The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-26
Saturday. November 80 1881.
The State Register desires to call the a

The State Register desires to call the at
tention of people generally to a resolution
passed by the late Tariff Convention in
Chicago, as a sample of the true animus
of the entire convention; the resolution
reads:
Reso!oed That this convention disap-
proves of that class of absurd treasury de-
cisions which interpret Bessemer steel
blooms, steel wire rods, cotton ties, knit
goods and other products Of advanced
value the production of which has begun
since the tariff law passed, in a manner to
class them under the clause mot otherwise
provided for" instead of chasing them I'M
der the designation most clearly cores
ponding to these products in their nature,
eost.of production and need of protection.
The effect of these decisions is to make the
duties on these articles diminish as the
amount OF labor invested in them increases.
Such decisions sacrifice the evident spirit
and intent of the law in a manner which
recalls the apostolic saying: The letter
killeth, but the spirit maketh alive"
In this the Register has made a good
point, and one which should be fully ex-
planned. A Bessemer steel bloom is a
raw piece of steel which has never been
worked, and is yet in the same state as
when cast; there is enough steel in it to
make one rail. 1t is manufactured by the
Besscmer process, and is covered by the
Bessemer letters patent. Under the treas
ury decisions, which the convention con-
sidered absurd, they are allowed to be i'm
ported under the class styled mot other
wise provided for" and consequently only
pay duty Of nine dollars a ton; and as
the freight is light, their shape allowing of
being carried as ballast rolling mills
and steel manufactures generally imp ort
a large amount which they here manufac-
ture, and in consequence large duty re-
ours to the government.
Now this convention asks that they be
put in list where they would have to pay
a duty of fifty four dollars ton, instead
of the present one of nine.
Now mark the effectl IF this was done
it would practically shut up every
rolling mill and steel mandatory in the
stitute the Bessemer steel monopoly
TIL csc eleven mills have the right under
letters patent to manufacture Bessemer
steel in this country. Could they get the
duty on this raw steel or steel blooms adj
vanced from nine to ffty-four dollars
they could compel every mill in the coun-
try to buy of them or else shut down; and
they could put the price SO high that it
would be impossible for any steel works
outside of their eleven mills to compete
with them.
The effect would be apparent right here
in these three cities. In Rock Island
Moline and Davenport the principal manu-
featuring interest is that of iron and steel
Once allow this scheme to pass and pillow
works that could get on the inside of the
Bessemer steel ring could SO undersell all
others that our works here would have to
shut down and thousand of men would be
thrown out of employment.
The lesson to be learned from this reso-
luton is a valuable one and should be well
considered.
First-Revenue is derived from duty
that is placed low enough to allow of i'm
ports.
Second-That the true way to encour-
age manufacturers is to make the raw
as cheap as possible by removing
all duties; thus not only enabling our man
ufacturers to compete with the foreigner
at home but also abroad
Third-Tt demonstrates; by the eager
ness with which these protectionists, for
the sake of the strengthening of a mon
Dpoly already too strong, are willing to
shut down mills throwing thousands of
men out of employment and cheapening
he wages of others; that their cry of pro-