Evening journal., 1889-12-30
NE PEopLE oR A cLAss.

gress. the committee on Ways and
Means has begun the interminable work
of hearing the pleas of the different in
dustries for relief and for help from the
government,
The gentlemen representing the iron
industry we're heard on Thursday last
While the situation has changed some
what as the result of the campaign Of
education aud Of the confirmatory but
distressing failures in the highly pro-
tected industries, still there seems no
probability of fixing ia riff duty
on iron ore which will please or
even satisfy the diverse interests Of the
different sections OF the country. On
the plan Of hearing the complaints of the
New England men that coal and iron ore
are SO highly taxed as to stop their mills
and the pleas Of the Pennsylvania and
Ohio men that coal and iron are not pro
tected sufficiently to enable them to pay
liberal wages to their laborers II seems i'm
possible to arrive at any conclusion either
just to the one or satisfactory to the
other.
Granting that the pleas Of the one and
the complaints Of the other are both true
it would seem that a compromise, namely,
a moderate tariff would be equitable TO
all parties But such Is not the case
The representatives Of the protective
idea contend that the tariff Of 70 cents
per ton is already insufficient to enable
them to compete with the iron mines of
Spain. A Mr. Ely, of Ohio, contended
that $3.50 per ton duty was necessary
while Mr.. Mayer, Of Maryland contended
that 81 25 was satisfactory. Meantime
Mr.. Tobey, Of Massachusetts,, advocated
the necessity of free iron and coal to the
existence of the mills in Massachusetts,.
Thus with compromise protection of
75 cents per ton neither side is satisfied
The one demands free ore and coal with
the threat of extinction II not granted,
while the other demands double duty
with the threat Of starvation to the
American laborer
Such demands spring from.selhshness,
even II they have the poor merit OF sin
certify. Representative Flower Of the
committee asked questions which he
Saidtbrought answers from the represen-
tAtives Of these industries showing slip
shod methods They could not tell the
amount Of labor and capital contained in
ton Of iron ore owing to the varied con
ditions Of the different mines. The diff
: ference OF wages IN Virginia, Pennsyl
wants and Michigan also rendered the
replies TO these questions valueless.
Taking the position that protection Of
the iron ore industry is proper and Just,
which it is not, how can any mathematic
+ ian, any statesman, arrive AZ an equitable
amount Of duty to satisfy the diverse
q and conflicting interests Of the miners
4 who claim heavy tariff, those manufac
turers who wish no tariff and Of the
long-suffering people who have been pay
k ing millions and millions Of dollars tC
these fat and rich infants who are still
unsatisfed2
2 1t is utterly impossible. The premis'
{ is wrong. The theory is false. The con
r clusion must work injustice to one or ali
i the three parties involved. The only
a possible solution to the problem is to ig-
e more the conflicting interests Of the bene
+ fciaries and legislate for the people. The
Government cannot know what is JUS
"a and equitable between Mr.. Ely and hii
a business in Ohio, and Mr.. Tobey and hii
Ie business in Massachusetts,. 1t is impos.
4 4 sible for committee Of legislators sit
ting in Washington 10 decide what per.
n centage Of duty would keep the labor.
y ers who work for Mr.. Ely il
+ Ohio well paid and happy withou
J. making the product Of their labor $,
4 high-priced as to throw the laborers VIII
work for Mr.. Tobey in Massachusett
~ out Of employment Neither one can es
i tablish any claim on the people for sup
! port that does not apply to any other in
y dustry. Granting that both are reliable
n honest and patriotic men, their testimon
before the committee presents a state O
things which renders il absolutely neces
"a sary for the Committee to ignore ther
1. both. A compromise would please neithe
one and weuld work still greater iniu.
! tice to the people who will be paying 70
!. something which is detrimental to on
10 branch Of industry and not beneficial t
% the other.
~ There is nothing for the committee !,
Az do except send them both away. saying
re "We cannot decide between you withou
mt making the government party to you
in. private business. If the Governmer
IS must share in the losses Of your bushes
vs It must also share the profits and pre-
nd tect itself by supervising it. That is in
~ possible. Go home and work out yor
~ own salvation under laws which offe
he more freedom and in country whic
4 offers more and better facilities than a.
-. offered anywhere else in the world
,rs you cannot take care Of yourself in IL
An United States without assistance fro
rs the government you deserve to fail. II
~ Congress is legislating for Go 900. 600
=. people. not for 2, 1000, 600 Of manufactu-
NV ers. II you fail you shall have pensio
on but you cannot fail
Man Found Dead at Blackbird.