West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-05-25
OUR washington LETTER
The Stand PatterS" are Up Against
II Good aud Hard-The People
OF This Country Are
TAUGHT A GREAT OBJECT LESSON.
Steel Rails Made in The U. 6, and
Sold Abroad for Thirteen Dol
lars Less Per Ton Than
TO Our Own People.
From Our REGULAR corr.,pondent

From Our Regular Correspondent
WAsHINoroN, DC, May az, 1905.
Secretary Taft by perfectly pro-
per Interpretation of his duty under
the law, has raised a howl from the
stand patteTs of which he is not like.
ly to hear the end for many months.
The Secretary has decided that, in
the absence of any enactment by
Congress, it is the duty Of the PAN
anna Canal Commission to purchase
the machinery and supplies for the
Canal where they can be bought
cheapest. In other words, Ameri-
can manufacturers must meet the
Europeans in open competition and
must bid as low as their foreign
competitors or their bids will be re-
jected. This decision was reached
after it had been fully discussed at a
luncheon which the President gave
to the Commissioners on their last
day in Washington and at confer
ence which the Commissioners then
had with the Secretary of War.
The importance of this decision is
manifest when some of the figures
are stated. For instance, the Com
mission has been for some time seek
ing to buy two ships for the trans.
portation of material between New
York and Colon. They wanted
ships Of 6,ooo tons burthen and the
price in this country for the two was
81, 400, 900 whereas Identical ships
could be bought abroad for $3.50,
900. Moreover, strange as it may
seem, the foreign ships offered for
$3.50, 900 were constructed OF Amer
lean steel plate manufactured by the
Steel Trust but sold to the foreign
ship-builders at 81 or SS a ton less
than the Trust would sell the same
plates TO Americans.
Another important item furnishes
striking illustration. The Com.
mission has determined to relay the
track of the Panama Railway with
heavier rails and to double track the
road. The rail for this purpose can
be bought abroad for sac ton, but
il they are bought in this country
the Trust will charge the domestic
price of S35 a ton. The rails bought
abroad would also be manufactured
by the Steel Trust in their Pittsburg
mills. OF course it is probable that,
If the President has the courage to
adhere to the policy mapped out by
himself and his Secretary Of War,
the American Steel Trust will sell
the rails, steel cars, and similar ma
terial to the Commission, but il will
be compelled to give the same dis
count that it now gives to foreign
purchasers.
The argument OF those who strong
ly favor the policy of the Secretary
of War is that the Panama Canal is
a great patriotic undertaking, to
cost an immense sum Of money,
and that with the utmost possible
economy il will be an expensive en-
terprise; that being of at least
semi-philanthropic character it
ought to be relieved of the tariff tax
and built as economically as posi-
BILE. The estimates and bids which
the Commission has already receiy-
ed indicate that not less than 80
per cent can be saved by compelling
American manufacturer 20 compete
against the European manufacturers
and that without injurinft the Amer
lean manufacturers, for the tariff is
ample TO secure for them a monop-
oily of the American market and the
Panama Canal is an extraordinary
enterprise undertaken outside the
United States.
OF course no manufacturer is will
ling to accept this view Of the situa-
tion. They, one and all, insist that
"the American people are going to
build the canal and should have the
benefit Of the trade which the con-
struction of the canal creates" They
apparently forget that il has all got
20 come out Of the pockets of the
American people anyway, and that
II they are subjected to extra taxa
ton in order that double prices may
be paid 20 American manufacturers
IL is certain % be the manufacturer,
the Steel Trust, et al, which will
profit by the increased cost at the
expense Of the unfortunate people
for whom the Steel Trust and other
trusts are always so solicitous
When IL is appreciated that the
Panama Canal, before lt is complet-
ed, will cost the people Of the Unit
ed States approximately szoo, 600,
600, or an average Of Sz.so for
every man, woman and child in the
country, il is probable that most
people will raise up and call Secre.
tary Taft blessed for adopting a pol
icy which promises % save con.
siderable percentage Of the expense,
but in the meantime the stand pat
ters and The protected industries are
muttcring deep thunder and are
sending protests TO the White House
by the bushel, while the stand pat
Secretary Of the Treasury is writhing
IN his mahogony chair. The beauty
OF the situation is that even ~ Con-
gress enactes a law compelling the
purchase Of all materials and ma.