The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22
Andrew Carnegie Is a Little Too Much for the Tariff
 Committee
MUCH INFORMATION IS
 GIVEN BUT ND FIGURES
The Wise Old Scot Cannot Be Cornered on Steel Matters, But He Hands Out Bouquets to Judge Gary
 and c. M. Schwab.

Washington, December 21.-(Special.) Both instruction and entertainment were given to members of the House and ways and means committee today by Andrew Carnegie, who recently startled the steel and iron men of the world with an article advocating the removal of the duty on steel.
 The Laird of Slxibo, who brought with him the atmosphere of his native heath not only explained why he believed the steel tariff unnecessary, but Injected homely bits of philosophy and tun that served to illuminate the subject and keep even the standpatters on the committee, except Chairman Payne, in a good humor.
 Incidentally he tossed bouquets at Gary. Schwab and other steel magnates. Gary was "Pawky chiel," Schwab was a genius and deserved the thanks of Congress. To himself, Carnegie mod estly ascribed "a little saving common sense." His geniality did not extend, however, to Wall street, for he de- clared that the stock broker was one of the worst citizens the country could have.
 After MT. Carnegie had taken the oath today, Chairman Payne explained that the committee had been moved to invite him in the first instance on ac- count of an article recently published. in which he said that tariff on steel was unnecessary.
 Carnegie said that a great consumer of steel had testified to the same eff feet and so he considered his state- ment confirmed.
 Throughout he made an effective plea for lowering the present rates on steel
 Variant Testimony.
 As the testimony of various steel men were at variance with the state ments made by MT. Carnegie, the com mittee invited him to come to Wash ington and give any information that the committee could use in determin ing upon proposed changes in the steel schedule. As MT. Carnegie declined to accept the invitation he was subpoe naed to appear when authority to call witnesses in that manner was granted by Congress.
 MT. Carnegie was to have been here nearly two weeks ago, but asked for a postponement evidently for the pur- pose of having the committee secure the testimony of other steel magnates first.
 Although he was on the stand for nearly eight hours, MT. Carnegie laughed and joked good -naturedly IJo fad 0f the stand patters" with his epi- gramatic replies, praised the genius of Charles M. Schwab, urged the commit tee to accept the testimony of Judge E. H. Gary as conclusive and told sev- eral funny stories. He avoided figures, however, to such an extent that it is doubtful if the tariff framers are any more enlightened on the steel question tonight than they were before MT. Car negie was sworn in by Chairman Payne at 930 o'clock this morning.
 Gives No Figures.
 MT. Carnegies principal contention was that the steel industry needs no more protection. While he claimed that the cost of labor and production of steel are less in this country than in the other countries producing steel, MT. Carnegie gave no figures to sup port his contentious.
 He said that Judge Gary told the committee that the United States Steel corporation can get along without a tariff on it's products and that should be sufficient for the committee to take off the duty on steel and iron.
 Praising the genius of Charles M 6chwab, MT. Carnegie suggested that Con- gross should extend vote of thanks to MT. Schwab for his work in improving the methods of steel making in this coun- try.
 'T never met his equal" said Mr. Car negie In speaking of MT. Schwab "and when we were partners we were a great team.
 That is very apparent" remarked Chairman Payne.
 Speaking of the testimony of Judge Gary before the commission Mir. Car negie said: "You should not place any real value on the testimony of the in terested parties. Judge Gary said the United States Steel corporation could stand for reduction in the tariff on steel, but that the small steel manufac- turers could not survive with lower duties. ''That Is like one of Aesops fables Judge Gary is like the monkey who desired the chestnuts but wanted the cat to pull them out of the fire.''
 Carnegie Is Amusing.
 The crowded hearing room frequently rang with peals of laughter at the qups of MT. Carnegie, who seemed to be in splendid shape for the questions asked by Representative Dalzell and Payne. At one point MT Payne leaned over and whispered to MT. Dalzell who sat at his right
 ''I wish the chairman would tell me what he said to MT. Dalzell. I think I ought to know" MT. Carnegie protested. There was a roar of laughter through out the room, but MT Payne made no reply. Leaning over with his hand to his heart and his head cooked to one side, in imitation of the attitude as-
 
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