New-York tribune., 1884-02-17
OPPOSING MORRISON'S BILL.
ARGUMENTS OF IRON AND STEEL MEN
CAPITAL AND LABOR UNITING IN PROTESTS 10 III"
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
Inr rrf rcpLrH TO TIE TkIBUNkl

MAYS AND MEANS COMMlIlhDs
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIBUSsl ,
W,surycroy Feb 16.-This morning the
roorn Of the Ways and Means Committee was n,eu
mon rapresentne more than firms engaged IN various
branches OF the iron and steel industries WIN an
captal Of from $4,000 900 to S7oooo'ooO' anu eP!
ing directly and indirectly, ut least Sooooo fo ,
these men had como formally TO protest against 'ho
Nor,ison hill large part OF the day was devoteo 10
siscusson between Mr.. Hewitt and the representatives
of the various industries mainly on the quesuoh Vi
. free raw materials" 1t came out pretty cieary
that free raw materials is as ono expressed III poh'
no point" 49,
station said that in the manufacture Of steel every agu
ent IN favor OF could be urged with equal favor
of free mig iron He admitted that pig iron made from
foreign ore could be made cheapy II the duty were
of but that fair statement because OF counter
considerations which greatly outweigh it, This view was
urged with greater force by representatives OF the
Iron ore interests of the Northwest and the East who de-
sared that the producing interests OF the country
cannot fairly be regarded from the standpoint OF bes
pemer steel manufacturer NewJersey iron manuiao
trer alone
Mr.. HEwITTS STATEMENTS.
Mr. Hewitt declared that as an ore pot p
ducer in New-Jersey he wanted free ore so % tn"'
he could sell more domestic ore. nc
that the other producers OF NewJers ey 'o'A '
posite view. He tried to establish tLe PtoPo" w..
the United States ore beds cannot supply suiAloion'
cnantitv nj suitable ore TO supply the demands Vi INC
Gessemer steel manufactures but TINS was HdtS
II was cononded that the capacity OF the hon oIo c
of the United states is unlimited and that plenty Oh orc
suitable for the manufacture OF Besemer steer can pe
found in dozen different States
Mr. Ely OF the Northwestern Iron ASSOCIATION gave
m account of the Lake Superior iron ore industry ana
declared that II would be ruined by Canadian comPeu
ton after the repeal of the duty Mr. Van Dke
that suteresied observer, listening to the queSons
end arguments of some OF the committee might suppose
V.faa M
American ore, an observation which was not III 'no
least Ielished by Mr.. Hewitt
The views Of Mr Wheeler, secretary Of the NeW-haFeh
Rolling Min Company, were satisfactory to MI heNt
for he demanded free Materials the raw lha'e
rial in ills case being scrap iron nsed by the company
in the manufacture of iron rods Mr. Wheeler declared
that ne would be glad have wire rods free Also lie
admitted however, that horizontal reduction would
not meet the case. for it would operate ueQualy.
Wayne Macveagh made dispassionate speech, giving
cosent reasons why there should be no tarin
tukering by this Congress. His argument was
based on the grounds set forth IN the
formal protest previously submitcd 10 the committee
Joln Roach made q short practical statement and pro
sest against the bill.
MR. WHARTON on DOMESTIC COMMERCE.
Mr. Wharton reminded the committee that domestic
commerce, which is many times more important than
Foreign commerce. has been promoted and transportation
of all commodities cheapened by the protective policy,
which has resulted in diversified industries. MI "har-
ton thought tho necessity OF encouraging the investment
f capital and OF inviting capital was too he re-
rsr,cd Before NJ. Wharton had concluded, it was APP
pareut that the hostile attitude of the majority OF the
committee had made unpleasant impression
upon him He said that he had abandoned
life OF order to engage IN the development 81 the
resources Of 9e country ana heie t'dy ne was naue 20
feel like criminal brought heiO.e ms Juige ana asAed
what be had TO say why sentence should not De pro
nounced upon him.
LABORING MIN HEARD FROM.
president and Secretary Martin. OF the Amaga-
mated Associations OF Iron sue eel Workers made forclbe
aud earnest speeches. protesting aEans the blu ana de-
pOru the present agitation, tue ground that the re-
Guotioa made will reduce wages and increase the idle
ness and distress among the workin gncn that many
iron and steel are already idle. and that the number
must if the rates cut down. They attributed
The present depression in some branches of iron
and steel manufacture ia part 10 increased importation
o. foreign scrap a,, other iron under the lower dur les i'm
VOsad ~ tle act last March, but mainly the
5uued agitation aud uncertainty which prevails on ac-
fad tlen III benalt O. the MOfkingiLcn we are
here to protest a1alust any further lednc0r nor low
Nac-s follow tariff, aud in the labor beg
you nry TO consider TINS -nrct AID the Interests OF the
working -Igen and ther lamlie-
Strong protests against the b were asO made by rep
pesenatfNcs OF the Head Industry, one OF whom SAID;
a. Pass t, bin and yOu may wei take your maps anu
blot thecIo the great silver aud lead mining regions OF
Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Nevada Ncw-NcXico and Ari-
Mir Draper Of Massachusettsin behalf Of the American
manufacturers of textile machinery, made forcDie
gumcnt against the proposed reductions machinery
hcsSrs. Williams and jarrett representing the tin plate
formidable array OF facts and figures IA Favor Or increased
yates on tn plate Mr Jarrett, keen ana OF this sub
sect Mr. Hewitts cOmhdtiYeness and lie and Mt
Jarrett engaged in animated discussion. Chair
mau Morrison and MessIr. NILS Herbert and Jones
seemed feel bored after the st hour or two and the
chairman 0pcnJ Manifested desire to have the
sncuts cut as short rs possible.
It plain that unless the mental attitude OF Colonel
Morrison and some other Democratic members OF the
rOumtet does undergo change no argument, however
fOrci1e and facts, however conclusive, WIu make
any impression upon them Their minds are made up
aud they sit hour after hour wearing the air
Of Jurors who have reached a final determination.
IL also say that the quo tons tAey ask
and The comments they offer indicate large share OF n-
ceduy in regard TO every statement made by the Oppo-
Nents Of tarin reduction.