The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-05
A TARIFF FRAUD.
A Chicago Architect Lets Daylight Through
the Structural Iron Combine.

A TAHITI IA VI.
A Chicago Architect Lets Daylight Through
the Structural Iron Combine.
A PittsburR dispatch, Of June 16. con-
tanning the intelligence that Belgian
firm had offered to supply the structural
iron for the Minneapolis court house 70 per
cent cheaper than the Pittsburg people
were willing to furnish it, created consider
able stir in iron and building circles, says
the Northwestern Architect. There seemed
come doubt as to the truth of the rumor.
but. through the architects, we learn that
such a proposition is now in the hands OF
member of the court house commission.
Some of the American manufacturers ex-
press surprise that the Belgians can do this.
as on the Austin, Texas, court house they
charged three dollars and twenty-five
cents per hundred pounds for
beams, while the price of American
beams is now three dollars and ten cents.
and the raise in wages, ETC., in Belgium
has increased the cost seventeen per cent.
Now, the truth is. the manufacturers are
not particularly surprised, they know bet
ter than anybody else why outsiders can
and all expressions from them to the effect
that the tariff is too low, or that the Bel
gians are finding a way to evade the pres
ent tremendous duty are mere poppycock.
A Chicago architect, writing to the Tribune
of that city, very neatly punctures these as
sertions. This gentleman shows famlll-
arity with the subject that is a guarantee
that he knows whereof he speaks and we re-
produce his letter nearly entire:
Also note 1.-THE conclusion that tariff on
structural iron is too low" Consumers
have q different explanation-i. e., prices
of structural iron and steel in the United
States are too high, owing to a 'combina-
ton of all the mills that roll beams of the
sizes used in buildings"
In the fan of 1883 the combination
price was reduced for plain beams from
$3.50 per 100 pounds to $3.50 f. 0. b. Chi
cago. which induced owners to allow their
architects to use more steel in their build
ings. to change from ordinary construction
to ireproof, and in general to build in a
more substantial and durable manner to the
improvement of our cities. About year
ago the Combination" thought the con-
sumption warranted an advance and put
tine price TO $500, an advance of s. per ton.
As some of or largest Chicago buildings
use 5000 tons it increases the cost of such
buildings $4,000, which in the opinion of
n the is entirely emit !y no, %e
and above good fair living
profit, and so fur from wishing to see the
tariff increased are deli GIFTED to see a pos
sibility, through foreign importations, of
forcing the Combination" to put down its
prices about where they would be were the
mills in competition instead Of in "combi-
nation" which is simply another word for
trust or monopoly. Certainly we all de-
sire to see the iron and steel interests flour
iBh and increase, to which end they must
have fair profit, but at the same time we
wish to make steel fireproof construction
the general rule in all our city buildings,
and not the exception, to which end the
able price, and we hope to see it accom-
plished through the Belgian importation,
believing that the freight and tariff are
sufficient to give the United States mills all
the advantage they need or should have for
the general good.
In support of the belief that American
mills can stand a reduction I mention the
there is the same competition on beams as
on angles and tees, the prices run about in
the following proportions: angles, $3.50;
tees, 81 80; beams, 1925 per 100 pounds.
In this country, where there is competi-
tion on angles and tees, and where, owing
W tuo COluUludUlOu, UucIe IL IOuo Wutt-
ever on beams, the proportions are: angles,
$2.1O; tees, $3.50; beams, $3.50. This extra
price for beams of $1.N per hundred
pounds, or $40 per ton, is due solely to the
Combination" and is an extra net profit to
the mill owners, as l cannot learn that any
part of it goes to the workmen.
So many mills manufacture angles and
tees that thus far no Combination has
been possible.
The tariff is now $2s per ton on this ma
terial: Were it reduced to $40 beams
would be sold at price fair for both man
ufacturer and consumer. There is no fear
of Belgian beams being allowed seriously
to reduce the consumption of American
material, for the Combination" will reduce
their price the moment it is its interest to
do SO.
This is one of the instances where the
tariff is too high, and gives birth to mon
opoly that is an injury to the entire coun-
try, not counting the mill owners, for were
beams sold at the same price as
other structural iron and steel
| and of the possibility there is nc
doubt, their consumption would be in
creased largely, hence greater outputs OF
ore and pig iron. the employment Of more
men at the mines and mills, and all this
because then a far greater percentage of the
buildings being erected throughout the
country would be substantial. permanent
structures, advantages so great and numer
GUS that it ia scarcely possible to compre
bend their magnitude.