Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-08
WANTS TARIFF REFORM
Congressman Babcock Urges
That Duty Be Reduced on
Iron Products.
Says Steel Industry Has Reached
Point Where Protection Is
NotNeeded.
America Can Now Undersell the
English in Their Own
Markets.

Chicago, Oct. S.-'When any article
can be manufactured in the United
States cheaper than anywhere else and
is an article of export, the duty pro-
duces no revenue and affords no protec-
ton, but simply enables those who Sc
cure control to make such prices as they
see fit in the domestic market up to a
point where it can be imported"
This is word for word the principle
Upon which Congressman Joseph w.
Babeock. of Wisconsin, would reform
the tariff. He made the announcement
in his room at the Auditorium last
right. He puts it this way:
Il am making no assault on tariff
schedules. have applied this principle
to only one schedule, the steel duty. /
show how it works with regard to that.
II am republican and protection
list. believed in the Dingley bill at the
time. Protection means the fostering of
industries in their infancy. But protec-
ton does not mean the support of mo-
nopolies, whether of an Individual or a
corporation. I want to see the repub-
lican party abreast of the times, dealing
with present conditions, not grown
mossback like the democracy.
Now take this steel schedule. Steel
billets can be produced in this country
cheaper than anywhere else in the
world. We have got Great Britain,
Germany and Belgium thrashed on the
matter of steel. and they know 1t. We
alone possess coke to run furnaces that
produce from 600 to 500 tons day. In
Europe they have furnaces that can
produce only 100 tons day. That is
because of the coke. This coke, known
to steel men as strong structural coke,
is so called because 1t alone is capable of
supporting mass Of ore without being
crushed. That coke they do not have in
Europe.
yet the protected steel monopoly
owns 90 per cent of this coke. Also, 1t
owns IS per cent of the surface ores.
Neither steel rails. steel plates nor steel
billets are imported into this country.
Why? Because Europe can not produce
them as we do. We are supplying them
instead.
THE only steel imported is 'Swedes-
iron handmade, hammered, charcoal
steel, used only where very tough steel
is needed.
THE Pennsylvania railroad is build
ing its own steel plant, using its OWE
ores and fuel to manufacture its own
steel rails, so as to be able to get them
for SIG to SIS a ton, where 1t would have
to pay the trust SPA a ton. The road
understands the situation. 1t is very
clear.
Now that is one schedule. There are
others, but am concentrating on this
one. Why don't you question the sugar
as well? I am asked that. Be-
cause the sugar schedule does not come
under my principle. 1t 10 our greatest
revenue producer, ana 1t does not exrT
port. 1t is legitimate protection also,
protects the beet ralsers in the west and
the cane growers in the south.
Here are the figures. This year our
production of beet sugar was 19S.500
tons. of cane sugar 100000 tons. The
southern states produced 100000 tons,
Porto Rico 100000 tons and Hawaii 300.-
600 tons. Three years ago our beet sugar
product was only 80, 600 tons. Secretary
Wilson expects that under the present
beet sugar production will
have an indefinite extension. That is
why do not quarrel with the sugar