The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-09-12

WASHINGTON, D. G., Sept, 11.-In the
ways and means committee to-day the
entire time was devoted to listening to
arguments by the iron and steel manu-
iacturers OF America for the retention
Of the present duties on iron, steel and
tin manufactured 10 this country. Mr..
Joseph Wharton, OF Philadelphia, vice
president Of the American Iron and
Steel Association, acted as chairman of
the delegation, which was composed of
the following gentlemen: George H.
Ely, of Cleveland, Ohio, president Of
tho Western Iron Ore Association;
William R. Sterling, of Chicago. fret
vice president Illinois Steel Company;
John Lambert, Joliet, Ill, vice presi-
dent Consolidated Wire and Steel Co. (;
Col. A. NJ. Shook, Nashville, director
Coal and Iron Railroad company and
director Southern Iron company; Capt.
H. S. Chamberlain, Chattanooga, presi-
dent Roane Iron company; James sed.
den, Birmingham, Ala, preaident
schioss Iron company; Maj. 6. N.
Laughlin, Pittsburgh. Of Jones & Laugh
Inns; Charles L Gilpin, Pittsburgh,
representing W. D, Wood company;
W. @. Cronemeyer, SPittsburgh, presi-
dent rinned Plate Manufacturers asso-
citation Of the United States; +. w.
Roebling, Trenton, N. j., representing
John A. Roeblings Sons company; 7.
H. Laufman, Apollo. Pa, representing
Laufman Tin Plate company; Jas. NJ.
Swank, Philadelphia, general manager
American Iron and Steel as
sociation; Cyrus E. Elder, Johns
town, Pa, Cambria Iron company.
MR.. wnAEToN's PROTEST.
Mr.. Wharton was the first speaker.
BE said that there were 10000 persons
engaged in all capacities in the manu-
iacture Of iron and steel, who repre-
sented population Of about 2,250,O0O
who were dependent upon this industry
for a livelihood. He insisted that the
present tariff was the best which had
ever been imposed aud that ttupder Its
operation prices had bean reduced to
the consumer. eve wantnoSehange, I"
added he. II believe the pftetice OF
changing the tariff is one Of the most
noxious things known TO business i'm
terests. We are now suffering from
a condition Of. distress strain.
which I suppose lev peopl ;outside tct
Xss.industfy are aware Of. 1t tsisFby The
destruction OF credit, Every man :lriI
this business is a borrower, and under
the present condition Of atfairsi it is al
most impossible 70 money. II is
notithe silver QUEST On "a EoReS that has
brought this about, but the fear
on the part tof manufacturers Of ad-
verse tariff legislation CONTINUING,
NMr. Wharton said that all the iron and
,steelmen wanted was to be placed on
ian equality with foreign Manufacture
ers% 9,SS f;.ois$
| yAfr. Wharton underwent a severe
Ncross:examination ut the hands OF Mr..
Turner, (Dem,, GeoSgia), who en-
deavored to elicit the Statement that
the great advance Of the iron and steel
business in this country9was due more
to natural advantages and. improved
machinery than to the tariff, but Mr..
Wharton took the position that 1t was
due to both causes and went further
and declared that even with the natural
advantages and improved machinery,
the home producers could not compete
with the foreigners on equal terms
without the aid OF the tariff ~.