The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-08

Cogent Reasons why the Tariff should
be Reduced On Steel Rails.
WnEgllYo, January I, 1850.

WHEELING, January Z, 1880.
Editors IntellIgereer.
Referring to the memorial Of the Chi
cago Railroad Presidents for q reduction
OF duty on Bessemer Steel Rails and your
comments thereon, we think there are
particular reasons why such reduction
should be made besides the mes given,
that is-high prices. According to the
Free Traders tariff duties always produce
high prices, and If duties are reduced on
Bessemer Steel Rails for this reason, then
the argument is conclusive as 10 reducing
duties on all imported goods. Advocates
OF Protection, however, claim that a tariff
does not always cause higher prices, but
does, in many cases, produce lower prices
from tine operation Of home competition;
in fact produces as low prices as Is
desirable and consistent with such wages
as will permit our workmen to
subsist and rear and educate their families.
ProteCtionists also claim that home com.
petition not only produces prices sutii.
GENTLY low, but also develops a shigh
mechanical and industrial capacity, sec.
ond to none, and Of great value 10 the ma.
ton. Both OF these results have, we
think, followed our practice o~ftarifTduties,
but not in the case OF the Bessemer steel
industry, and from reasons particular and
not general. II We are correctly informed,
all the important processes in making Bes.
semer steel are patented, and the patents
owned by a syndicate composed OF tho
Bessemer Steel Companies In the United.
This syndicate will not permit any new
Bessemer works 10 be started in
hope for cheaper rails arising from home
competition. Nay, we have been told that
each Bessemer company pays into u com.
mon treasury, so much on each ton it pro.
duces; this fund is, periodically, evenly
divided among all the companies com.
prising the Syndicate. So that any com
pany can beidle, and without contributing
to the fund, receive one-tenth OF the same
for doing nothing, and the American PEG.
Pile pay the bill. During the past summer
q company was formed in Pittsburgh for
making steel by the Bessemer process, but
could not obtain tho right to do 30. The
b, & o. r. r. Co., w understand, are pre-
vented from making steel by tho same
cause. Granting the home production OF
rails is not sufficient, American capital and
enterprise would, il permitted, supply the
demand within n year at the average profit
OF works OF a class requiring similar outlay.
II the Syndicate will not permit Ameri-
cans to compete, let Congress enable
foreigners to do so. Connected with this
how far should duties protect any
already protected by patent? The
shameful abuse OF patented monopoly in
the case OF Bessemer steel should lead to
some, method Of protecting the American
from similar abuse Of n principle
in itself. Again the Bessemer steel
makers, protected by a duty OF S2S per
ton can pay large prices for ores, advance
prices in accordance, and collect the same
the people through the railroads. In
consequence Of this state Of affairs, makers
Of all kinds OF irons, arc compelled to use
iron made from inferior orest to the detfi.
ment OF quality generally. To-day the
mills OF Wheeling and Ohio river are cut
Off from their usual supply Of orc for fix,
because the same is wanted for the Bes-
semer syndicate, who can afford, thanks
10 q mistaken Congress, IN pay an un-
known price. Let us have a change.
Cheaper rails means cheaper iron. V, !