The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-11-25

With the tariff, will appear in the
forthcoming December number Of the
Century Magazine, in which the iron
master takes the position that Infant
industries" no longer need protection:
that the steel and other industries
have now grown beyond the need OF
tariff protection; that duties on lux
uries used by the rich should be main
tanned, but chat those on manufactur-
ed articles should be reduced greatly,
or abolished entirely when no longer
needed.
Mr.. Carnegie's article is entitled
my Experience with and Views upon
the Tariff"
I'VE have already become by far
the greatest Of all manufacturing ma
tions.
while the tariff as a whole even
today has ceased to be primarily bene-
fcial as a measure Of protection, It has
become Of vast Importance from the
feature I bespeak the special atten-
ton Of readers Of all parties, for duties
upon imports, not for protection, but
for needed revenue, should not be-
come a party Question. Reasonable
men Of all parties may be expected to
approve this plan Of obtaining reve-
nue."
He says: "The American tariff, in
happy contrast to others, almost ex-
empt the poor and heavily tax the
rich, just as it should; for it is they
who have the ability to pay as requir-
ed by the highest economic authority"
Mr.. Carngie says of future tariff
legislation:
"The next congress dealing with the
tariff will probably be inclined at first
to reduce duties all around and per-
haps to abolish some, but its first care
should be to maintain present duties,
and even in some cases to increase
them, upon all articles used almost
exclusively by the rich, and this not
for protection, but for revenue, not
drawn from the workers, but from the
rich That is the first and prime duty
Of congress.
Its second duty is to reduce duties
greatly upon manufactured articles
and to abolish entirely those no longer
needed.
1.-THE writer has co-operated in
making several reductions as steel
manufacturers became able to bear
reductions. Today they need no pro-
lection, unless, perhaps in some new
specialities unknown to the writer, be-
cause steel is now produced cheaper
here than anywhere else, notwith-
standing the higher wages paid per
man. Not ton of steel is produced
in the world at as small an outlay for
labor as in our country. Our coke,
coal and iron ores are much cheaper,
because more easily obtained and
transported, and our output per man
is so much greater, owing chiefly to
the large standardized orders obtain
able only upon our continent; the
specialized rolling mills; machinery
kept weeks upon uniform shapes
without change OF rolls, and other ad-
vantages.
"The day has passed when any
foreign country can seriously affect
our steel manufactures, tariff or no
tariff.
THE writer hopes there are today
pioneers in several new lines requiring
protection which will be generously
given temporarily. The committee
should welcome such special cases."
Mr.. Carnegie says several other fea-
lures Of the tariff should be carefully
looked into, more particularly illuni-
mating oils, thread and cutlery.
Mr.. Carnegie adds:
There is no occasion for haste or
TOT any revolutionary step in coming
tariff legislation. The revision Of the
tariff could today safely and advan-
tageously be made a radical one upon
the lines suggested; but IL congress in
Difference TO the tmid manufacturer.
whom We have always with US, thinks
II prsdeas net u afsbrh his dreams
unduly, and only halves present duties
on some articles. and abolishes them
entirely upon others--always provided |
II guards zealously the present duties
upon iuxuriss Of the rich for revenue
-the writer will be thankful and phil |
osophie as usual. because the right |
steps In the tight have been taken and |
the hnal step mast come before long. |