The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-01-19
BIG PROFIT IN STEEL RAILS.
1t Is Therefore Proposed to
Reduce the Duty.
Representative johnson of Ohio Goes
for the Steel Trust.
Mr. DaIzell of Pennsylvania Goes for
MIR. Johnson-Oongrsssm sibley's
Sensational epesch-Houss and
Senate Proceedings.
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.-The presi-
dent's veto of the bill for the relief OF
purchasers of timber and stone lands
under the act of June, 1878. was read
at the opening OF the session of the
house today.
After passing the senate bill for the
construction of the Chattanooga and
Western bridge across the Tennessee
river near Chattanooga. the considera-
ton OF the tariff bill WAS resumed.
Johnson (Dem.) of Ohio offered his
amendment placing on the free list rail-
way bars made in part OF steel, rails
and eirders, street rails and punched
iron or steel fat rails, which in the bill
are dutiable at 20 per cent. Mr.. John
son explained his amendment. That
steel rail pool existed which paid steel
rail mills to close their worka and give
them a monopoly of this production, he
said, is generally admitted. No revenue
will be produced from putting duty
Of % per cent on them. The ways and
means committee did not claim it
would produce revenue, and he asked
the house either to put steel rails on
the free list or show good reasons for
not doing so.
Springer asked johnson, who is him
self steel rail producer, whether plac-
ing rails on the free list would drive
rail manufacturers out Of business, to
which the latter replied it would not.
Its only effect would be to reduce the
profits OF the mill owners.
THAT'S what you're here for, l sup
pose" interposed Boutelle, sarcastic
ally. ito reduce your profits"
II am not here voting money into the
pockets of my stockholders" replied
Johnson emphatically amid applause.
"Your patriotism has an element OF
improbability about It," retorted Bou-
telle.
In further reply to Springer, Johnson
stated his mill was not more favorably
situated than others; that it was in
about the center of steel rail produc-
ton.
Dslzell (Rep.) of Pennsylvania pro-
ceeded to attack johnson. Steel rail
production, he said, was an important
industry in IL states. The proposition
was to place steel rails on the free list
and leave the billets and blooms out of
which they are manufactured dutiable
st rs per cent. Was this just? The
steel rail industry is the most splendid
monument of protection. Under its
beneicent operation the price of rails
had gone down from $50 to $25.
1.-THE price went down here; what
brought 1t down abroad ?" asked john
son.
Inventive genius, stimulated by the
establishment OF the industry here"
replied Dalzell.
The wages paid abroad, continued
Dalzell, were 40 per cent lower than
here. Any argument based on the pres
ent pTi1s of rails was fallacieGs, because
of the depressed condition OF business
at this time. johnson, he continued
sarcastically, sought to give strength to
his plea for free rails on the ground that
he himself was a manufacturer. He
sought to give the impression that he
was in competition with the mills in the
alleged trust. As matter of fact he
only manufactured street railway rails.
and he had monopoly of that produc-
ton. Laughter and applause.
There are two other firms which
make street rails" said Johnson.
1.-TWO Others" retorted Dslzell, con-
temptuously. "You are practically
mon0p0llHt ell the same"
Dalzell went ON to say he held IN his
hand copies of 102 patents issued to
Moxham, president of the Johnson COM
pany. They give. him the most COM
plete and despotic form of protection.
Yet, from behind that wall Of protec.
ton, he assumed the role of q philan-
thropist and wanted to take protection
away from the producers of railroad
rails who had no patents. Republican
applause.l
Dalzell went on to severely criticise
some of the statements made by John
son few days ago. The scrip with
which be was paying his men, Dalzell
said. was at heavy discount. When
johnson stated the other day ON the
floor, amid plauditH from the Democratic
side, that his scrip had been redeemed
at premium, he stated what was not
true, and he knew it. He went to the
photographer and changed what he said
80 as to make it read they were 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 a recess
until O'Clock tonight.
AT the night session Shirley dem. of
Pennsylvania, created something of q
sensation by bitter speech against the
Wilson bill. He said he did not believe
tariff made or unmade prosperity. He
would support, he declared, revenue
tariff bill such as was demanded by the
Chicago platform, but ne would never
vote for this bill which was a hybrid,
half free trade and half protection, with
the vices OF both and the virtues of
neither.
Other speakers were McKeighan Pop
of Nebraska, DeForest (Dem.) of Con-
necticut and Russell (Rep.) OF Connecti-
cut.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.