The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-06
POSTERBD By THE TRUSTS
Representative TayIer Says Com
binati0ns Lead to Socialism.

The Obioan n Witness Before the In
dustriuI COmmissiOn-He Discusses
the Tariff and Its Relation to
AmaIgumated Business Interests.
Representative TayIer Of Ohio was a
witness this morning before the Indus
trial Commission and was examined on
the subject of the tariff and it's relation
to the trusts Mr.. TayIer. who is a promi-
nent Republican, was present as a repre-
sentative Of the American Protective Tar
if League.
In reply to a question the witness said
he had not given more atteEtfon to the
subject of the protective tariff than any
other member of Congress who had stud
led the subject The history of the last
two years, he said, was such as to con-
vince him that there should be no change
in the tariff law, as the prosperity Of the
country was due to the principle Of
prohfbitfve tariff.
We have now" he said. embodied in
our law what is known as the Dingley
tariff The principle Of prohibitive tariff
is for the benefit Of labor, and it is labor
that is chiefly interested
In reply to a question from Mr. Liv-
ington, Mr.. TayIer said the miner and the
farmer were equally benefited by the pro
tectfve tariff. He explained. by saying
that as labor was protected by the tariff,
the farmer received the benefit by reason
Of the Iaborer having more money to
spend for the products Of the farm.
The witness said the price of tin plate
was lower now than II was ten years ago.
before the Mckinley tariff went into ef-
feet. He declared that since the United
/ states began to manufacture tin plate
/ the price had fallen and the farmer re-
ceived the benefit Of the reduction in the
cost of production The great body of the
farmers Of Ohio, he said, were in favor
Of a protective tariff.
| Referring to the question of trusts and
the tariff. Mr.. TayIer said he was one who
| did not believe that trusts were a good
thing He had always opposed trusts, he
declared. He did not believe there was
any one man who could be trusted as the
sole head Of a great combination. No
man, he said, could be ornnipotent Trusts
led to socialism, and some way ought to
be fouad to regulate and control them.
Mr.. TayIer estimated that at the present
rate Of growth Of trusts the question of
Government ownership of the railroads
and the telegraph ard other large enter
prises would IN a short time confront the
country.
Referring to tin plate again. he said
it was possible that combination might
be found whereby the duty o. TN pIate
could be taken OF without destroying that
industry. but the first thing that would be
done in such an event would be the re-
duction of the wages OF labor.
The Steel Trust. he said. absorbed the
American. Tin Plate Company. He would
favor taking of the duty on the articles
controlled by the trust If it would result
/ in starting up independent nanufactur-
ers without reduction of wages 1t was
true, Mr. TayIer said, in answer to a
question that in a large measure wages
were regulated by the labor organizations
but that in hard times labor organiza-
tions could not maintain wages
In reply to question. Mr.. Tayler said
he did not look with favor on the pro
posed reciprocity treaties He said he
thought the industrial condition of the
country had been materially affected dur
ing the past thirty years by fndfs,
criminate immigration and that soms
law ought to be passed urging a slight
| educational test before immigrants wer,
allowed IN the country.
While trusts. he said, may have reduc
ed the price of articles they controlled
yet he believed that if there were (
healthy competition the prices Of trus
articles would be further reduced, anC
the consumer would get the benefit H
believed this would be the case with oil
which is controlled by the Standard Oi
Trust.
Trusts. the witness averred. could. no
be charged as the outgrowth Of the pro
hi5itive tariff, as they existed in fre,
trade England. the same as they did il
, ; chic oS-ry+rv-