Evening star., 1909-05-16
ACCEPTSLOWER RATES
AIdrich Yields to Series of
Tariff Reductions.
CUTS IN IRON AND STEEL
Finance Committee Chairman Con.
graduated by Indiana Senator.
PR0GRESSIvES KEEP UP FIGHT
Hold Informal Conference and De.
eide Upon Dignified Campaign for
Further Revision Downward"

The downward revisionists'' had their
day in the Senate yesterday. Senator
Aldrtch consented to q series OF reduc-
tions in the high tariff rates laid down
In the Aldrich bill. These reductions.
which are important In extent and char
aoter. are declared to be the frst fruits
OF the militant campaign that has been
conducted by the little band OF republican
progressives in the Senate. They have
had an uphill road and have been sadly
handicapped by a lack Of democratic sup
port. but they have fought bravely while
verbal brickbats were flying their way
from both sides Of the chamber. After
the hard ordeal they have been going
through 1t is a source OF some satisfac-
ton to them to know that concessions
worth while have been granted and that
they hope others are to follow.
When Senator Aldrich yielded to q
change Of rates on several items in the
iron and steel schedule he received the
congratulations of Senator Beveridge,
who has been leader in the fight for
lower duties.
II understand" said the Indiana sena-
tor. that these are reductions?"
.'Of course retorted Senator Aldrich.
"they are very great reductions"
WISH " congratulate tilc
Of the finance committee" responded
Senator Beperidge. Now we are making
real progress with this bill"
Structural Steel Cut.
Perhaps the most important concession.
from the standpoint OF the ultimate con-
sumer. was a reduction from four -tenths
Of q cent to three-tenths OF a cent on
structural steel. In the construction OF
modern buildings structural steel is a
material Of the utmost utility and its use
a duty on it of three-tenths Of cent a
pound. Senator Aldrich's committee
originally raised it to four-tenths.
In accepting restoration Of he House
serious misgivings, for he doubted
whether three-tenths of a cent would be
SUFFICIENT protection for the American
manufacturers. He stated that the steel
York was imported. In structural form
ready to be put together, and that there
seemed to be danger Of serious foreign
competition.
The reduction in this rate, conceded py
Mr.. Aldrfch, covers beams. girders, joists.
angles. channels, car truck channels. It.
I. columns and posts or parts or Sec
tions OF columns and posts, deck and bulb
beams and building forms. together with
all other structural shapes Of iron or
steel
Another concession to which Senator
Aldrich yielded includes steel wool or
steel, shavings. The House put on q
duty OF 40 per cent ad valorem The Sem
ate finance committee increased this by
shifting 1t to q specific duty Of eleven
cents pound. Senator Aldrich con-
sented that the specific duty should be
changed back to an ad valorem duty OF
% per cent, very material reduction be-
low the House rate
Lower Rate on Barbed Wire.
A reduction that will interest the farm
ers OF the country was among the con-
cesstons made by the senator from Rhode
Island. The Senate committee had put q
tarin OF 7-20 cents q pound on barbed
wire. Senator Burkett Of Nebraska, one
OF the progressives. submitted an amend
ment reducing the tariff on this popular
fence-building material to q of a cent a
pound. To the qualification Of the revis-
ionists Senator Aldrich accepted the
amendment rather than enter into a fight
over 1t.
At the close Of a week of strenuous
nSnting the progrissfves felt much en-
the bill as they would like to have it. but
they are able to tone down some of it's
harsh provisions that make 1t objection
able In the eye Of the ultimate consumer.
The Senate progressives had an in
formal conference yesterday and decided
to keep up the fight in the same spirit
that 1t has been waged since the tariff
bill was brought into the Senate. They
Will not indulge In captious criticism OF
every item and will not provoke a quar-
rel over non-essentials. but they will con-
tinue to assail every item that seems to
conceal an effort to practice extortion on
the consumer. and insistent demands will
be made for an explanation Of every item
~ hot Ahnv ,AA
not sufficiently lucid to satisfy the pro-
gressives they will line up for q reduc-
ton, even though the coalition of the
Aldrich republicans and the democrats in
sures defeat before the vote is taken.
Tillman Hits at Carnegie.
During yesterdays session Mr.. Tillman
read from the testimony Of Mr.. Carnegie
before the ways and means committee
concerning profits In tho steel industry
and declared that Mr.. Carnegie had made
a vast amount Of money by favoritism In
legislation.
Il will not say by dishonesty" said Mr..
Tillman. because he has only taken ad-
vantage OF the laws we pass. But he has
made more money than the entire bunch
OF us here put together, and there are
some very rich men In this Senate. He
has given away more money than all the
democrats OF this body possession times
Saying Mr.. Carnegie had taken his
great wealth from the pockets OF the
people, Mr.. Tillman added: Il use nails
and wire fencing and oher products of his
corporation, and when I buy those things
he takes money out Of my pocket and
puts 1t in his.
Mr.. Bacon became engaged in a COL
loauy with Mr.. Aldrich concerning the
effect Of the protective tariff on prices and
insisted that the United States Steel Cor
poration needs no tariff to protect II.
Senator oliver Explains.
Explaining the necessity Of differen-
tial in high speed steel. Senator Oliver of
Pennsylvania said 1t was first made in
Europe by a secret process. but that
American manufacturers have discovered
the process and are now making Ii. He
added that in order that its manufacture
may be continued here it must be pro-
teced. Mr.. Oliver said the importations
of this high-grade steel increased from
77S.OOO pounds in 1901 to o.oSo.OoO POUNDS
in 1907.
That a duty will be placed on tungsten.
a product Of Colorado used In making
this high speed steel, fwas announced oy
Mr. Aldrfch during a colloQuy with SEN
ator Hughes. This would.b be done, Mr-
Aldrich said,- in order to build up the
industry of producing that mineral
Mr.. Newlands, referring to Mr. ohper
as manufacturer was interrupted oy
the senator from Pennsylvania, VINO