The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-08

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convention Of manufacturers and other
interests affected by the tariff legislation
recently proposed by Congress. SAID
convention is called to meet in Pittsburgh
On Saturday the 9th inst. Wheeling man
ufacturers have been requested to send
delegates, but after diligent inquiry we
have not been able to ascertain that any
steps have been taken to meet the sug'
gesdons Of the Pittsburgh Committee, OF
TO hold any meeting in this city on the
subject. We would, however, respect
fully suggest that it might be well fol
Wheeling manufacturers to be represent
ed at the proposed meeting.
While it is thought by some Of oul
iron men that the production Of iron
especially pig iron, has become SO cheap
ened that We could not be materially
affected by tariff legislation, others see in
the proposed large reduction on SCRAP
iron an element that may very seriousl!
affect US. The proposed rate on scral
irOp is one dollar per ton. Under Thu
tariff II is thought that old rails, ant
even Norway bullets and other valuable
irons, may be brought in as scrap al
ready the consumption Of old rails, gath
cred from the railroads Of our country
has seriously affected the bar and shee
iron interests aud largely reduced tn
consumption Of pig iron. Our nail in
terest has heretofore been pretty thor
oughly protected by our superior ma
chipery and consequent better quality
Of product, and we had begun tt
think that industry was imPregnabl'
TO all foreign competition. But Jehr
Bull does not relinquish all hope oil se
curing profitable footing in this country
even for the article Of nails. Already w
nrs informed large orders from English
manufacturers have been received in THU
country for our improved nail machines
With these and her pNuper labor, which
must work for the pitlance necessary Il
keep body and soul together, Englant
would, under low tariff, be able to seri
ously cripple and to large extent de-
stroy our business. These are poSsibili-
ties which it might be we'll for our iror
men to consider, since it has become evil
dent that manufacturing interests canno'
with safety obey the Scripturnl injunc-
ton to take no thought for the morrow
They must not only take thought for to-
morrow but for many morrows TO come
The Pittsburgh Call also embraces
other interests aside from iron. Our
great and growing agricultural interests
may be iDjuriouSly affected by the pro-
posed tariff tinkering, to what extent VT
are, Of course, not now prepared to say.
Solar "a our wool growing interest Ii
concerned, we eau say that the proposed
reduction on Australian wools and al
Others Of merino blood, the class which
comes in competition With the woods o
this section Of country, is equal to dis
count Of five cents per pound on thu
present prices Of our wool. The proposed
rate on the woods mentioned is eight cent
per pound on woods costing less than g.
cents per pound at the last port or plNc'
whence exported. Under the rrCsen
tariff the rate on the wOola named is II
cents per pound and II per cent ad Vaio
rem for unwashCd, while it Is double oil
washed woods Of the came class. This, o
course, insures thoge woods to lie brough
10 under the lowest possible schedule, ant
lust under the proper conditions 10 seri
ously affect our home interests.
So tar as we are able TO gather the orip
ion Of the country, it is against the com
plication Of our business interests by Al
agitation that in any event does harm II
our prosperity, moderate as that is at til
prcsent time. Nations, as we'll as indi
yiduaIs, are liable to get too many from
in the fire, and the same logical conse
uuence is a. liable to follow in the on
case as the other. One thing at n time
a rood motto in all cases, and in tn
finance questions now under considera
ton by the National legislature, il the!
IepislatO wisely and we'll, we tske it 10
granted that the people will gladly ex'
cuse them if for the present they pass tn
tariff question silently by.
In the light Of the evil pOssibilitie
which are prone to de'elop themselve
after Congressional legislation has gon'
into effect, when it is too late TO repai
injury, We think 1t would not only b
we'll for our iron interests to he repre-
scented at Pittsburgh but that at an earl!
day a general meeting representing al
The intereSts Of this section should b'
held in this city to give emphatic expires
sion to the views Of our people s"tur
day evening, however, strikes US as toe
near 10 get up anything like represent