New-York tribune., 1908-11-23
TARIFF FOR REVENUE,
MR.. CARNEGIE'S PLEA
"REDUCE ALL DUTIES But
THOSE ON LUXURIES."
Time for Protection of Industries
Past, Steel Nan Holds, and Hopes
for ETtended ReTJSiOH

MY Experience with and Views Upon the
Tariff in which he declares vigorously that the
day Of tariff for prcsecti0n - about over. and
the day Of tariff for revenue only-that tart1 20
be imposed on articles used BY the rich-is az
hand American manufactures. he says are no"
at a stage where they need no protection. ou-
should retain their proud place ot leadership On
their merits alone
This attitude. M Carnegie remarks. nay
seem somewhat strange on the part q ons
cIassed by many as one Of the robber baro1s-
Yet IL had been his ever since he formed ds1-
mite and clear idea on the subject of protection
He shows in the course Of his article that IA
advocacy Of the aboIishment Of tariff on al such
manufactures "a can stand that treatment a
merely continuation of the policy urged ~
him before various Congress committees coustd-
e-ing tariff questions. OF reducing the tartT rats
where possible. and. # feasible. aboltshing II
At the beginning Of his article Mr. Carnsgts
tells Of conditions in the steel trade here when
Americans first began 20 make steel rails
There vas duty Of S2s ton imposed on cor-
eiZn rails which had been selling for from S1O2
70 S166 a ton Mr Carnegie tells an a1ecdors
OF dinner in London n 1855. after the Aneri-
can steel rail industry was well established. az
which Mr. Chamberlain remarked that be could
not see why the United States should present.
SIS ton protection 70 Mr. Carnegie even Y hs
we're good fellow Mr. Blaine who vas pres
ent said IL might be because Carnegie sold rails
for $50 ton while foreign rails had been 800
MKINLEY BILL CUT STEEL DUTY
The protectivs tariff rad full swing until 1890.
SAYS M Carnegie, when the Mckinley bill vas
passed That reduced the duty. as advocated ~
him on steel rails, beams ard structural shapes
nails and forgings. from 20 70 80 per cent
In 1894 came the drastic Wilson bill. az which
time Mr Carnegie went 70 Washington and IA
bored 70 obtain measure lowering duties gen
eraIIv. but not extent which would nave
nut factories out Of business At the re9uesc
OF Senator German. Democratic leader and Gov
ernor F7over-then in the House-he prepared a
schedule Of reductions or iron and steel Or
about ona-third which reductions we're tncor-
. uorated into the bill and passed Later. N the
DingIey tariff. these were partly restored
Now. Mr Carnegie thinks the trsant indus
tries are full grown and tariff for revenue -
the thing IN a schedule Of duties collected IN
1906 he shows that. say. S21S.O00ON0 Of total
of 1892 OfO0T0 vas collected on imports for rns
use Of the rich. Duties on articles q this sort
should be increased rather than decreased ns
saws. not for protection. but revenus sarn-
fnz proposition. since IN other way can the
wealthy class so certainly Be made 70 contrib
ME- 70 the support Of UucIe Samuel This. Re
saws. should be the first duty Of the next Con-
gress-
ABOLISH DUTIES No LONGER NEEDED
Its second duty is To reduce duties greatly
upon manufactured articles and 10 abolish en-
tireIy those no longer needed" says Mr. car
negie
The writer has co-operated in making sew
eraI reductions as steel manufacturers beams
able 70 bear reductions To-day they need no
protection unless perhaps IN soma new sps-
ciaIties unknown TO tne writer. because steel u
now produced cheaper here than anywhere else,
Notwithstanding the higher wages paid na1-
Were there free trade in iron and steel between
America and Europe few orders might 20
abroad az times when American mills were fully
occupied and nigh prices prevailed, and this
would be advantageous TO our country but Z
these shipments amounted 70 much prices would
rise in Europe and prevent further exports 10
our market
After speaking OF the way Manufacturers
have thrtven under Republican nursing OF hons
industries Mr. Carnegie continues
In our dav diTereur~Iuty devoIves upon cur
rarrv and its Democratic protecto1ist allies
The infant We have nursed approaches the day
yrbar II should be weaued from tariff milk ard
fad rTDon the stronger food OF free CoT1petIIlon-
y ,aads Tfr-fa II any more nursing but ths
~baDra should not be made abruptly II Is better
70 err upon the safe side If We err AZ all odS
he is the best Of prOtectionists = no correctS a.
sauI+s as. they are revealed and positively de-
cIfnes 70 subject the nation 20 pr tection IN any
branch where II is not clearly needed, an0rulnS
be temporary class OF excellent cltlzens IS
arisen who really in the tariff one OF tbs
chief causes of national denloral lzatlCn+ nOt =
few consider IT should Be the leading issue n =
Presidential campaign
In conclusion a tariff for protection" whicd
vas the issue forty years ago. should nov give
Mace 10 a tariff for revenue" and r1ersfors
the strict maintenance Of the present duties
upon foreign Injuries paid by the rich Ins
present tariff righJfully eTemPts the masses y
The people from almost ali national taxation be-
cause they have not The ability 70 pay, a. -
Guired by Adam Smith, the greatest econou'ic
authority
"CLASsED As ROBBER TARIFF BARoN-
The writer. having often been classed with
the "robber tariff barouS. may prooaoly % pro-
claimed as a convert 20 new views since Ne -
tired from manufacturing. but MS associates
know better and many foreign r1arlIlIactllFer
could faII Of the prophecy with which he has 80
often startled them namely, that IN snort tirlae
America would become the Leading Tanutact-
urer and foremost apostle % free trade WlHs
their own countries would be discussing N1e.L'Sr
or not 20 put up the barriers br-tdlh t'-Ca@ -
seriously considering this very question:
There is no occasion FOR haste or l't a'y
ravoI,ltfonarv step IN coming tariff ieg1slaslon-
- fs bsrte~ 70 90 A little slow than a little
roo fast In the writer's opinion rhe reNiston
OF The tariff could to-day safely and acvaa-
"a ageousIv be made radical one Epon the INES
suggested. bat II Congress. in Difference % ne
rfr7id manufacturer. w hom - nave al"ays
with us thinks il prudent not 20 disturb rs
dreams unduiy. and only halves present du-ics
rror, some articles and ahOtishes theuS entirely
rfpon orhers-alVays provided 70 guards Zeaious-
~ tha present duties upon the iuSUries of the
rich for revenue-the writer VIII be thankful
and nbiloSophic as usual. because one step N
the right direction will have been taken, and ~
knows the dnsl step I,-ust come before long. tns
sooner the better
This is not the hrst time Mr. Carnegie hss
gone on record with these IDEAS on January
5. 1924 as ne vas on the eve ~ sailing FOR
Europe. he wrote letter 70 The Tribune advn-
.~Fr awF~ -