The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-23
WHY PROTECTION
 Is FALSE THEORY
(continue4 from First Paae)


 
 viving it, and there is good reason for believing that it never would have been revived but for the civil war, which ne- cessitated the raising of a large revenue to meet the extraordinary demands upon the treasury. Certain classes availed themselves of this opportunity to rein troduce the protective system for their own advantage, and they were success ful. The result was the Morrill, tariff, or rather four successive installments of the Morrill, tariff.
 Tn the views which senator Sherman expressed on the Morrill, bill and which many other republican statesmen enter tained it, defined such ascendancy in the councils of the party that plan for revision of the tariff was made dis tinctive feature of President Arthurs ad- mnistration. With the sanction of protectionist congress, a commission was appointed for this purpose in 1882, con- sisting with one exception, of the chosen representatives of the protected indus tries.
 Report of the Commission.
 "They spent several months taking tes- timony and made report in which they summed up their conclusions in these words
 Early in its deliberations the commits sion became convinced that a substantial reduction of tariff duties Is demanded, not by a mere indiscriminate popular clamor but by the best conservative opin- ion of the country, including that which has in former times been most trenuous for the preservation of our national 1n- dustrial defenses. Such reduction of the existing tariff the commission regards not only as a due recognition or public sentiment and measure of justice to consumers. but one conducive to the gen. eral industrial prosperity and which all though it may be temporarily inconven- tent. will be legitimately beneficial to the special interests affected by such reduc- tion.
 "The commission also reported bill which they said would make an average reduction of 20 to 25 per cent nj the rates of duty. The protected interests which had previously given their consent and support to the commission, now suddenly | changed front. They went to Washing | ton killed the commissions bdll and caused congress to pass another in it's place. It was framed in aconference 1 committee, that is, in secret. It was never considered in detail in either house l of congress. It was passed in one lump.
 increased Average Rate.
 'Instead of reducing duties 20 to 30 per cent as the commission had recommended. this bill increased the average rate of dutiable goods from 41.35 per cent to 45s6 per cent. This was the tariff of 1883.
 "Begining with tariff of Sh per cent l in 17S9. when many of our industries were really infants, we have by success sive steps reached a scale of over 50 per cent while the industries themselves have become collateral. Hamilton said that the iron and steel industry was all | ready in d fourishing condition In his time. He was willing nevertheless to i give 71b per cent of protection to steel It now pays s7.s6 per ton on steel rails, and steel pool sells them to Canadians at $19 per ton, but exacts $2S from Ameri- can purchasers. It is enabled py the tariil l to do this, for without the tariff 1t would he obliged to sell at home at the price at which they could be imported. l "American railways are thus compelled l to pay S784 per ton more than a fair | price. that Is s7.S4 more than the price at which somebody else would supply them. | Why do the railways submit to such ex- tortion ?Why do they remain quiet? Why do they not establish rolling mills and make their own rails? Surely the dif- ference of s7S4 per ton or 40 per cent Is a | sufficient inducement to do so. I cannot answer this question, but if the leaders of the steel rail industry are also the controllers of those railways which are strong enough to defend themselves against extortion the mystery is ex- plained.
 sIn such case the profits go into the pockets of the controllers of the railways | in their capacities of steel producers, while the other shareholders of the railway and the general public pay the difference. The tariff lends itself to this sort of grab game and If the men who command large capital do not avail themselves of their opportunity they are not so shrewed as they are generally supposed to be. No Grudges Against Rich. | "I cherish no grudges against men be- l cause they are rich, nor do I greatly blame them for taking the profits which unjust laws throw in their way. but | protest against the unjust laws. l pro- ] test against the men who make them