National Republican., 1883-02-07
THE HOUSE.


ritory, and urging the importance of amend
ing the statutes so as to impose q penalty of
Imprisonment for unlawful entry on Indian
lands.
Mr.. Haskell offered resolution that on and
after Feb. Z the house shall at o'clock p. m.
take recess until p. m.l
Mr.. Singleton, of Illinois, objecting TO its
present consideration, it was referred to
the committee on rules, and then the house
lat 11;4O) went into committee Of the whole
(Mr. Briggs in the chair) on
THE TARIFF BILL.
Mr.. Tucker moved to reduce the duty on
cast polished plate glass, unsilvered, above "a
by 80 inches square and not exceeding "a by
60 inches, from 25 to 10 cents per square foot.
After speeches by Mr.. Tucker in favor and
Messrs. Peelle, Clardy, I'd Frost in opposition
TO the motion, Mr.. Ktiley moved that the
committee rise for tho purpose of closing de-
bate. This met with sound opposition, but
it was carried, and in tho house Mr.. Kelley
moved TO limit debate on the pending para
graph and amendments thereto to five min
utes. An effort was made TO mako it twenty
minutes and when that was defeated ten was
suggested, but IL was voted down, and Mr..
Kelley's motion was adopted. Tho house
again went into committee, and Mr.. fuckers
motion was lost He then moved TO reduce
the duty on cast polished plate glass, unsil-
cents per square foot. This was lost, and ho
moved to fix the rate at 40 cents, which was
lost, and several other amendments in the
same line were quickly and similarly dis
posed of.
The earthernwaro and glassware schedule
having been completed, Mr.. Morrison offered
n proviso reducing the duties levied thereon
10 per cent. after July l, 1884, and an addi-
tional 10 per cent. after July l, 1885, this pro-
viso, however, not to apply to any article
dutiable at n lower rate than 80 per cent. ad
valorem, nor to reduce the duty on any article
below 80 per cent.
The amendment was advocated by Messrs.
Morrison, Springer, and Tucker.
Mr.. Randall also supported the first part of
the proviso, basing his advocacy on the fact
that the exact figures showed that the duties
in this schedule had been increased to the ex-
tent of 14.17 per cent.
The amendment was disagreed to-60 to so.
Mr.. Anderson offered as substitute for the
entire schedule the corresponding schedule In
the bill under consideration in the senate.
He stated that it was the schedule as COM
pleted by the senate. Lost-63 to 100.
The consideration of the metal schedule
was then entered upon.
Mr.. Kelley, under instructions from his
committee, moved to increase from so to 75
cents per ton the duty on iron ore, including
manganiferous iron ore, also tho dross or re-
blulum from DurnJ pyrlueS.
Mr.. Morrison wished to make n proposition
to the other side of the house, and suggested
that it would facilitate business if he should
be permitted to move to substitute for the
whole schedule the metal schedule rs agreed
upon by the senate. If it were agreed to. his
side of the house would accept 1t and thus
save the time necessary for considering it
item by item.
Mr.. Reed. If not adopted?
Mr.. Morri'on. We will insist on considering this
schedule and securing reduction If we can.
Mr.. Reed (sarcastically) That is fair, open pro-
Mr. Carlisle. 1t is entirely fair.
Mr. Kelley. The proposition involves the sur
render by this committee Of one of the highest
prerogatives of the popular branch of the leglsa-
turc.
Mr.. Cox, of New York. stating that his col
league, Mr.. Hewitt, was unable to attend the
sessions of the house on account of sickness,
obtained leave to have printed in the Record
the following letter received from that gen.
tleman:
REPRESENTATIVES. WASHING TON, d. C.-Dear Sir! !
Your favor of the fourth instant Is received From
some inrliye inquiries which haye come TO my
notice, infer that an attempt VIII be made in
lhe house TO nssail the position which took be-
fore the tariff commission In favor of free iron ore
and free scrap iron on the ground that am look
Ing out for my own personal interests in advocat-
ing the removal of duties upon these articles.
observe in the senate that two senator's, who
tinctly stated 10 the tariff commission as to my
personal interests, made this charge against me,
and they have not since had the manliness TO re-
tract IT, Let me say then, that If there be any
man in this country who would be Injured By the
removal of duty from iron ore or from scrap iron,
] Am that man. j am very largely engaged In
States, but more particularly IN New jersey, where
l am interested IN mines OF magnetic iron ore,
nearer to tho seAboard than any other in
the country. l am therefore more directly
in competition with foreign iron ore than
any one else, ard the removal Of the duty
the fact is that foreign iron is sold here mt
less than So ton while L am selling my ore,
duly VIII not therefore ahect the price of my ore,
as there Is margin of 81 per ton In my favor now,
and II ore be madc.free shall still have margin
of Sl.50 ton. The reason why foreign ore comes
In is because we do not produce enough ore low
in PHOSPHORUS for the manufacture of pig iron
REQUIRED for the BesSemer steel processes; Last
this ore, and did not produce enough Bessemer
mig, we imported over six hundred thousand
tons of foreign orc and nearlyan equal quantity
of foreign pig iron. If the ore had been free the
pig iron which we imported would have been
manufactured here out of foreign ore, which
would have given large additional opening for
American labor and would not have reduced the
output of American ore one ton. IL is plain,
whole country, as well as to the iron industry in
which am engaged. So in regard to scrap iron.
It's free Introduction Is opposed on the ground
that 1t Will interfere with the manufacture of pig
iron If this be so, would be greatly injured, MS
ain large producer of pig iron: but, ns matter
OF iact, chonp scrap aud pig iron arc friends aud
not enemies. They can be most advantageously
and cheaply worked in combination with each
OIher, and the cheaper the scrap can be had the
better price the buyer cnn afford to pay for pig
iron and the larger will be the demand when the
business has adjusted itself to the more favorable
conditions thus produced.
i am aware that the iron masters as n body do
not agree with me in my views, but they, and the
gentlemen who represent them in congress, are
making II mistake. They think that we are suf-
ieriug from foreign competition, whereas the dc.
preston In the iron business Is due solely u do.
nestle competition. Localities in which iron can
not be made cheaply arc yielding to the superior
advantages OF other regions in this country where
the conditions of production are more favorable
No addition to the tnrlf can prevent this COM
petition, or Interfere with the inevitable result of
process is dlsngreeablc but II IL necessary aud
healthy. Cheap food, cheap fuel and cheap iron
arc the essential elements OF growth and pros |
perily in any nation. and without them no nation
can Iron mnster therefore, IL not t0 devise meth
ods by which iron may be made dear but TO find |
out how IL may he made cheap, and II there be |
anywhere an unnecessary impeachment to economy |
ana reduction Of cost IL should be promptly re-
moved. The duties OH iron ore and scrap |
iron are purely distractions and unnecessary |
impedments TO the choapenng OF the cost |
OF iron, ana they should be at once |
abolished, / do not think that l have |
any right to advocate my personal interest on the
dent with the interests of my constituents aud the
whole people, j represent u district teeming with |
industries, the basis and raw material of which Is
iron in some form or other. My constituents want |
Interests are in harmony with the wants of the |
whole people. The experience which / have |
gained ms an iron master should therefore be |
devoted 70 pointing out how iron may he made |