The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-19
IN THE house.
Tom Jahnson WAITS steel Rails on the
Free List-Daizeii Roxsts Him.


Free List-Daixeii Roasts Him.
WAsHIS 6ToS CRY, Jan. la-When the
house resumed consideration of the tariff
bill today Johnson (Deai. of Ohio offered
his amendment placing on the free list
railway bars made in part Of steel; rails
and girders, street rails and punched
iron or steel and fiat rails, which
In the bill are dutiabe at IS
per cent Johnson explained his amend
ment. He said steel rail pool existed
which paid steel -aii mills to close their
works and give them monopoly of this
production. He said it was generally ad.
mitted that no revenue would be produced
from putting duty of 25 per cent on
them. The ways and means committee
did not claim it would produce revenue,
aud he asked the house to either put steel
rails on the tree list or show a good reason
for not doing SO.
Springer asked Johnson. who is himself
steel rail producer. whether placing rails
on the free list would drive rail manu-
facturers out of business, TO which the
latter replied that it would not. Its only
effect would be to reduce the profits Of mill
owners.
That's what you are here for. sup
pose, )" interposed Boutelle, sarcasticaily;
Ito reduce your profits"
81 anu not here voting money into the
pockets OF my stock holders, replied john
son emphatically, amid applause.
Your patriotism has an element OF i'm
probability about 1t, retor,ed Bouteile.
In further reply to Springer Johnson
stated that his mill was not more favor
ably situated than others that were in
about the center OF the steel rail produc-
tion.
Dalzell, Rep, of Pennsylvania proceeded
to attack johnson. Steel rail production,
he said, was an important industry in
eleven states. The proposition was to
place steel rats on the free list and leave
the billets and blooms out of which they
are manufactured dutiahle at 25 per cent
Was that Just? The steel rail industry is
the most splendid monument Of protection.
under its beneticent operation the price of
rails has gone down from $50 TO SIS.
IF the price went down here what
brought it down abroad ?" asked Johnson.
Inventive genius. stimulated by the es-
Enlistment of the industry here" replied
Mr.. DalzelI. 1.-THE wages paid abroad"
continued Dalzell, "are 40 per cent. lower
than here. Any argument based on the
present price OF rails is faliacious. because
of the depressed condition of bust
ness at this time" Johnson,
he continued sarcasticaliy, sought
TO give strength TO his plea for free rails
on the ground that he himself was a man.
ufacturer. He sought 10 give the impres-
sion that he was in competition with mills
in the alleged trust: as matter of fact he
manufactured only street railway rails. and
he had a monopoly of that production.
Laughter and applause.
There are two other firms which make
street rails. said johnson.
Two others" retoried Dalxeli. con-
iemptuously. You are practically a
monopolist. all the same" Daizell then
went on TO say that he held in his hand
copies of l02 patents issued to Moxham,
president of the Johnson Company. They
give him the most complete and despoue
form of protection. yet from behind that
wall of protection he assumed the role
of philanthronist and wanted TO take
protection away from the producers of
railroad rails who had no patents. Re
publican applause Dalzell went on to
severely criticise some statements made
by Johnson a few days ago. The scrip with
which he was paying his men. Daizell
said. was at a heavy discount When
Johnson stated the other day on
the floor, amid the plaudits OF the
Democratic side. that this scrin
had been redeemed at premium.
he stated what vas not true, and he kne "
it. He went to the stenographer and
changed what he said. so as to make IL
read redeemed at par. The gentleman
from Ohio struck out the words, but he
did not strike out the applause" which
they evoked. Laughter and applause
At this point the house took recess until
o'clock tomorrow.
AT the night session. ibley, Dem. OF
Pennsylyanis, created something of a SEN
sation BY bitter speech against the VIII
son bill. He said he old noe believe tariff.
made or nnmade prosperity. He would
support, he declared. revenue tariff bill
such as vas demanded by the Chicago
nlatform. but he would never vote for this
bill. which vas a hybrid, half free trade
and half protection. with the vices OF both
and the virtues II neither. The other
speakers were Mckeighan. Pop, OF Ne
braska; DeForest. Dem. Of Connecticut.
and Russell. Rep. of Connecticut.
The subcommittee OF the judiciary
/ committee OF the house has ordered a
favorable report on the resolution oi
Bailey. declaring that the secretary of the
treasury ha. no authority to issue bonds
An attempt will oe made at a meeting oi
| the full committee tomorrow 10 secure I'm.
| mediate action on the subcommittee re
port. In any case. however. the house
cannot act on IL until the tariff bill is dis
| posed OF. "
senator WaithAIl Eesigna.