Arizona daily citizen., 1901-11-18
BABCOCK
FULL OF
FIGHT FOR
REFORM
The Republican Con
gressman Says He Is
Ready Fight the
Billion Dollar
Trust.

WASHINGTON Nov lS.-Repre-
sentative Babcock of Wisconsin. whose
proposition to revise the customs tariff
IN steel billcte. structural iron and
steel rails, has caused so much dis
cussion in Republican and protective
tariif circles. has arrived at Washing
ton for the session Mr.. Babcock said
today he would prepare his bill and in
troduco it early in December.
My idea as to tariff revision is
simple, think" he said, 1T is this:
Where, by changed conditions, tariff
duties have become exorbitant far be-
yond the needs OF protection. | would
put them where they would amply pro-
tect labor. but not 10 a point that
would create a monopoly Of trade and
raise prices to consumers.
In other words, II an article cost 81
to be produced abroad and $3.50 to be
produced in this country. | would ia
vor 80 per cent duty. to portect our
selves; but not 200 per cent. which
would simply afford a margin for In
crehsing the price to our own eonsum-
.te. There is np departure from Re
publican protective tariff principles In
that. | reassert that am as ardent
an advocate OF the Republican doc
trine of protection to American in
dustrles as there IL In this country
"The question this Congress will be
called upon to answer is. wiz it per
NIT tariff duty TO remain In force 10
enable n trust to pay dividends on
Watered stock
nra bnn In,ta - ,,.aat danI ~ ,oItr
about the small manufacturer.
want to give the small manufacturer
all the protection he needs But bear
this In mind. the small manufacturers
in the steel and iron business, that
are capitalized legitimately, that have
no watered stock. that are run upon
strictly business principles. can pay
dividends with a rate Of tariff upon
which the Steel Trust would have To
pass its dividends on its common and
preferred stock
THE tfust needs the eXorhitant tar
III to keep up prices in order To pay
dividends upon It's great volume Of
watered stock, The trust is making
enormous profits The small fellows,
Of course, are following the prices set
Dy the trust, nut lhP5 uOii hceu bug
such tariff in order 10 enable them to
make handsome profit on their OPP
erations.
There tx my whole proposition in
brief. II is not question of revenue.
but one of protecting the consumer
against exorbitant prices. and still Civ
ing the small manufactures adequate
protection against foreign competition.
In this class of manufacturers my
bin touches. labor does not enter TO
any such degree as in other branches
of steelmaklng The great part of the
ore Is surface ore. dug out with n
steam shovel 1t il dumped into n hop
per car. which emptios IL into q bin
that in turn dumps 1t into vessel. II
Is lifted ont by steam power, and
through all the process of making a
steel billet the labor used Is Mt a mini
mum. Structural ironmaking Is large
~ n question OF machinery.%
THE question that have raised will
have to be met and | want 1t solved
by the Republican party The entire
Northwest Is aroused upon this sub
ject, and the people of Iowa, Minneso-
Ia and Wisconsin are with me soiidly
| have letters without end, newspaper
Endorsements and announcement from
many quarters