Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-01-29
TARIrr INoOssIsrENor GALORE.


Steel rails have always been con-
sidered sort of barometer by the
high tariff editors, and upon the decline
In their price is based u large part OF
the argument that protection cheapens
products-an argument in itself lncon-
sistent They have got it down to a
point now where they have completely
cornered themselves and, asan exchange
points out, are having a good deal OF
trouble over the fact that steel rails are
made cheaper here than abroad, be-
cause 1t renders ridiculous their. tariff
OF Sl3.44 per ton, and also because they
are compelled to admit that the differ.
erence Is due to improved processes
Although the Republican press as
sumes that IL has q monopoly of tho in
telligence required to discuss economic
questions, an organ OF that party in
variably comes to grief when it under
takes to deal with questions Involving
the most elementary principles Of
arithmetic. Here is an extract from
the Chicago Tribune:
The present price OF American steel
ralls is 80 ton. The price abroad is
about ST.. " the rails come i'm free thew
could not be sold hore, plus the ocean
freight, for much less than S25. Mr. Car
negie has vastly improved machinery bv
which ten men can do the work of "A hun
dred, as work is done in the other mills
lie makes rails for SIS ton, and his
profit is $40. On that basis he uurposes IN
secure tho sseel trade OF the United
Stutcs.n
Now in connection with this the
same paper argues that If the Wilson
Bill. with % per cent protection for
steel rails, snail become law, manu-
featuring will have to be given up, or
else wages will come down 10 a Eu-
ropean basis. Exactly how that is
made out is hard to tell 1t does not
appear from the figures submitted.
Let the reader note the admissions in
the extract above. Mr.. CARNEGIE can
make rails for Sl5 ton. Whyq On
account of the TARIFF No; on account
OF improved machinery. This is what
Democrats have been saying all along.
But why does that improved machinery
lessen the cost? Because ten men can
do the work OF hundred. The labor
cost then will DE much less than IL is
abroad. and in point of fact it is admit.
ted that the whole cost OF rails is less
hero than it is abroad. On that basis
Mr.. CARNEGIE proposes TO secure the
steel trade OF the United States.
This, we admit, would be bad for the
other manufacturers, but how would
the tariff help them? II they can not
procure the improved machinery. what
they need is not protection against for
eign manufacturers, but protection
against &ARNEGIE. Unfortunately for
them, there is no sort OF tariff permit
ted by our Constitution that will protect
them from CAENEGIE. Their only
chance is to force CARNEGIE into
combine" and this, It is said, they are
now trying to do.
The point. however, to which we wish
to Invite attention is the admission that
IL is improved machinery that has
cheapened steel rails, and brought them
at last to free trade basis, so far as
cost OF production is concerned. Take
on the tariff and the consumer will get
them at free trade prices. II Mr. CAR
NEGrE Is to monouolize production,
there is no reason why the government
should guarantee him Co.. per cent
profit.