Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-23
OLD BRITISH BRIBERY
Over $1,O0O.O00 Sent Here to Defeat
the Senate Tariff Bill.
THE STATEMENT OF A FOREIGNER.
Tin Plates and Fine Iron Will be Made
in This Country.
EMPLOYMENT FOR FULLY 100000 MEN

A prominent English tin plate manufact-
urer is here, and is here to stay. The tariff
agitation over that industry, he claims, has
disturbed trade in the old country, and he
has selected Pittsburg as the most appro-
pirate and profitable place in the world for
the manufacture of tin plates.
The gentleman is Edward James, of the
Hope Iron and Tin Plate Company, located
at Upton, England, and he makes start
ling statement. He says that thousands
and thousands of pounds sterling have been
contributed by English tin plate manufact-
urers and merchants to defeat the clause IN
the Senate tariff bill imposing duty on
tin plate, and this sum has been judiciously
placed in the hands of lobbyists for that pur-
pose"
How much money, in round numbers,
do you suppose has been contributed" Mr..
James was asked.
II would not like to estin ate the
amount" said he, "but it was over 81 ,0O0,-
900. There are fully loo, 900 men employed
in the tin plate industry in the old G. untry,
principally in South Wales, and if the duty
proposed in the Senate bill is placed on tin
plates, it will kill the industry across the
water and open it up in this country"
Continuing Mr.. James said:
TO THE LAND OF PROMISE.
was connected with one of the leading firms
fr,E EprI IL, hr1fx ho1 10 nd q
costly lawsuit, which resulted in my being shut
out Of the firm. l saw that the industry would
likely be wound up in the event of the passage
of the Senate tariff bill, and came to this
country to engage IN the business, and at once
selected Pittsburg as the best place in which to
make tin plate. AS soon as the bill passed
the many workers in the tin plate industry will
flock to this country
1 have seen all the tin plate works in the
world, and, upon my arrival in this country,
was enabled to 60 through the works of the
United States Tin Plate Company at Demler
station. through the courtesy of Mr.. W. c.
Cronemeyer. 1 have had large experience in
the business, and pronounce these works the
finest in the world. They have no timing de-
partment, but will have one as soon as the de-
sired alteration in the tariff is made.
In addition to the tin plate trade, the foreign
ITdue IN WHAT we call nne 1rOn-LnaJ is, iron
from 30 to 40-gauge-will be injured if the tar
iii bill is adopted. There is an extensive trade
in this industry and the foreign product comes
into this country free of duty.
GAS MAKES BETTER TIN.
have made an investigation of natural gasas
fuel, and find that it is wonderfully well adapt
ed to the making Of tin plates. A better quality
of tin plates can be made in this country with
natural gas than with coal as fuel in England.
There is every probability that the United
States will make her own tin plates in the
future She has many valuable undeveloped
tin mines; but they will all be opened as soon as
the industry is established in this country,
which will very likely occur in a few months. 1
have been talking to Mr.. Cronemeyer, of the
United States Tin Plate Company, and find that
he is confident that high duty will be placed
on tin plates; that is, a sufficient duty to keep
the foreign product out of this country.
At present there are 203 mills in Great
Britain where the plates and fine iron are man.
ufactured, and % mills are idle. / do not care
to be quoted on the number of men employed
at these mills; but / believe fully 10000 are
engaged. Most of these men will come to this
country for employment if the industry is shut
off by the tariff, and. in addition, many idle
men in this country will be employed.