Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-28
A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE
Opposes Resolution Recently Reported
to the Senate.
CONTRACTS FOR CANAL DREDGEs
Eavors the Purchase of Materials
Where Cheapest in the Markets
of the World.

Senator Rayner today made stirring ac-
dress in the Senate on the pending resoiu-
zion TO permit the President to purchase
material for the Panama canal in the mar
kets of the world and wherever it may be
occurred cheapest. providing the prices asked
by American manufacturers are extortion-
ate or unreasonable Otherwise Americans
preferred.
The speech of the Maryland senator was
81 especial interest because the Maryland
Steel Company will lose the contract for
Gredges If the contention of their senator
is sustained and purchases for materla! are
made wherever they can be made cheapest.
Lids were recently called for from all man.
ufacturers of the world, ana unless this
resolution is passed the contracts for two
dredges for the canal will be let in Scot
land and not to the Maryland $ eel Conn
pany.
Cannot Support the Resolution.
Mr.. Rayner said: IF this resolution
passes the contract for the dredges will
be awarded to the Maryland Steel Com
pany. it Is conceded to be the lowest
American bidder. 1 cannot, however vote
for the resolution. 1 cannot change the
principles in which believe and for which
have contendd during the whole Of my
public career, for the purpose of securing
a contract for enterprise in my state,
or because 1t confers a benfit upon it's cit
liens. | have always advocated the doc
trlne that the people OF this country have
the right TO purchase every article of con-
suption in the cheapest and most desir-
able markets of the world. and l must ap-
ply to the government the same rule that
] apply to its citizens 1t is impossible
for me to shape my political principles or
policies according to two different stand
ards and to advocate for the advantage of
my nVyn "a n
consistent with the principle that ! con-
tend for in every other state of the Union.
The Principle Involved.
at is true that the tariff Is not directly
involved in this discussion. but the theory
upon which it rests is Indirectly and col
iaterally affected. 1 have always favored
tariff for revenue. and not tariff for pro-
lection. l have been against a prohibitiye
tariff because II compels the consumer to
purchase in a home market at any price
that may be dictated to him by the mo-
nopoly that manufactures the product and
controls the supply. The principle Is the
same in this case. The money of the gov
eminent is the money of the people We
have no right to take the money of the
people and expend It IN a market where it
possesses the smallest amount of purchas-
ing power. This Is robbing the treasury,
and however important the advantage may
be to my constituency 1t is Impossible for
me TO abandon great principle upon any
such paltry ground this. The democratic
party in my opinion, cannot afford to do
80. unless II is prepared to go down to its
irretrevable defeat and doom.
The American Protective Tariff League
of New York has strongly Endorsed this
scheme. | stand upon an entirely different
platform from the American Protective
Tariff League and cannot join hands with
1t. even II by so doing l could benefit every
industry in the country. In this article il
is stated that $5o0,0o0.0o0 will be expended
IN the construction of the canal and its
equipment. The effect of this resolution
will be that perhaps $2oo.00o,0G0 of money
will be wrung as tribute from the people
10 increase the profits of our protected
industries.
1t is. therefore. not a question whether
the iredges referred 10 shall be purchased
either in Scotland in the United States.
II IS a muGh more comprehensive subject
than this This resolution closes to the
government of the United States every
market IN the world, vita the exception of
the home market, in connection with these
enormous expenditures.
Would Break the Bond.
THE bond between the protected bene-
nciaries Of the treasury OF the United States
should be Broken. The contract between
them should long since have expired by
limitation. This is a renewal In new form
OF this unholy combination. 1t announces
the doctrine that the government of the
United States has the right to take the
hard-earned sav1r gs of the people. collected
BY taxation. and still further enrich its pro-
tected favorites.
1T Is said it is in the interest of the wage
earners of the country. l deny IT. II is
claimed that the consumers of the country
VIII profit by IT. deny II. 1t is an attack
upon the rights OF the people for the benefit
OF their financial oppresscrs.
i cannot remain silent and permit such
doctrine TO be engrafted upon our institu-
ions without announcing my unalterabe
opposition to Il II embcdies policy that
has ensiaVed the consumers OF this country
and. feeling as do. | shall fight 1t at every
step wherever II makes its appearance until
the hour arrives when the partnership be-
tween this government and monopoly shall
be dissolved and the people shall be liber-
ated and disenthralled"