OF the steel does not emauae from Mr. Far
fSetarers." Francis Hobson 4 Sons say at the same
time L is not legitimate either by reason or connect
cry stop thief when there is no thief aud try 10 arrest
the business OF their f0FeT3 competitors ea by
OF IT, It is mean and contemplate" SO,
according to these highly respectable, English
and particularly OF Pittsburgh are false witnesses against
neighbors conspiratory and selfish mean and con-
temptibe This say the least OF IT, rough language
TO applied by foreigners own soil TO Americans
who have dared TO engage in manufacture OF which
IN the last ten years Perhaps 1t Is but the frantic ravng
Of disappointed avarice which sees the golden prize
genius perseverance,. and industry triumphant In this
riousy attempts II inclined 10 retort upon these
wrOnged and prosecuted British manufacturers OF steel
we meeu 70 sans o during the
late war and they have ever estimated the number OF
lives lost ana property M ana eept SG %
IL found Its way into Wilmington, charleston saVanna
Mobile S Ese n sSussn 81
90, But we forbear and proceed to the more agreeable
task OF SHOWING ppo orSSs Charges Of co
sion and fraud IN the sheffield invoices
In order perfectly to understand the sharp practice
charged upon the English steel houses must hrst be
to this country As rule the whole product OF these
establishments for the American market ID consigned 10
their branch houses or agencies all principal
ports and Il is the that pass the steel at
Custom Houses, the duty and sell II TO the American
prices England for tho American market Is the badest
deception. Their American customers all make their
purchases here, coin currency ana these pnr-
chases varied In quantity they can possibly be
in England for such as they sell TO their English or CON
tnenta trade 1t is just here that the difficulty occurs
in the temptation afforded the English manufacturer TO
underyaue his steel below It's just wholesale market price
american Custom House at lower rate OF duty than
would pay II entered at the real wholesale price In En-
gland. These mportaons OF steel are mostly stored
In our bonded warehouses, our Government oblgingy
carrying 1t for the importer, or manufacturer until
low enough to tempt him 10 remove IL.
From tho sheffield standpoint and accordngto the ethics
the modest writer for The Iron Age 10 may seem TO DC
arbray aud hi0handed for the United states to set
watch upon these respectable importing manufacturers
order 10 guard the revenues, and give our own manu-
faoturers such protection as the law allows; but we OF
the latter persuasion sec r ana nope 0na aa
with tariff its letter and spirit The present tariff
valorem steel valued at above II cents per ID on
steel valued az above cents and not above IL cents per
per h. or less q cents per ID duty Now tho object Of
tho law 10 place all aststeel known as pest cast
class for duty All other lower grades Of caststeel
intended TO be Included IN the second class-duly
cents per d. ana all common Steel other nan eaststeo
10 belong TO rs lowest class, at u cents per 10
duty our ingenious competitors have 50 adjusted the
prices upon their consiguments 10 their own houses IN
this country bring bulk of their best qualities
into the second class and their second quality into
the first or lowest class. This shrewd device
was 80 successful In frustrating the intention OF
the law that new and simple classification was pre-
pared by undersigned. and submitted to the judy
uent of the Committee OF Ways and Means and adopted
I'm the three last Tariff bills before Congress viz That OF
the House OF Representatives, tho Senate b ana inc
bll prepared by the Hon David A Wells all OF when,
AS Ia well known failed by lapse OF time, after an Affirm
alive vote Oh the House bill In all these DIS speeln9
ratio OF duty was provided on oil pudded or Distereu
stee and on ali Steel other than shear steel an