The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-02-12
STEEL RAILS.
Argument Before the House Ways and Meant
Committee on the Tariff Question.

Argument Before the House Ways and Means
Committee on the Tariff Question.
Washington, Feb. 1.-THE Committee on Ways
and Means to-day finished hearing on the pro.
posed reduction Of duty on steel rails. Samuel
NJ FELTON,, President Of the Bessemer Steel AsSo-
ciation, was examined as follows:
By Mr.. Conger-Do you know anything about
an association formed in England for the pur.
pose Of influencing our tariff on steel rails and
other objects, and whether that association has
members In this country2
Mr.. Felton-I do not know Of any Of my own
knowledge have heard that there is such an
association, but can not say positively whether
there Is or not.
Nj. r..Conger-As far As you have heard, do you
know whether any members Of that association
are members Of Congressi
Mr.. Felton-I know nothing about Il.
Mr.. Conger-Do you know whether any mem.
Der Of Congress was at the time Of this change in
In the Tariff member Of the Golden League,
formed for the purpose Of reducing the duties In
our tariff
Mr. Felton-I have heard that that was the
case, but have no knowledge oft
Mr.. Carlisle--I understand you to say thatth
association OF which You are president has not
furnished any moneys TO compensate the Vulcan
Works at st. Louis for ceasing Operationsf
Mr., Felton-No, Sir The association, as such,
has not.
Mr.. Carlsle-Do you know whether the other
mill owners Of this country have furnished any
money to compensate the Vulcan Works1
Mr. Felton-I will tell you the whole truth
about that The Vulcan Works stopped in con.
sequence Of their inability to pay their men and
their honest debts. While they were In that con.
dition some Of the steel manufacturers Of the
country took up the question In pure business
point Of viaw, and they agreed to pay a certain
sum to the Vulcan Works to enable them to tide
over the then hard times The Vulcan Works
were under mortgage Of 81, 900 900, the interest
Of which was about $4,000 a year, and they
would have been sold at sacrifice and the prop
erty scattered to the four winds of heayen II 1t
had not been that other persons engaged in the
same business came to their relief and paid them
about $4,000 year, by which the Vulcan Works
were able 10 pay interest on their mortgage, and
to save this property and be ready, when the de.
mand for steel rails was greater than the supply,
to start afresh.
Mr., Carlisle-Was II, or not, part Of the agree.
ment that the Vulcan Works should not operate
within those years that they were being paid S70,.
600 by other mllsf
Mr., Felton-No. They were to operate when.
ever the time came in which the demand for
steel rails was greater than the supply. They
were also TO be notified then that they would re.
| ceive this money no longer.
Mr.. Carlisle-That Is, these other mill owners
have right to notify the Vulcan Works when
they may resume operations7
MI. Felton-Yes, and they have been notified
Emory A, storrs closed the argument on behalf
| OF the manufacturers and against the proposed
reduction Of duty. He denied emphatlcally the
assumption made throughout the discussion, that
the reduction Of duty was sought for In the In.
terests Of railroad companies. It was not That
was simply bold, unwGrranted assertion. II
was untrue in point Of fact 1t was true that some
railroads were asking for the reduction, but
speaking Of the railroad interest as q whole, Il
was not true that they were asking for 1t. There
was not single great trunk line Of railroad con-
Meeting the sesboard with the Northwest that
asked for the reduction. There was not a me.
mortal on the 6les Of the committee, signed by
the representative Of a single great trunk line
that asked for the reduction. One road had been
definitely represented as being In favor Of the re
duction; that was the Illinois Central, but the
Chicago q Northwestern Road, the Milwaukee &
st. Paul Railroad, the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific Road, and the Alton d st. Louis were
none Of them advocates OF this reduction, but
were opposing 1t, and he would within ten dayl
| lay before the committee memorials In opposi'
ton to the deduction from railroad companies
that would make in point Of capital invested
length Of line. and Importance Of interests Of the
railroads that were Represented as in favor Of re-
duction almost shriVel into insignihcanCe. The
Illinois Central Railroad was an American road
merely in locality While the voice was the
voice Of Jacob, the hond was the hand OF Eaau
That was an English road.
The Chairman-I want 10 correct an uninten-
tional error made by Mr., storrs in the opening Of
his remarks He stated that the only road thai
was before the committee as being for a reduc
ton Of the duty, was the Illinois Central Rail
road Company, and that that was an English
company.
Mr.. storrs-No, alr; said that that was the on.
| ~ Oumphuy' tnAt HhH EOpIbheuVcO DelOE6 bull
committee by attorney.
The 0hairman-I hold memorials from rail
road companies in all parts Of the United States
from all the Pacific Railroad companies, from al
the Southern Railroad companies, nand somt
from Northern and Eastern Railroad companies
asking for this reduction Of duty.
Mr., stOrrs-I have Geen every one Of them ant
still adhere to the statement which made tina
within ten days will place before this commit
tee memorials from railroad companies agains
the proposed reduction Of duty which will b
largely in excess, in every point Of view, Of tn
companies to which the chairman has referred.
Mr.. MOirison-Al to the Illinois Central Rail
road Company being an English road, does no
thestate Of Illinois get per cent. Of its grOS
earnIngs1 ~ q H,rl
Mr. stOrrs-1 think 30, when the State gets H.
Il, Mr. Morrison Then to that extent 1t ia an LII
noiB road T. .-4 ~. r ~ %
| Mr.. storrs--Yes, sir, to that extent Il the stat
gets that7 per cent. 5 % u