The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-14
HIGH TARIFF HAS WORKED
HARDSHIP ON THE PEOPLE
Bryan w. Holt Presents Figures
Which Show That American Made
Goods Can be Bought Cheaper
In Europe Than the U. S.
BY wATTERsoN sTEALEY.

By WA EhSON . EALE1s
Washington. July 13. = Especially = The
Democratic Congressional committee is
trying to get its hands upon the special
foreign discount sheets of several of the
great business houses of the United
States but so far without success. The
object of obtaining these lists of export
prices Is to compare the prices of articles
made IN this country and shipped abroad
for sale with the cost OF the same arti-
rles in this country. 1t is known that
number of trrst-made articles manufac-
tured in the United States are sold
abroad cheaper than the concerns will
sell them to citizens of this country.
Probably not l per cent of these articles
ere known.
Many experts who have examined the
subject express the opinion that practi-
calry all our manufactured products are
sold to foreigners for less than to Ameri-
cans The committee believes that such
list would be a powerful campaign
document and speak for itself Liberal
rewards have been offered for the infor-
nation, but the present outlook is that
1t will be difficult to obtain. Before the
campaign is over, however, the commit
tee expects to be able to present these
ralpable lessons in tariff robbery to the
people.
Wants Peabody's Pricellst.
Last week Representative Griggs in
serted an advertisement in New York
paper Offering reward of 500 for the
special discount sheet of Henry w. Pea
body's export price list, but up to this
date nothing has been received.
A New York paper this morning prints
an interview with ]. r. Bradlee of the
Peabody Company concerning this adver
tisement, in which he says, In reply to a
question whether he would give one of
his discount sheets to the committee: II
doubt IL we should. l would not feel that
we were at liberty to do So AS far as
our firm is concerned, we wouldn't care
rap, but we are commission merchants
dealing with many American manufac-
turers and doing business all over the
world. We would not feel like giving our
lists of prices quoted to the export trade
by American manufacturers for the only
evident purpose of making material for
Democratic Congressman and orators
The hearings held by the Industrial
commission last summer brought out
number of important facts, but only a.
few instances were given Mr.. SchWab,
president of the United States Steel Cor
poration admitted that during last year
the steel trust exported certain grades of
of the same goods to home consumers
was from $26 to $28 per ton.
The most direct testimony was given
by Byron w. Holt, secretary of the tariff
reform committee of New York. In dis
cussng this subject Mr. Holt said that
the concealment of export prices Is prob
ably responsible for considerable of the
difference between the values of our ex-
ports and of our imports.
Was Formerly Easy.
"Ten years ago. says Mr.. Holt. at
was comparatively easy to get the ex-
port price of various articles, even
though they were then often from 10 to
30 per cent below the home market price
Today, when great trusts control prices
on most of exports, it is extremely
difficult to obtain export prices. The
editors of trade papers will no longer
talk on this subject, and as rule will
not keep on file foreign exchanges which
quote prices of certain American goods
in foreign countries. 1t is only now and
then that an employe of a trust or of
some export house can be found who Is
willing to risk betrayal and almost GER
tain deeapitation If he talks on this SUBJ
ject.
Nearly all of the information on this
point which l have obtained during the
last few years has been strictly conf
Dental. In this way l learned a few
days ago that tin plate is being extern
sively offered and in some instances has
been sold to manufacturers of cans and
packages, to be filled with products for
export. at about 81 per box below the
price to other manufacturers and con-
sumers. l am not permitted to mention
any names. I also learned last week.
from an entirely reliable source, that
steel rails were sold some three months
ago to foreigners at less than $21 per
ton. / could specify the exact price,
important recent transaction, but am
not permitted to do so. These rails were
sold with the provision that they were
not to be used in the United States. That
steel rails are sold for export at what
ever the manufacturer can get above
s20 and perhaps for considerably less
If the time of delivery is remote enough
= not doubt. The manufacturers
poor or selling agreement, under which
rails are now sold for $28. is not effec-
tive on rails sold to foreigners or for
export The newspapers of a month or
so ago contained the details of sale of
steel rails to an English firm for SIS
per ton (allowing for freight less than
the price to Americans. The New York
World of April 8, 1901. thus states the
case:
Cheaper In England.
Z" Mr.. Charles Thulin. Pennsylvania
contractor. recently secured a contract
to supply rails for Russias great Siber-
ian railway. He asked the leading steel
trust companies here for bids. They all
asked him about s35 per ton. with freight
TO be added Mr.. Thulin went over to
England, sublet his contract to an En-
glish firm, and one of the same COM
panies that had asked him s35 plus
freight hare, sold the rails at $24 ton
delivered in England to the English sub
contractor
THE extent to which goods are sold
cheaper for export than in the home