New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-09
FACTS FOR FREE-TRADERS.
AND DECIDEDLY UNPLEASANT ONES,
TOO
OFFICIAL REPORTS PUBLISHED BY FREE
TRADE ADMINISTRATION DEMOLIsH
A FREE-TRADE THEORY.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

A FREE-TRADE THEORY.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE]
Washington Feb. S-Facts are constantly crop
| ping out. in the official publications OF ths
| free-trade Administration. which deal staggering
| blows to some of the most precious ana ueai''
cherished theories of free-traders recent rePor'
from Consu-General Mason. at Frankfort GERMANY
| which will soon be published by the state Depart
ment furnishes some facts Of this SORT one theory
| to which free-traders most tenaciousN cling Is
that a protective tariff cripples and curtaiis the
export trade Of a country In his speech III LONDON
| n few months ago Chairman Wilson, or the ways
and Means Committee said in substance that the
tariff reformers' of the United States were tear
ing down the barriers raised by the protectioniss,
| not only In order to encourage ana increase the
| mportations of foreign goods but also to encour-
age and increase the export trade of the United
States. That the latter result has not yet been
obtained the official reports of Treasury affairs
clearly prove. 1t may be argued that the time has
short since the enactment of the existing
Tariff law. That argument. however. cannot be
urged in the OF England. which for half-cen-
fury has enjoyed the blessings and reaped the bene
fits of a free-trade policy. adopted at time when
she stood at the head of the manufacturing coun-
tries of the world and was without single formid-
able rival in the markets of the world" In the
production, manufacture and export OF iron and
steel Great Britain had rival. Germany. the
other hand, Jagged far behind. Twenty years ago
that country began to change her policy. and within
the next two three years the protective system
became firmly established. Great Britain enjoyed
every advantage Germany In 1870 the United
Kingdom imported from all countries only 10000
tons of iron and steel nearly threefourths OF which
was bar iron of a special quality as material for
the crucible steel manufacturers of Sheffield. Ac-
cordng TO Consu(;eneral Mason's report. the i'm
ports had risen in 1890 TO $4,000 tons an increase Of
over 800 per cent. ''by far the larger portion OF
which supplied by Germany. which country In
1898 exported to England and six principal British
colonies 20sO0 tons OF steel and iron, being about
Is per cent of the total German export OF that
year"
Fifty years ago" Mr.. Mason says. Germany re-
ceved fully one-half of her entire iron from Eng
land Moreover. the German output of manu-
featured steel and iron rose from 2,c5SOo tons in
1878 to $4,000 tons in 1@2 an increase OF - per
cent in four years. with a corresponding increase
in exports and decrease in the imports OF these
metals for domestic use" Comparing the progress
OF the iron and steel industries OF Great Britain
and Germany in each principal department or class
of product during the decade from 1852 to 1892. the
surprising fact Is revealed that while the German
output of pig-iron increased 10 per cent that OF
Great Britain decreased % per cent" According to
the beautiful theory OF the free-trader. German ex-
ports OF iron and steel. however. must have de-
clined because of her protective tariff while those
OF Great Britain must have increased because that
country had such tariff That have been
because every free-trader would insist that II
could not have been otherwise And yet Consul
General Mason (whose report IL based upon one
made by the secretary OF the British Iron Trade
| Association months ago. after exhaustive
| Investigation says: During the period chat
ls the decade from 1852 TO 1922. the steel produc-
non Of Great Britain increased Il per cent, while
| that of Germany was augmented 50 per cent, and.
| 60 complete the picture. German exports OF iron
and steel increased by II per cent. while those OF
Great Britain declined TO the extent Of 81 per
| cent"
Verify. facts stubborn things" and often
disagreeable things for theories encounter. The
anxiety of the ironmdsters Of the United Kingdom
On account OF German competition zion GSes mot sprns
| England and the British colonies alone for in
| hey meet sharp and active competition from the
same source.
| MORE CORROBATIVE EVIDENCE.
| The statements made by Consul-General Mason
| in his report strongly corroborated by re-
| port from Consul Stephan, at Annaberg, which also
| will soon be published by the State Department
| According the latter report the production Of
pig iron. which Is the basis of all modern indus
tries has steadily increased in Germany since the
adoption of the protective system between 1919 and
1880 and has steadily decreased In England dur
| ing the same period In lsSc the German output
Of pig iron amounted to 33s0sOs tons. and with the
| exception Of two years there increase in
the output OF each year over that OF the preceding
year down TO and including 1893. In which year IL
| amounted to 4,9531is tons being Increase Of
nearly l,rbp.VD over tn" OF lhs2 In l&Z
| the English output amounted to s5s6.6S) tons; in
1884 10 1sN,72 tons IN 1856 70 sg9l5A tons, in 1880
1874 1870 tons. In 1892 TO 622 137 tons and I'm 1893
| 10 6S2y.Sil tons decrease Of than l,7o0.Ggj
| tons. compared with the output Of 1ss2.
| Consul Stephan says: Though England is yet
| producing nearly as much pig iron as France and
| Germany together her output has nevertheless
| taken a downward course. while that OF Germany
proves have taken larger dimensions every year.
| Assuming that Engand's annual decrease and Ger
| manys annual increase Will continue the same
rate, the two countries Will meet the same level
| will give this Empire the second place among the
| pig-iron producing countries the United States
| being the first. This constantly Increasing pro-
| ducion of pig iron In Germany is the result OF the
growing demand for this material which has arisen
| from its In the manufacture OF machinery and
| tools railway ship and bridge building and all
| the other branches of manufacturing Industries Of
| which iron IL the material factor. The growing
| demand for the material is due to growing
| call manufactured article. which again
| Germany is untiring in her search after mar
kets The good organization OF export associations.
| the Government aid through Its department OF
| Commerce. and above all, the Intelligence of the
mercantile classes. make IT possible that the I'M
| Goa sing efforts crowned with success"
The array Of facts set forth in these two reports
| Zone of which Is based on the investigation and
report OF the secretary OF the British Iron Trade
| Association, an authority which Professor Wilson
| at least would not attempt 10 gainsay) winch are
10 be published by a Democratic Free trade ADMIN
| istration would seem TO be irresistible when
| brought into contact with that theory which Is
| one of the most precious possessions or ADMINS
tration Free-Trade Democrats, but OF course they
| will not so regard II. II well-known and ndispu-
table facts confront and assa their theories, why
80 much the worse for the facts