The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-16
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current 7 Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
MONOPOLY UNDER THE GUISE OF
PROrECTION.


per cent. in excess of the price paid the
maker abroad. A letter of Mr.. Mccoy,
of the firm of Vanwart, Mccoy & Co., large
importers of steel in New York is con-
elusive as to the correctness of our state
ment We might multiply proofs by citing,
to the same effect every steel importing
house in this city. This point being estab-
ished, then, our other assertion, that the pro-
posed increase of duty, of one cent per pound,
which the Tribune advocates, will raise the
charges of importation to 100 per cent. OF
first cost, follows as a necessary consequence.
That such a rate of duty is not needed Tor
protection is q fact established by the eVl-
dence of the steel makers themselves. In
memorial signed by all the steel makers then
in the United States, addressed to Congress
in January, 1867, they state that ''the manu-
facture of steel in this country became an
assured success as early as 1859" The rate
of duty then existing was II per cent. ad
valorem, and this rate was increased some
300 or 400 per cent. by the tariffs of 1861
and 1862; the increase having been agreed
upon-as the steel makers tell us in their me-
morial-"by the representatives of foreign
and American manufacturers before the Com
mittee of Ways and Means, as being well
adapted to the existing state Of the steel
manufacture in this country" then
in its comparative infancy. The object
of the increase of duty in 1862, as we learn
from the same authorities, was to compen-
safe the domestic maker for the internal tax
then levied, and which, in all, equaIed two
and half cents per pound. This tax,
however, has been wholly removed, and the
domestic maker benefited in an equal degree,
the external tax or duty remaining the same.
The steel makers further stated in their
memorial that under this rate of duty, "the
American manufacture of steel had attained,
from 1859 to the commencement of the Re-
bellion, very considerable efficiency, and
during the succeeding four years made rapid
progress, competing successfully with the
best English brands which had previously
enjoyed monopoly of the market"
The duties on steel having been agreed to
by domestic manufacturers as ''well adapted
to the condition of steel manufacture in this
country, and as under it they ''made great
progress, competing successfully for the mar
ket with the best English brands which had
previously enjoyed a monopoly of the trade,
what more can they desire by way of protec-
tion? Since the date of the imposition of
the duties which gave them all they asked
and under which they have, as they declare,
thriven wonderfully, the cost of the manu-
facture has very largely decreased, while they
have been wholly relieved of a tax equal, in
currency, to the present duty in gold.
Upon what pretext, then, do they ask for
rate of duty which shall increase the
present cost of importation some forty per
cent? Their object, of course, is a monopoly
in the production of this important article.
This is the full sum of their patriotism. The
Tribune advocates the proposed increase as a
wholesome discipline of refractory industries
which are too stupid or too obstinate to pursue
their own interests. Consumers of steel in
this country still persist in sending abroad for
it. So long as they import it they must send
IN ha nv
'.pauper laborers" abroad, who deserve no
better treatment from us than to be starved.
The present rate is not enough to correct the
perverseness of our peoples hence the Iri-
buRe advocates one that will increase the
present excessive cost of importation SOME
forty per cent Such q rate is likely to finish
the business.
Now, while providing for the adequate
projection of labor, it is our duty to see that
projection shall not become an agency foi
creating monopolies. We desire to see the
American maker amply compensated for the
higher rate of capital and labor here Such
and even a still greater advantage, the neces
sites of our Government must, for a Ions
time, secure to him. But we do not wish tt
put him beyond the necessities of vigorous
and healthy competition, which is the onl,
way in which we can ever get good artcl,
at anything like fair cost. The Irj6Un
would destroy all but domestic competition
and leave us to monopolists just as re
morssless and hard-hearted as we are mad
to believe there are on the other side Of th
water.
The Tribune enlarges upon the vast aggre
cations of capital and skill required to manu-
facture steel. The truth is, however, tina
steel is made successfully with very sma
outlay of capital compared with the amount
which establishments for making iron +,
quire. Several large consumers of steel
this country are already making 1T in the
own works-making axes, sewing machines
and the like They making it with
few thousand dollars of additional outlay. A
for skill, no more is required than in tL
manufacture of good iron To succeed in til
manufacture of the former, there must
proper selection of materials and a good d
gree of care in the processes. The aegatio
that it is any more difficult to make goc
steel than good iron, good cloth, or a goo
hat, is one of the Inventions of our conteu
porary. The great difficulty in the way
making steel in this country is the unwillin
ness of our makers to use the right kind
material When they use such they can ma
as good steel as foreigners. But they "
persist in not using such, consequently the
make lacks that degree of uniformity viii
such an important article should always pc
sess. To insure the correction of these fau
there must be reasonable competition wi
the foreigner BY converting the domes
manufacture into monopoly we remove t
greatest incentive to improvement, and c
hance enormously the cost of the goods pi
duced.
THE NATIONAL DISGRACE.
From the NJ Y. Tribune.
About the year 1880, white trader nj