The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-01-12
Iron EmpOrtaGiOns

ly covers the full difference between
the cost OF labor at home and abroad,
our iron and steel importations have
steadily increased during the present
year Why is it? and what is the
remedy?
Why have 415,000 tons of pig-iron
been imported this year when only
$4,000 were imported in the same ten
months of last year? Why have 112,-
900 tons of steel rails been imported
this year as against 10000 last year?
One of three causes must explain the
increase. First, inadequate duty to
protect the difference in the cost of la,
Dor, and that is not claimed to be the
cause. Second, increased prices fixed
by our manufacturers to the extent
that importations are invited. Third,
such an exceptional depression in the
foreign iron trade that manufacturers
are compelled to seek our market and
sell at a loss. IN 1872 the iron manu-
facturers destroyed their own trade and
bankrupted many in their business,
by meeting Sudden demand for iron
with excessive prices, and before they
had gratified their greed, they found
that foreign iron-producing countries
had glutted our market. In short
they killed the goose that promised
them continued golden eggs. AS iron
is not commanding excessive prices
now, the logicNl explanation of the
large impOrtations is in the temporary
depression of foreign trade, cause
that cannot be reached by legislation
in any channel OF business enterprises.
What is the obvious remedy for our
iron manufacturers? Is it in increas-
ed duties and In increased cost to our
customers to meet an exceptional
emergency? Surely not. In this
progressive age, when cheapness OF
product is the aim of all thrifty indus.
tries, the plain need of our manufact,
ures is cheapened raw materials.
When our irou manufactures are com
PEELED to buy and import 100000 tons
OF foreign ore per month, or 100000
a year, and pay high duty on it, is it
not notice to both government and
manufacturers that free iron ores are a
necessity to manufacturers and to la
Dor? In what way could more sub
stantial protection be given to our iron
interests, both capital and labor, thau
by cheapening the product of iron in
this country when it can be done with
out cheapening the wages Of labor?
The true theory OF the protective
policy is to create and maintain diver
Fitied industries until they can main.
tain themselves, and wherever con.
sumers are needlessIy taxed to main.
tain them, 1t is wanton and inexcusa.
BILE oppression of the many for the
benefit of the few. We have every
thing to gain by cheapening the pro-
duction of iron to the fullest extent
that it can be done without reducing
the requitsl of labor. Cheapened
production enlargeS consumption
enlarged consumption multiplies the
profits of both capital and labor, and
every dollar that the production oi
iron is cheapened in this country is
vastly more than dollar OF additional
protection to our labor The tariff is
out of joint, and the chief hindrance to
its wise revision is in the common
effort OF destructive free traders and
greedy monopolists who reject all
tariff theories which proffer protection
and prosperity to the great industries
Of the nation Philadelphia Times.