The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-10-20
ALLEN vs.. STEVENSON.

ALLEN vs. STEVENSON.
Mr.. F. G. Allen, In yesterdays Republs-
can, undertakes to criticise Gen. Steven
sons statement that the consumer pays the
tariff tax. Mr.. Allen lie one of those rarae
aces who think the consumer does not pay
this tax; and exclaims triumphantiy I'VE
hope Stevenson won't hear of this-it
would pain him); During The year end
ing June 30, 1887, the U. 8. imported 40. 500
tons of steel rails. Now If the
consumer pays the foreign price, plus the
tariff and freight, these rails would have
cost in New York almost $40. But quota
lions show that they sold at $2S, 500 and
$50 per ton." Now the average price for
steel rails In America In 1887 was $371O
ton; In England $50 IS a ton; average diff
ference In price, $16 45-iust IS cents less
than the duty. On Oct. II, 1888, steel rails
in London were quoted with more de-
mand and prices firmer," at "a, or at $4S4
per { equals $1936; in Pittsburgh the
same day they were $3.50 to $50 ton,
difference of $1O.14 to $10.56. But there
is no demand for rails here even at that
price, and only small orders will be taken
by the mills, even If offered at that price,
while the trust, to keep prices up, has linn
tied the production of the mills to 49,
600 tons for the year. In 1887 the produc-
ton was 2,295,0O0 tens.
But why does Mr.. Allen neglect to cite
those busy years 80 and 81, when the duty
was $2S ton, and the difference In price
$31 so and $3.50 ton?
And If the blarsted "ferriner' always
pays the duty. as republicans claim, what
difference would 1t make to the American
when he bought, anyhow? For there
never has been time In the history of
steel rails. from 1871 to this day, at least,
when the English price has not been from
"a IS to 1874 less than the American. Do
you think American railroad men are such
blamed tools as to pay $4S5 or 1874 more
for steel rails to American mills merely to
exhibit a sentiment by buying of Ameri'
cans, If they could buy them for $4.S5 or
1874 less in London, and LET the EDglishman
pay the duty, as you say he does. Yet in
1876, N and '7S, when the prices were
$l5. 10. S11 60 and $l450 ton less in Lon
don than in America, not an English rail
was sold here, and in 1894 and 'o5, when
they were ST. 81 and S4S5 less, only 5000
and 2 400 tons (out of total of 1,l19000 and
/ 100000 tons consumed) were English
rails. Our railroad men are not credited
usually with such expensive exhibitions
of patriotism as this Doesn't the secret of
their buying rails In America consist In
the fact that they could buy them cheaper
here than they could in London and pay
freight of $500 TO 81 90 and the SIT ton
duty? Clearly, from your own showing,
Mr.. A., the American consumer, and not
the English manufacturer, pays the duty
and freight, and when as In VI and W, and
81 and 'S2, the American demand was
greater than the American supply, the
American consumer did pay 10 American
manufacturers the English price, plus
freights and duty. And if the mills could
sell rails at profit at an average price In
1885 of $2s.50a ton, don't you think they
made little nest egg In 1887, when they
got on the average $37 ton! Do
you think they ought to be kicking today
when they get $3.50 to $4,000; $1.OO to
$3.50 more than the average price In 1882
again" says this astute Mr.. Allen, "Mr.
Stevenson says that the Mills proposes
reduction of only from per cent to z per
cent. From his own statements the reve
nues collected last year were $3.50, 100000
and the Mills bill proposes reduction Of
$75,OOO,OOO. Now q simple operation In
division shows that $75,OOO,OOO is more
than TWENTY per cent of $685., 100000
We have had for some time the notion
that Mr.. Allen might be good at amateur
theatricals, but We did not know that he as
pired to the role of Dogberry and could be
particularly effective In the finale of Ac. 4,
Scene 2. Ne one not in true Dogbery
frenzy could do 1t better.
Ii might be remarked parentheticaliy
that the senate tariff bill purports to re-
duce the rereaue about $40 100000, and yet
II raises the average of the tariff above the