The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-01-16
MEASURE REDUCING DUTIES ON
CERTAIN STEEL PRODUCTS
INTRODUCED. -.
EXPLAINED BY THE AUTHOR
Is an Effort to Maintain the Theory Of
Protection in Accordance With the
-. ~
Best Republican Traditions-PIaces
: Articles on the Free List That Are
Produced Here Cheaper Than They
Can Be in Foreign Countries.
Can Be in Foreign Countries.

Washington, Jan. 15.-Congressman
Babcock has presented his tariff bill
Tor removing duties on iron and steel
which is sold abroad at lower prices
than in American markets. Mr.. Bah
cock made the following statement,
summarizing the measure:
:'The bill 1 introduced affects only
the iron and steel schedule of the
Dlngley act. It differs from the one
I presented last session in several
important features. The former bill
was Intended to call the attention of
congress and the ways and means
committee to this schedule generally.
but was not in shape to pass without
full consideration
''This bill, on the other hand. has
been drawn with care, and attempts
to meet present conditions intelligent
ly. 1t is an effort to maintain the
theory of protection, in accordance
with the best Republican traditions,
and to prevent the party from becom-
ing responsible, by non-action, for
schedules that have been outgrown by
changed conditions and finance made
use of by combinations to extort I'M
reasonable prices from domestic con-
sumers.
The bill represents the views of
many Intelligent men who are them
selves interested in the iron and steel
industry and who are experts in ali
matters touching this subject. have
also had the aid of experts from the
treasury department in Analysing ex.
listing laws and in framing this bill,
and therefore it is in shape to pass
without opening up the general tariff
question.
II have placed the heavy products
of the furnace on the free list, such
as iron and steel slabs, blooms, loops,
beams, Orders and all structural iron
or steel, boiler and ship plates, steel
rails, steel ingots, steel billets and
bars.
Entire Schedule Readjusted.
"The steel and iron schedule is very
complicated and the placing of these
articles on the free list required the
readjustment of nearly all Of the para
graphs in Schedule c.. After numerous
conferences with iron and steel man
ufacturers, these paragraphs have
been amended upon strictly protective
lines; that is, each article is given
full protection as compared with the
cost of production in other countries,
which still leaves margin in our
favor. For instance, tin is quoted f. O.
b. in England at So per box, the price
in Pittsburg is 81. I have reduced the
Dingley rates from $3.50 to 81, which
would equalize the price and leave tie
foreigner to pay the cost of transporta-
ton and insurance in order to sell tin
in this market
1t does away in certain paragraphs
with the high rates which were neces-
sary a few years ago and brings the
schedules into line with the changed
conditions.
Il have been especially careful not
to reduce schedule where labor was
the greatest part of the cost of. the
article, and there is no single item in
the entire bill, whether it provides that
the article shall go on the free list or
whether it remains on the dutiable
list, that will in any way affect labor.
The whole bill is in line with the
Republican protective policy as ad-
vocated in the national platforms and
by it's greatest champion, the late
President Mckinley. It affords ample
and full protection where it is neces-
sary and places on the free list those
articles that are produced here
cheaper than they can be in foreign
countries"