The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-12-13

ment of our iron ore output. In
1870 it was 3,03l 1871 tons; IN 1880. 7,
l2O,362; In 1890. 16,O36,043. The
duty has undoubtedly contributed
To this result. The transportation
this development has given our
Northwestern railroads Is simply
emo nous The labor cost per ton
Of mining iron ore on Lake Superb
or il eight times that Of Bilboa and
more than four times that Of Cleve-
land, England. This tells the sto-
ry. Why impoverish the Ameri-
can miner? Why reduce his linn
tied comforts and force him down
of the level of the European stan
dard that iron, which is 81 cheap
now, may be trifie cheaper and
abor still more degraded? Even
the Mills bill proposed no change
in the duty on coal and iron ore.
IRON AND STEEL.
1t impossible without detailed
examination to gauge the amount
of injury this bill will work in the
! iron and steel industry. In 1890,
/ as in 1888, substantial reduction of
duties were made in this schedule
OF the new tariff. The threat of re-
duction of duty has thrown ont of
work at least 225,0O0 persons and
left a population of l,125,OOO without
the necessaries of life. This state
ment is moderate. The president
Of one steel company, with a CAPT
tai of 100000 and employing last
year $500 men, to whom was paid
in 1892 $6,522,OU0 in wages, inform
ed lie Ways and Means committe
that in consequence of this pro-
posed policy he had gradually
closed his mills, until ON October i,
1893 instead of $500 men actively
employed at good wages only l,l0O
at reduced wages were ut work.
What is true Of this company is
equally true Of others. A paralysis
of the iron and steel trades has
produced untold hard ships in the
iron ore regions and in the great
iron and steel producing districts
throughout the country.
LUMBER SALT AND LEAD.
Cutting the duty on lead ore be-
low the protective point will result
in great loss to some of the West.
ern States. The arguments that
have been used with SO much force
in connection with the iron and
coal schedules \ are even more
striking as to lead ore. This i.
worthless until labor transforms il
into an article of commerce, and
consequently its production gives
benefit to the Industrial classes Of
the nation. TO deprive it of ade
quate protection means that Oul
own lead mines will be closed, and
the mines of foreign countries ben
Gifted to corresponding extent. IL
other words, employment will bt
taken from our own people ant
given to foreign miners. Precise
ly the same may be said of all the
soscalled "raw materials" which
this committee has stripped of pro
lection. The labor here affected il
the very labor which it has always
seemed to me needed protection
more than highly paid skilled la
, Dor. The value of those products
, is slight indeed, in the mines
, and it is labor which enhances tn,
, value from the first stroke of tn,
pick or tap of the drill.
THE SUGAR BOUNTY.
The proposed change in the suga
: schedule and the octagonal repea
of the bounty l cannot but regar,
,, as serious mistake. The reason
for taking the duty off sugar entire
: ly in the tariff act of 1890 was tha
this was believed to be most in &C
cordance with the average senti
ment of the country; the Commit
tee on Ways and Means at tina
time desiring on the one hand t
give the people free and cheap su
gar, and on the 0 her hand wishin,
to avoid doing harm to the impor
tant sugar producing industry il
this country. TO this end the dut,
=, was abolished and bounty of tw
cents given for every pound pre-
> duced i'll the United States.
The people who use sugar-an
who does not? had previousl,
paid So, 100000 out Of their pocket
for the protection of men who pro
duce but one-eigh h of the amour
! of sugar We consume. We wip
: that out, and instead of payicI
o $55,0O0,00O wear, we now pay |
t. bounty of 100000 thus saving 81