New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-29
TARIFF CHANGES DREADED.
BUSINESS MEN DISCUSS TIE WILSON BILL.

pITTsBuRG IRON MANUFACTURERS CALL 1T FA-
NAUTICAL AND BRUTAL-PRoBABLE EFFECT
OF THE MEASURE ON THE MINNIE
sofa IRON ORE INDUSTRY.
Cleveland Nov 2.-As a matter of course. the
hill presented to Congress for the reduction OF the
tariff has caused comment and much feeling In
Cleveland. Regarding this matter. James Corrl-
gan, OF the firm of Corrigan. Ives d Co.. saiu'
Iron ore on the free list? II they do anything
Of that kind they will simply close down All the
mines In the country. We have four properties on
the Gogebic range that have been closed down
owing to threats OF this kind Then there are the
Queen Prince of Wales. Buffalo ana Sonth Bur
falo mines on the Marquette Range. lhey are
about to suspend operations Tor the same reason
and the properties the Mesaba Range VIII also
close down II ore is put on the free list. only lot
the fear the mine owners entertained regarding
this proposed legislation would be stocking our
piles this winter as did in years past and these
thousands OF starving families would nave EN-
ploymen,. But. 1t Is now. the operators are
afraid to do anything. They would not dare go 10
the expense OF stocking their ore piles without
knowing that there are some prospects OF finding
a market for their material. And II ore Is put ON
the free list matters will be still worse for We
cannot compete with the foreign shippers
John Todd. OF the firm Of Todd. StambauBh
Co., said: " Pig iron, think can stand cut Oh
s. 81 n tom
George H. Ely. president OF the Western Iron ore
Dealers Association said: II have been expecting
It right along. or course hostile to such
legislation. We are threatened with tremendous
disaster. / could not exaggerate 1t IL l would
The Western Iron Ore Association alone represents
the production OF the four great Lake superior
districts-the Marquette. the Menominec the Goge-
bic and the Vermllion. The Lake Superior ore
product last year S.01t0oo tons. and 1t was
al Of the iron mined IN the
United States last year which came down over
those lakes into Lake Michigan and Erie and went
into the pig iron production The difference be-
tween the iron trade OF last year and this
years production Will be about 100000 tons. There
Is market for iron ore. The Cleveland dealers
have not had such a thing as an ofer Tor ore that
is perfectly paralyzed. And paralysis in this
means PARALYSIS at about 100 producing iron ore
ON the free list matters Will he still worse.
spoke before the Ways and Means Committee ana
did other geatemen. but II seems TO have done no
good. II will be outrage on our workingmen to
put rSn ore 3. Noy 1he ref W. Oliver OF the
Oliver Iron and Steel Works. was asked last night
his opinion OF the proposed tariff legislation. Mr.
''As present prices are below cost the reduction
mus, be borne by labor and freight The measure
Is drastic one and the authors appear almost
duties is indefensible. Undervaluations. false In
voices. different appralsements at different ports
Importers and make business unstable. Making the
bill take effect March IL , ,%Py STSs w and bs e%
The act should take effect year hence ard allow
business TO accommodate itself to the new
dition."
Mr.. Oliver was chairman OF the Committee on
Resolutions at the National Republican Convention
OF 1855
49, r Jones. the Iron manufacturer and ex-chair-
man OF the Republican National Committee said
that the effects OF the proposed Tariff b!ll. II en-
acted would be than those Of the act Of
1886 Wages would fall greatly and the general
prosperity must necessarily share their decline
People would have TO leave the manufacturing
centres I'm the cities and seek 10 "a livelihood
by cuitivaiing the earth. The proposed duties on
iron and steel products would not be sufficient 10
place our labor on q par with the foreign work.
men and our manufacturers would be driven out
OF the business. Only about one-third Of the iron
and steel workrnen employed. and many OF
these would stop work II the bill was passed. IL
was nonsense 10 say that the manufacturers and
their employees were alone affected by the tariff
legislation. The lawyer. storekeeper. physician.
farmer. oil had a vital interest In IL, they all
would suffer or profit accordingly as the manufac-
turing industries prosperous or otherwise.