The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-12-30
CARNEG|E'S TESTIMONY.
IRON MASTER BEFORE T1.r
HOUSE REVISION COMMIT.
TEE.
NO 1arin on Steel Observation-Disclosures,
ohly Specific Statement is That
industry Should No Longer Have
Protection.

carnegie, famous for the millions he
made in the>steel business and for his
views on economic questions, made
a most entertaining If not in
structive witness before the house
ways and means committee today. in
connection with the proposed revision
Of the tariff.
An article on the aariff esnec;al,v
as to the steel schedules, was written
oy Mr. Carnegie recently, and appear
ed In monthly magazine. Owing 70
the statements made in that article.
IL became the basis for the questions
asked by the members of the commit
tee when the hearings on the steel
schedule were held.
Mr.. Carnegie had been invited bv
the committee to come to Washineton
and give any information the commit
tee could use in determining proposed
changes In the steel schedule. AS Mr..
Carnegie declined the invitation. he
was subpoenaed to appear.
Although he was on the stand to-
day for nearly eight hours, Mr.. Carne-
gle laughed and joked good naturedly
throughout. He exasperated several
OF the standpatters with his epigram-
matte replies. praised the genius of
Charles schwab. urged the committee.
to accept the testimony of Judge e.
II. Gary as conclusive and told sew
eral funny stories.
He avoided figures, however, to
such an extent that it is doubtful If
the tariff trainers are any more en-
iightened on the steel question tonight
than they were before Mr.. Carnegie
was sworn in by Chairman Payne at
$3.50 o'clock this morning.
Mr.. Carnegie's principal contention
was that the steel industry needs no
more projections; that it has reached
point in its development where the
American manufacturers can compete
with the world under free trade con-
ditions.
He said that Judge Gary told the
committee that the United States Steel
corporation can get along without a
tarin on its products and that should
be sufficient evidence for the commit
tee to take off the duty on steel and
iron.
Mr.. Carnegie's testimony was most
unique and interesting and ne ,fre-
quently caused peals Of laughter in
the crowded room, the joke often be-
ing at the expense of the chairman
or some other members Of the COM
mittee. He declared emphatically
against combinations or trusts and
said he had nothing to do with the
sale Of the Carnegie Steel company to
the United States Steel corporation.
He characterized the "stock gambler"
as being the worst citizen a country
could have, and said that he never
had one associated with him in busi-
ness.
Reiterating frequently that his tes-
timonyj was given from his general
knowledge Of the steel business and
not from any familiarity with the in
tricaces OF the costs of manufacture
and production at the present time,
Mr.. Carnegie dealt largely in theories
and dedcutions, stating that he was
merely expressing his opinion when
his testimony varied from that Of
Judge Gary and Mr.. Schwab. He said
that those two gentlemen were very
truthful. but that they were interest
ed witnesses and the committee should
not place too much stress on figures
supplied by interested witnesses"