The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-09
THE RoRRER TARIFF.

liament. MT. Lawrence. visited the ohiteo States and made critical investigations and observations of our industrial con- ditions. especially the iron and steel in- ! dustry. Since his return to England he made a statement to one of the Cham bers of Commerce of his country, part of which is thus reported:
 He told his audience that Charles M. Schwab assured him that the steel trust could deliver steel biliets in England for s16 50 per ton, whereas. the lowest price for which British manufacturers could make them was s1s. MT. Schwab also ir- formed him. Mir. Lawrence said, that when the trust had completed certain ocean transportation arrangements now pending the American price would be still lower In addition to this statement, Mir Schwab called the attention of MT. Lawrence to the fact that his steel work CTS got double the wages paid British | workmen in the same line.
 Commenting on this statement, The Chattanooga Times says:
 There is a 45 per cent duty on steel billets. Schwab, head of the billion-dollar steel trust, says American billets can be sold in England at profit, for $16 ton. Schwab, as head of the largest producer of billets in the country, fixes the price in the home market at $H a ton; and you may depend that Schwab will oppose with all of his influence the removal of the 45 per cent. tax on foreign billets, that, at least apparently, enables him to plunder his countrymen of about $1o on every ton of steel they buy. That tax is a simple outrage on honesty and decency, and the people see through the case when Schwab's quotations abroad and at home are set beside the other facts.
 These are interesting statements and figures. in connection with the movement now on foot among certain Republicans to reform our tarin system. The manu- those much exploited infant industries" which our Government has been protect II ing and coddling ever since Republicans got control of cur affairs, and 1t has grown from an infant to giant. putting billions of dollars into the pockets of the favored few at the expense of the masses of the people of the United State. There are others almost or quite as bad, but this steel industry is a fair example of high tariff exactions.
 Some figures right here may not be without interest. and in this calculation we take no account of ocean freights which would be about the same each way It is observed that American pro- ducers can send their steel biilets to Flu rope and sell them at $18 per ton, and of course they could be sold here at the same or less prices. English steel billets cost s1s ton at home. but if they should send their products over here. they must pay . tAriff duty of $ per cent ad valo- rem. Add this to the cost at home and 1t makes ss7.56 for the metal delivered on this side. Steel was quoted In New York last Friday at SIS and sN per ton. and steel rails at sss. In short, although our manufacturers could ship their steel to | England and sell it at s1e ton. they | charge home consumers nearly double
 that rate because the English steel under our tariff cannot be sold here for less
 than sg7, at the lowest. and our protected
 manufactories can put their products nearly up to the limit and still keep out foreign competition.
 Steel, as is pretty generally known. is
 coming into almost universal use. Not only are cage VoOtS udue OL Itp OuI
 most every variety of machinery Is of the
 same metal. Railroad bridges and rails the farmers blows and other implements
 the mechanics nails, bolts and screws and thousands of other articles which only few years ago. were manufactured of iron, are now made of steel, and the
 consumers are taxed to enrich the cor
 porations. If 1t can be made here and
 shipped to England at $16, it is evident that the English, with steel costing
 them $19 at home, could not send 1t hert
 and compete with us, and that we coult
 manufacture steel at a profit If the tariff
 duties were entirely removed. In other
 words, that 45 cents duty goes directly
 into the pockets of the manufacturers
 No wonder honest Republicans see thu
 unfairness. the inequality. the downright
 robbtry of the system. and that move
 ment for it's correction is receiving st
 much attention and support. And steel ii
 only one of the many articles on which
 the tRriff operates to enrich producers a
 the expense of consumers. The robbeI
 tariff will have to so, and it Is reproael
 to Democrats that they have allowed
 anything to interfere with their duty II
 this respect. and that the agitation fol
 relief comes from Republicans who will
 get much of the credit. if they succeed.
 |
 Students in the sixth grade in the pub