The Detroit times., 1909-02-13
CONGRESS CANNOT
ARRAN &c FAIR
TARIFF RATES
ANDREW CARNEGIE
coNGREssMEN ARE NOT EQUIP
PED WITH NECESSARY kNowL-
sooe-Asks MANUFACTURERS
TO ATTEND MEETING.
-ANDREw cARNE1iE.

NEW YORK. Feb. lS,-Andrew Car
negie in an interview with a repre-
sentative OF American Industries. tne
official publication OF the American AS.
ISOLATION Of Manufacturers. declared
that congress Is not caphOie Oh uAins
Just tariff schedule and mat per-
manent bipartisan commission OF ek'
perts is the only solution or the prop
lem
Mr. Carnegie suggested mat the
manufacturers OF the country attenu
the National Tariff Commission con
vention. which will assemble AT lh'
dianapolis, Feb. l6. He asserted that
the average congressman Is not equip,
ped with the necessary techhleai
knowledge to deal fairly with the tariu
question He said
The difficulty with tarin comihis'
sions or regulators composed OF uen-
bers OF congress is that these sehtie'
men are necessarily uniformed upon
the true conditions OF the varied IN
dustries. Evidence given by interest
ed parties cannot be depended upon
as disinterested. Interested people
form distorted views. Colored as these
are by their own interests, TINS Is IN
evitable such is human nature lhey
may not wish 10 deceive. they are
themselves deceived.
conares snner Not Familiar.
"Coagressnren hearing evidence on
the technical points Of an industry are
not familiar with the language. They
cannot understand the bearing or the
testimony given.
Another misfortune is that congress
sional tariff committees get no trust
worthy evidence upon conditions In
other countries, and before men can
legislate wisely they must be inform
ed upon the relative conditions or ootn
domestic and foreign manufactures.
There should be a permanent stan
OF able, disinterested men, charged
with studying conditions in all manu-
featuring countries. The Industrial
world is about 10 undergo the most
momeutous change known In Its his
tory. even more far-reachins than the
change from the individual domestic
manufacturer, manufacturing at home,
TO the factory system and the huge
establishments OF today.
Virtual Monopoiies.
we are rapidly losing that com
petition in articles OF general consump'
ton upon which nations have hitherto
depended TO insure reasonable prices
for the consumers. Some of our most
important industries today are only
nominally competitive and In reality
are monopolies so far as an under
standing exists as to prices that will
prevail
These virtual monopolies must be
controlled in some way or other. A
supreme industrial court will have Il
be created, and eventually will have
TO pass upon prices-disguise this as
! we may. This Is even a larger ques
ton than the tariff, but our trouble
with revisions of the tariff will be
greatly overcome by body Of experts
keeping themselves fully informed Of
all matters pertaining TO the question
The new industrial court may make
mistakes. as our interstate commerce
commission may. but both will grad
ually create traditions and make decis
ions which will be guides for the fu
ture.
1T would be well for our captains
OF industry generally to attend the
forthcoming convention and get a true
understanding OF the problems involv
ed that they may be prepared to pass
upon the suggested remedies"