Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-05-16

dent Of the United States Steel Corpora
tion, gave some interesting testimony
concerning his company when he ap-
peared before the Industrial Commits
sion on Saturday. great deal Of the
information he permitted himself to
exhale was ALREADY ia the hands Of the
public, but coming directly from him
it had certain freshness impaired to
it that arouses now interest. He
stated definitely that the United States
company owns ~ per cent of the iron
ore OF the Northwest and produces from
Go 10 70 per cent Of the steel products
Of the country. This statement alone
indicates the enormous power his COM
rany is capable Of welding in the iron
world But be went on to say that IL
also owns 10000 acres of cooking coal
land in the Connellsville region and in
its iron mines 100000, 600 tons OF ore
are 10 sight. He considered 81 ton a
reasonable profit on the ore. but hardly
thought the supply would last longer
than thirty years. He had greater
hopes of the coal supply. That, he
thought, would ho'd out for at least
sixty years. Thus 1t is seen the United
Sta es Steel Corporation ia in no i'm
mediate danger of going into the hands
Of receiver from the lack Of fuel and
raw material. But the most interesting
feature of his testimony was the opin-
ion he expressed concerning the ad-
vantages now accruing from high
tariff. The present customs duties he
professed to believe 'tentirely estisfac-
tory" and in his lofty and light
hearted replies 10 the questions pro-
pounded by the members OF the com
mission, in which he advised them he
did not wish the present tariff changed
10 any respect, there appeared vein of
lcynical oondescension, curious atti-
I tude of puzzled amusement, as though
he regarded his temporary duty as a
dispenser of trust information in the
light of semi disagreeabie task, out
of which he managed to get something
in the way of entertainment by watch
ing the astonishlnent and naivete of his
questioners. Naturally, a system OF
tariff taxation which strangulates home
competition. and increases the percent.
age of profit to a degree that ermits
the sale of surplus products to fol eigr
consumers at less riice than that dc.
manded 10 the home market, would ap.
peal to man of Mr.. Sohwat's economic
principles as ideal in it's practica
beneficence. 1t is evident he so regards
our present tariff. 1t is the very thing
Why disturb itY When corporation
like the United States Steel Compau,
can sell its goods cheaply abroad ant
help the poor laboring man across thi
Atlantic, while incidentally forcinE
foreign companies to liquidate, VIII.
, should the tariff, which compels tn,
home consumer to pay the cost of th,
performance, be changed? That woult
} not be the way to help an infant in
, dustry and promote expansion o
, American manufactures. oh no
But perhaps, after all, there is leak il
Mr.. Schwab's confidence. Perhaps hi
iaunty air and his cynical nunchalanc
8 il only mask to cover deep appre
t hension. Do the people Of the country
Y who are obviously vitality concerned il
the distribution of any BENEFITS tina
q may be derived from the legislativ
= raternalism we are now upholding
a really think as be does? He has reaso
q to doubt it, for what did that Grea
{ Political Barometer. who is now swing
Q ing around the circle in a palace cal
r mean when he blurted out the othe
d day that we must open up new avenue
: for our surplus products? Was he onl
4 platitudinizing? or had his aensitiy
T. ear detected distant sound of ominou
# import? Truly, these are troublou
i times for Mr.. Schwab-we think. Blu
i let him not lose heart. The mantle {
a Elijah may fall upon Mark.