The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-10-27
TllE TARIFF.
<onErc>sn'an hewitt Ex plains His Posi-.
ti0u on tho Tariff.

ion OH tito Tariff. l. a.I
NEw fonH, October 2G.-llon. Abnul
Hewitt sends the following communication
to the Times: ,.sla
When ! 1appeared before the Tariff Com.
mission, by invitation, and without having
prepared any statement, l assumed that its
members possessed Il certain amount OF la.
formation In regard 10 the cost OF iron and
s!ee!, and did mol, therefore, decnt Il ncc.
essary 10 elaborate the details. But from
the comments made in your editorial OF 10.
day perceive that Il Is never safe to trust
to the existence OF sufficient knowledge on
the part Of those who criticse the state.
ments oi witnesses familiar with any
special branch Of business. For example,
when stated that the cost OF labor In niak.
ing, u ton Of steel rails did not exceed 81, |
had no reference TO the total cost OF the
labor which enters into their production
but merely to the money paid in the form
ol wages for the conversion OF the pig.iron
into steel rails. The total cost OF the
labor OF producing ton Of steel
rails will include the cost OF the labor in
digging the ore, in mining tho coal, in quar-
Iying tho Limestone, in Transporting the
materials, aud in smelling, blasting, and
rolling. This amounts in England to about
$50 per ton, while in tho United States The
cost is not far from $40 per ton. The dii-
terence in the total cost Of labor Is there
fore about SIS per ton, against which re-
commended duty Of Sl4, or one.half the
existing rate. Iuasnuch us your we'll
known free trade correspondent, Mr.. ], S.
Moore, recommended duty Of Sis per
ton on steel rails, and this recommendation
is approved by Mr.. David A. Wells, | do
not see on what ground you assert that my
recommendation Is very liberal from the
protectionist's point OF view. The same
lacts apply to the manufacture Of pig.iron,
the outlay on which in England is from IS
10 Sl2 per ton, against an outlay OF SIG to
SIS per ton in this country, SO that differ
ence Of 81 per ton Is about the compensa-
tory rate required 10 equalize the condi-
tlons Of production.
Again, youdo not appear 10 understand
my position on the tariff question. am
unable to see how country can be made
prosperous by taxation, and l think that
the best condition for country to occupy
is one Of freedom from imposis Of every
END whatever. But, unhaPpily our legis
lature has been protective for long time.
Under It large interests have grown up,
and great numbers Of industrious laborers
have been employed, who in the absence
Of such legislation would have found homes
and occupation elsewhere. To destroy
these branches Of business, and 10 take
away the employment Of these operators
all ut once, would be calamity of vnst
proportions, and crime against the
public welfare which no practical
statesman would advocate or commit.
Assuming that these branches Of
business are 10 be continued, insist that
the fundamental conditions Of their survi-
val IS that the difference in the cost oil labor
IN each branch shall be ascertained and
made good by compensatory duties. deal
with the facts as find them, not as /
would have them; but, recognizing that the
system is false, urge that ull unnecessary
props shall be removed from the structure
at once, and preparation be made by Judi.
cious reduction for the final abolition Of
protective duties, which is inevitable,
when, by the development Of our resources
and the growth Of our manufactures, we
shall be forced 10 sell our surplus products
III competition with other nations in the
open markets Of the world. l5
This will explain how it comes to pass
that some advocates Of free trade regard
me as protectionist, while the protection
sta habitually denounce me as n hereto
and renegade. Meanwhile am content
with the attitude which l intend 10 occupv
as progressive revenue reformer, in favor
OF free raw material and OF the loves,
possible rate Of duty which will not be de-
aructIye OF any existing branch of busi-
ness employing very considerable capital
or any large number Of wotkmeu. at the
same time take no stock in the doctrine
that protection raises the current rate of
wages, but on the contrary think That the
higher rate OF wages prevailing in this
country is due to our grent natura! ad-
y:anta,yes and cheap lands, making pro,ec-
1--we duties necessary for certain branches
OF business, il these branches are to be
carried on successfully ut this time in this
country, and l have yet to find any con-
siderable number OF persons who advocate
,helr dlscontinuance or ruin.
80 AuRAMS HrWr1-r