The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-06
FREEDOM OF DISCUSSION.

Before the last Congress adjourned, Rep
resentative Babcock, of Wisconsin, a MEM
Der of the ways and means committee,
after consulting not a few of his associates
in the House, presented a bill putting GER
tain iron products on the free list. The
Journal does not undertake to say whether
the measure was wise or not, but does say
that the criticism Mr.. Babcock received
has, in a large measure, been unjust. Few
men have done more for the Republican
organization in recent years than has Mr..
Babcock as chairman of the Republican
congressional committee. But because he
presented this bill the good service is for
gotten. his motives are impugned, his 10y
atty to his party is questioned, and trade
journals which are not Republican have
threatened TO prevent the reelection of
Speaker Henderson unless he shall pledge
himself to drop Mr.. Babcock from the next
committee on ways and means.
Such attacks upon Mr.. Babcock are at
war with the traditions of the Republican
party, first set forth in the words, free
soil, free speech and free men," Free
discussion of measures has always been
accorded Republicans. so long as those
discussing them accept the final decision of
the party for the time being. Time and
time again Republicans have offered
amendments to tariffs enacted by Repub-
lican Congresses. The late Representative
Dingley is reported to have expressed the
opinion that the present tariff law should
be amended as the conditions of trade and
industry might require, without general
revision. The Dingley tariff was suited to
the conditions at the time it was enacted,
but that was four years ago-four years
in which the most wonderful changes nave
occurred. During these four years it has
been demonstrated that the producers of
iron and steel in the cruder forms can
make the worlds prices. In 1894 Mr.. Car
negie expressed Indifference as to a tariff
on his products. 1t has been asserted time
and again that the United States Steel
Corporation does not care whether there
is or is not a tariff on its chief products.
In this connection, so far as they relate TO
the cruder forms of iron and steel, the
schedules of the Dingley law are es-
- 00A AAADAA w AAoO y
The fact that the extensive combinations
made in the manufacture of iron and steel
have enabled the American producer to
compete i'm the markets of the world with
out protection is reason why a Republican
may favor a modification of the duties on
such products which were established in
1894. without being denounced as a traitor
To his MARTY There ir aro4bo- oo--f1o--
ton. 1t has been asserted and not denied
that the United States Steel Corporation
has offered to deliver steel billets i'm a
British seaport for $40 a ton less than they
are sold I'm New York. If this is the case.
1t would seem to be i'm the interest of tens
Of thousands of manufacturer in this coun-
try who use crude iron and steel as a raw
material that some legislation be adopted
which will deprive the British competitor
in the manufacture Of goods made of steel
billets of an advantage Of $40 a ton i'm his
raw material. If the duty on bilIets were
10 or 20 per cent. or if they were on the
free list, those sold in England at $40 a ton
less than those sold in New York could be
reimported for home consumption. At any
idNC' might prevent the StlllnS OF Amer1-
can billets abroad for three-fourths the
price demanded here.
The Journal is not advocating such legis-
lation, because it does not fully understand
the bearing it would have, but it holds
that the Republican congressman who sug-
gests such legislation is none the less a
party man ard does not deserve the asper-
sions which certain high tariff rather than
Republican publications have made against
him and the threats they nave made to
influence Speaker Henderson. Many con-
gressmen have declared that there is no
demand for such legislation. If they would
go about among their constituents seeking
their opinions upon this SUBJECT rather
than declaring to them that no change is
wanted, it is more than possible they would
discover that they are self-deceived.