New-York tribune., 1870-01-29
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
THE STEEL DIFFICULTY.

11E EEL i.
REPLY OF JAMES NJ. COOPER TO sAEDERsON
BROTHERS 4 co.
To the Editor OF rae Tribune.
SIR: Mr.. Firth is greatly mistaken if he sup
poees that the welounded suspicious Of our auhori-
ties that the revenues systematically defrauded by
undervauations SIMPLY the result OF the deeoy
letters written by Mr.. Farwe from the Continent Tho
sapcons alluded to the slow growth OF years, ana
the "decoy letters" only part of the means en'-
ployed by Mr. Farwell, at much more recent date to
enable him to verify the truth of those suspicious and to
Obtain information which carefully guarded that
Consul sheffield, Mr. Abbot found impossible TO
procure price lists, except those for America from any
one OF the persons suspected sandeson Brothers Co.
For as wears these panDle have rihed with laws,
always accommodating tQ the changes In our
tariffs by change OF prices. until the nPo&uy & Si,n m
which they have "gone through our Custom so7Se 81, o
their own terms has made them bold, and insoenT df1
under the wholesome restraint which our laws
TO se M the miserable that a Sheffield trade
STEEL except that TO America Is retail trade snch
assumption nsult to the commonest
and am positively amazed that they have the hardi
hood to offer such defense DO they suppose that wo
steel with the Kingdom Of Great Britain and Ireland
their Provinces and ar the rest Of the world except the
American credulity is scarcely crsdable English
gacity In my former letters have shown that the
not but arbitrary rates to themselves
through their agencies this country and that their
dealings with the American market as rule were en-
trely through those agencies in our com or currency
Mr. Firth, for Sanderson, Brothers Co, is very
anxious to have understood for he repeats II no less
than five times III bis late effort, that they do not rea
lire general thing, the invoice price for STEEL y
What they dbs'ti It only follows. that n9trlhstand
ing duties levied at Custom Houses 6' which they
st1nfaIe with their American compettors to reduce
be they are making present sacrifice with the purpose
II possible, to crush out formidable rival ana TO break
the steel manufaciure III this country In either chhe
tile consumer is benefited by the reduced price but II
crushing out process 10 be successful they Will soon
indemnify themselves for their preyous losses at the
consumefs expense. Think OF this you advocates for
Free Trade and lower duties and be warned by the es-
abshed fact that the price Of steel 10 the consumer has
largely reduced with every increase OF the duty
because the American competition, which has
II is dRcu TO repress an audible smile at the follow
ing passage in Mr.. Friths letter: Tried by the principles
she claim aequtta from the unjust and injurious
charge of underya!naon the Secretary says lnd Ger,
than actual sales to bona hde purchaser" As SCION
Shinele would say, jess so" Bat, unfortunately te
are only cosgnccs of siee aud bona tide purchas
which makes all the difference in the world you
am pleased TO find that my friend Firth aud myself
one point and that IN regard 70 our ia9st eA
ceent Secretary OF the Treasury Mr. Boutwell, who, he
thinks "w In due time, see that justice Is done them
Well think So too. and unless ! am mslnOfmed' they
have already experienced reall1ng sense oi e adDt
rble quality secretarys regard for them and their
couse Ne has rected the English invoices OF steel
be re valued, and the impOrerG are now paying the
proper Of duty instead of those they nave been con-
tending for Farther tie appraisers Of the NewYork
Custom House whom the question Of underyauations
of past ons of steel has reInIed for exam
| nation, have reported to the honorable Secretary
that a good priaa fde'e case has been made
against the Ell gish importing manufacturers OF see
| But Mr. Boutwell, is really anxious to see
that nscc IL done" and that every reasonable oppor
tunity should be afforded the English steel importer 70
er 20 propose 10 them that they should allow their books
To be examined by dislnteesed and capable person u
pose of settling question whether the nvoieed prices
not the wholesale prices IN the Irlhslpa
markets OF England. In Mr.. Boutweps letter he mad
ycrteny used the word they instead Of IN saying Who
would make the appointment The offer IN its erroneous
error was corrected by Nr Boutwell, himself, who, OF
course, would not be party to so ridiculous farce as tc
allow the parties 10 send an emssary OF TIE
own on such errdnd, have the authority OF me
Iron Age OF the 9Th inst that the corrected proposition
just and reasonable rs It 49, was rejected IL says;
SOY TO learn A S pa. @ allen Fl Sas SSus SS as 'Gp cD,
issue The syse Popga ss' h nGsa0Is 5 m r1st 1 ps,
eePt aHds m % M wa. At once aseGs The case
| iSeref@re siands asit di4 two .erks ago"
The proposition bf Secretary Boutwell,, understand
will be lett open for acceptance until the Goth inst Il
give time consultation with the nonresident partners
of The Importers and really hope they will be moved Il
accent il before The time expires for certainly have
desire wrong innocent persons II rejected hnaly eJ
must see that they will stand convicted In the estimation
| of all honorable minds, notwithstanding all thes
protesons that they are not guilty OF the oense with
II has transpired that Mr. Farwell 10 accompany
the Commission. an assistant IN the exanlinatioa OF
the books Shcneld but not TO report upon the case
Rumor says alsO that great exertoDs were made by the
importers without success, TO prevent MI Farwel from
being sent upon the expedition lt would be manlieslY
very unjust to Mr. to exclude him from such an nvcs
| tigitiOu. af labor he has already be-
slowed in searching ont the alleged frauds upon the rev
enuc and certainly the interests OF the GOyeIDDen can
be best and insured by the keen aud pracccd
scent Of one who has become familiar with the hsOes7
OF erreting the abuses of which, IL they really exist
we have much reason 70 complain. Overwhelming as
the evidence fraudulent entry Of steel by undervaa
on appears to be- II s surprising there should be such
waste Of yirtuous Indignation against those who have
sought to expose the great wrong upon the revenues and
upou tho Americans who have Invested capital III the
steI manufacture and who ask only to Dc protected
from V, slOIs OF tho law.
NV friend FIRTH charges with want or candOr ana
fairness in describing 1.-THE tempetatIOn afforded the
English manufacturer TO underydlue MS STEEL &c Wen,
If he wont take for authority, VIII give him tat or
very steel manufacturer TO the same elect
extracted from letter to the American Consul at Shef
field IN July 1862 1--WE take the liberty 10 draw your
attention present unsatisfactory mode OF leyylng
duties Oh steel adopted by your Government, which
gives every facility and temptation to unsCrupulous eO'
nle 10 commit fraud, which Candidy tell you can De
committed without the possibility of detection, In spite
of tbo vigilance of all your officers" There, Mr.. Firth
have said anything unfair uncandid than one
OF your own guidI But have more from the same re.
spectacle authority under the same date In the nature or
a confession which places the whole matter beyond the
FarwC charged against The EuBlsh steel Importers
1 quute from tAe same letter:
I'VE clearly nvoced goods helor the wholae uarke
value be based the wholesale market value 70
the world, exclusive Oftbe United states"
I think need extend this communication no further.
Respecting Mr. Frits eulogy upon the late EdWaId f.
Sauderso cordially udOrse all that Is SAID. cheer
fully acdut the honOred dead OF all participation III any
knowledge shipments OF steel To the COhfedeaey Dy
hockade. running while IL Is equally certain that the
Rebels we're supplied with steel from England during the
war JAMES NJ COOPER, firm OF Hussey, Wells GO,
PiHsbt0gh, Dec. Is, 1869.
CONCERNING A IIIJMBUG,