The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-12-24

In Merry Mood With His Jokes.
Urges Committee TO Disregard FIG.
ures Supplied BY Interested Parties.
Enormous Profits In Steel Business.
Washington. Dec 22.-Andrew Car
negie. famous for the millions he made
In the steel business and for his views
on economic questions. made a most
entertaining. If not instructive. witness
before the house ways and means COM
mittee in connection with the proposed
revision of the tariff.
Permanent protection is an inJus-
tice TO the consumer" said Mr.. Car
negie impressively. When an indus
try reaches that state of development
where it no longer needs protection
it is a gross injustice TO the consumer
to continue it.
Although he was on the stand for
nearly eight hours. Mr.. Carnegie laugh
ed and joked good naturedly through
out. He exasperated several OF the
stand patters" with his epigrammatic
replies. praised the genius of Charles
NJ. Schwab, urged the committee TO ac-
cept the testimony OF Judge 4. II Gary
as conclusive. and told several funny
stories. He avoided figures, however.
to such an extent that II is doubtful
If the tariff trainers are any more en-
lightened on the steel question than
they were before Mr.. Carnegie was
sworn in by Chairman Payne.
Steel Needs No Protection.
Mr.. Carnegie's principal contention
was that the steel industry needs no
more protection. that it has reached a
point in its development where the
American manufacturers can compete
with the world under free trade con
ditions. While he claimed that the
cost Of labor and production OF steel
are less in this country than in the
other countries producing steel Mr
Carnegie gave no figures to support
his contentious.
He said that Judge Gary told the
committe that the United States Steel
corporation can get along without
tariff on its product and that should
be sufficient evidence for the cor nit
tee to take off the duty on steel and
iron.
The former steel magnate said that
Judge Gary had issued an annual
statement, showing that the United
States Steel corporation had made
profit of s15S,OOG,0OO. which, he said.
euualled a profit of $3.50 ton on all
steel products.
Mr.. Carnegie expressed the opinion
that wages would not be reduced II
the tariff was lowered or removed en-
tirely. He was utterly opposed to an
income tax. believing, as he said, with
Mr.. Gladstone. that such a tax pro-
duced a nation OF liars"
Praisng the genius OF Charles NJ,
Schwab, Mr.. Carnegie suggested that
congress should extend vote OF
thanks to Mr.. Schwab for his work IN
improving the methods of steel making
in this country. 81 never met his
equal" said he, "and when we were
partners we were a great team"
Speaking OF the testimony OF Judge
Gary before the committee, Mr.. Carne-
gle said:
"You should not place any real value
on the testimony of interested parties.
Judge Gary said that the United States
Steel corporation could stand for
reduction in the tariff on steel. but
that the smaller steel manufacturers
could not survive with lowered duties.
That is like one Of Aesop's fables.
Judge Gary is like the monkey who
desired the chestnuts, but wanted the
cat to pull them out Of the fire.
Joked With Committee.
Mr.. Carnegie's testimony was most
unique and interesting and he IRE
uuently caused peals OF laughter In
the crowded room. the joke often De-
ing at the expense Of the chairman or
some other member Of the committee.
He declared emphatically against'com-
blnations or trusts" and said that he
had nothing to do with the sale OF the
Carnegie Steel company to the United
States Steel corporation.
He said that Judge Gary and Mr..
Schwab were very truthful, but that
they we're interested witnesses. and
the committee should not plac too
much stress on figures supplied by
a;,toroctad Witnesses