The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-22

gard to what he considers a reasonable profit.
 Dealing largely in generalities Mir Car aegie said he wanted it understood that his statements represented his opinions solely. He said that he came before the committee because he thought 1t his duty as an American citizen. i T did not volunteer it." he said.
 A Protectionst. Pressed with questions from all sides MT Carnegie arose from his seat and dramatically declared that "he was pro- tectionist.'
 i q desire" he said, "to furnish to the 1 consumer a cheaper supply and a more l regular supply than he could get abroad i and if after 40 years experience we cannot | develop steel with that condition our pro- tective policy in that instance would have been a failure instead of the triumphant success it has been.'
 Pointing his finger at the committee i and raising his voice to it's highest pitch he declared that the steel industry was | now in the position where it can say 1 Take your protection. We are now men and we can beat the world in the msnu- fracture of steel" 1 There is no reason for the tariff on 1 steel" he again emphasized. You would l not coddle the industry with protection. i A recess at this point was ordered, Mir | Carnegie inquiring if the committee was 1 through with him. No" came a chorus of voices.
 This is cruel. remarked the steel magnate as he retired from the room. Questioned on Profits. Sereno E. Payne chairman of the committee, took active part in the examination of the witness when MT Carnegie resumed the stand at o'clock. MT. Payne had before him the last report of the United States Steel | corporation, and after endeavortng without success to get some definite in formation from MT. Carnegie with re- gard to the deduction to be made from the report, asked
 Were the profits in 1907 generally higher in all countries, and the pro- 1 duction greatesr?" "Yes." assented MT. Carnegie.
 Does any foreign country send rails here?"
 NO, I don't think so," responded MT. l Carnegie the duty is prohibitive now, so to speak"
 The chairman took up certain phases | of the testimony of other steel mag mates, asking MT. Carnegie with re- 1 gard to the statements made. He could l get little definite information from MT. 1 Carnegie who disclaimed knowledge of certain of the phases discussed.
 Chairman Payne said that MT. Schwab put the cost of producing big iron at between $14 and s15 as com pared with $7 to $8 in 1899. What i'm pressed him about this testimony, he said, was that the figures were so near l ly equal to those compiled by the bu l reau of corporations from the books of l the Steel corporation.
 MT Chairman, you have a maze of | figures and you will never arrive at results" said MT. Carnegie.
 Gary's Solcitude.
 His solicitude for his weaker 1 brethr ren is sublime" said MT. Carnegie, | referring to Judge Gary's contention | that the smaller steel manufacturers could not stand for the abolition of the duty on steel.
 MT. Carnegie said that the manufac- 1 turers of Wales could make a ton of tin plate a shade cheaper than 1t could be made here, and in reply to a ques- tion from Longworth, said that the cost of manufacturing steel is greater in Great Britain than here. He said that the committee should send experts familiar with the steel industry to the large mills of Europe to study the question of comparative labor cost. They will be received by the foreign manufacturers with open arms,' he said.
 Tt is a condition and not a theory that confronts the committee at this time," said MT. Longworth. Tt is un- derstood that the President-elect will call a special session of Congress for the purpose of drafting a tariff bill and we must prepare bill for them to pass on. We have no time to send experts to Europe. What we want to know is what authority, besides the testimony given by you and Judge Gary-who I don't think went as far as you do have for taking the duty off of steel"
 MT. Carnegie pointed out that there is practically no foreign made steel inn ported into this country. Other par ties are not helping here because they have an international agreement as your consuls say"
 Agreements In Existence.
 Representative Hill of Connecticut was desirous of learning more of alleged in- ternational agreement between German, English and American steel manufact- urers. He also wanted to know about the agreement between the steel interest and , the railroads as to the price of steel rails
 MT. Carnegie gave little testimony of value with regard to either the supposed international combination or the agree ment with the railroads.
 'I do not know but I have heard 1t stated that there is such a combina- tion," continued MT. Carnegie. You have heard it from MT. Miles, who appeared before your committee. I think 1t is highly probable"
 ''If the prices of steel were fixed by this combination in London would that affect competition here?' was the next question.
 Tt would, of course, prevent compe- tition here," replied MT. Carnegie.
 Do you know of any combination to fix the price of tin plate internationally" asked MT. Hill.
 NO"
 Do you know of any combination to fix the price of wire nails?'
 NO"
 Cost of Labor.
 MT. Carnegie told the committee that it must not base its conclusions on the comparison of the cost of labor in this country and abroad furnished them by witnesses 'If it takes two men in Great Britain to turn out as much steel