Evening star., 1908-12-21
WILING To Do WORK MR. CARNEGIE HEARD
Commissioners Would Control Says Steel Products Might Be
Public Utilities Put on the Free List.
NO COMMISSION IS NEEDED SUPPLY OF ORES LIMITED
Would Be Given Control Over Street Predicts That Forty
Railroads. Also haust 1t in This Country
EXTRA EXPENSE UNNECESSARY AS TO COST PRODUCTION
SUPPLY OF ORES LIMITED
Predicts That Forty Years Will Ex-
haust It in This Country.
AS TO COST OF PRODUCTION
Says There Are Honest Differences
Of Opinion on That Question.
Praises Schwab's Innovations.

Praises Schwab's Innovations.
Andrew Carnegie today testified befors
the House ways and means committee
engaged In a study of tariff revision. Nat
urally, there was the biggest kind of a
crowd. All the members of Congress who
expect to spend the holidays In Washing
ton seemed to be on hand, and with the ex-
ception Of Champ Clark of Missouri, all
the ways and means members were in
their places. There were many ladies
among the curious and casual.
Mr.. Carnegie repeated, in substance the
statements contained in a recent magazine
article over his signature to the effect
that steel products might be placed on
the free list without injury to American
concerns engaged in the business
Chairman Payne, John Dalzell and
Bourke Cochran vainly endeavored to get
out OF the Laird of Skibo some figures to
told the members that their principal
trouble was that they couldn't understand
the figures given them by Judge Gary
and other steel men. incidentally, he
praised Judge Gary. saying that the COM
mittee should believe his figures, after
making due allowance for the fact that he
was an Interested party.
Deserving a Vote of Thanks.
Praising the ability of Charles NJ.
Schwab Mr.. Carnegie said Congress
should extend vote of thanks to Mr..
Schwab for his work in improving the
methods of steelmaking in this country.
Il never met his equal" said Mr.. Car
negie, in speaking OF Mr.. Schwab. "apd
n - Uo
team
That is very apparent" remarked
Chairman Payne.
Speaking Of the testimony OF Judge
Gary before the committee, Mr.. Carnegie
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 a reduction
In the tariff on steel, but that tho smaller
steel manufacturers could not survive
with lowered duties. That Is like one Oc
Aesops fables. Judge Gary is like the
monkey who desired the chestnuts. but
wanted the cat to pull them out of the
fire.
Cost of Steel Production.
Mr.. Carnegie failed to reply directly to
questions as to whether the cost Of pro-
ducing steel at the present time. az given
by Judge Gary and Mr.. Schwab. was cor
rect. ''Mr. Schwab's estimate OF the
present cost is based on entirely different
ideas from his estimate on the cost in
1884,, was all that Mr.. Carnegie would
say
Replying to question from Mr.. Cock
ran, Mr.. Carnegie declared that the re-
moval Of the duty on steel would not
necessarily affect the price, because Eu-
rope could not successfully compete with
the American product. He also said that
If the figures given by former witnesses
were absolutely correct steel stock would
be selling far below par.
Incidentally, Mr.. Carnegie, who has
known Bourke Cochran for long time,
got mixed up on him today.
Mr.. Mccormick" was what he called
him once or twice, much to the amuse-
ment OF the committee and visitors,
whereupon Mr.. Cochran remarked:
to Mac whereas l think 1 was intend
ed for an o. 4"
Tells Scotch Joke.
Whereupon Mr.. Carnegie told Scotch
joke in real fancy dialect that was too
genuine for the Star reporter to record
Mr.. Carnegie was not willing to deal in
figures. THE more figures YOU get the
more you will be befogged. l don't judge
by figures given by interested parties.
he said at another point in his testi-
mOny. Il judge by results.
Mr.. Carnegie spoke Of the difficulties he
experienced with directors ignorant of the
steel business.
Il gradually bought them out and got
men like Schwab around me. and we made
the cheapest steel that has ever been
made"
You've been out of steel some time
said Mr.. Payne Can You tell us where
we can get the figures on the present cost
of making steel?"
Il don't know whether you can get the
figures was his reply. If judge was
interested in a cause you wouldn't respect
his decision would you?" he asked, refer
ring to the steel manufacturers who have
appeared before the committee.
There was no reply to Mr.. Carnegie's
question.
"SiIence in the courtroom he laugh
ingIy remarked It's too bad l have 10
submit to be cross-examined and can't
get chance to cross s-eXamine these dig
nitaries."
Exhausting the Iron Ore.
Mr.. Carnegie asserted that, at the rate
supply would be exhausted in forty years.
He based his statement on the best eX-'
pert opinion he could obtain. he said He
also said that England would be in the
same condition in seven years.
MT. CdTTeSle was QucSuOHtu
regarding the cost of producing steel, but
the witness declared that honest men
easily could differ on that question.
Breaking in upon the Scotch story
which Mr. Carnegie related. and in the
course of which the witness mentioned
the name Of Judge Gary, Mr.. Fordney
asked If il was intended to characterize
Mr. Gary as "a sleek article"
"Oh. no. said Mr. Carnegie. "On the
contrary, he is a most lovable man. 1t
means that he is shrewd. 1t means that
he has delightful. sweet nature"
Opposed to Income Tax.
would you recommend an income tax
to make up the deficit in the revenues?"'
Mr. Fordney asked.
II believe" replied Mr.. Carnegie delib-
erately. with Mr. Gladstone, who has
had more experience with the income tax
than any man of his day. that an income
tax makes nation of liars. OF all tho
taxes that a nation can inn
pose upon the people the income tax 10
the worst.
'.You agree with Gladstone in thatf'
interiected Chairman Payne.
"I do" the steel magnet replied.
so do l." said the chairman.
Harm Done by Giving Money.
'If you want to do harm with money
give 1t away to those people who will not
struggle for themselves" was one Of to