Evening star., 1909-05-13
STIRS UP REPUBLICANS
Arouses Storm on the Majority
Side.
SPEAKS FOR FREE IRON ORE
Maryland Senator Rejects Schwab's
Claim That Free Ore Would Not
Reduce Price to Consumer.

This country is full Of tariff liars from
one end to the other. There seems to be
something about the tariff that is per-
verting to the truth. I would not place
any credence in anything any man said
who has a personal interest In either side
of the question. 1 have gone to disin-
terested persons to get my information"
This announcement was made by Sena-
tor Rayner of Maryland in a speech in
favor OF free iron ore in the Senate today.
1t Immediately aroused a storm on the re-
publican side Of the chamber. but the
Maryland senator continued to reiterate
It.
Il like liars as general proposition"
said he. Il have met them In every
walk of life. but I have never seen such
a congregation Of liars as Is now assem-
bled in Washington, and the peculiar
thing about 1t Is that they can lie equally
we'll on both sides Of the same question" /"
The iron ore debate began as soon as
the Senate convened at IL o'clock this
morning, when the finance committee 8
amendment striking the ore from the
free list, where the House had put 1t, and
putting it on the dutiable list at Is cents
a ton-15 cents below the present rate
was reached. Senator Burrows, who
comes from Michigan. where there are
large iron ore mines, spoke first in favor
of the amendment and Mr.. Rayner FOL
lowed.
1t was Senator Smith of Michigan who
aroused the Marylander to deliver his
dissertation on tariff liars" MIR. Ray
ner had been advocating free ore as a
benefit to the eastern competitors of the
asked
him If he had read the testimony of Mr
Schwab, a competitor Of the trust. be-
tore the ways and means committee o1
the House, to the effect that free ore
would not reduce the price OF the proouc'
to the consumer.
Rejsets schwab's Testimony.
"I don't believe a word he said," re-
torted Mr.. Rayner. Il have the high
est respect for him personally. but
don't believe anything these interested
parties say about the tariff"
A little later Mr.. Smith suggested
| that MIR. Schwab ought to be a good wit
| ness, as his company owned large iron
deposits in Cuba.
Mr. Rayner's reply was that he would
| believe as much of his testimony as he
pleased and no more.
When Mr.. Rayner added that the steel
| trust owned the bulk Of the iron de-
I.
from Michigan fatty denied that il own
ed any, and said it controlled only 40
per cent by lease.
Then the senator admits that it does
control by lease 40 per cent" smiled Mr..
Rayner
Here Mr. Rayner's colleague, Senator
Smith of Mary land, came to his aid by
asserting that he had information that
the steel trust owned So per cent of all
No Of no Altp1hpnU n
tains. and did not have TO depend on any
other mines than its own.
Then, of course. it is opposed to free
ore for its competitors, ism [ it?' asked
Mr. Rayner.
Certainly" replied Mr. Smith.
Mr.. Smith of Michigan declared he did
not represent the steel trust, but was
speaking for the industries and laborine
men Of his state in the matter in ques-
ton, and Mr.. Rayner said he was aware
of that.
Protecting Chairman Payne.
Mr. Rayner read from a statement OF
Representative Payne in the House of
Representatives in defense of the action
Of the ways and means committee in
placing iron ore on the free list, and,
lowering the copy of the Congressional
Record from which he read, looked over
the republican side of the chamber, say
ing:
4 am here protecting Mr.. Payne from
the republicans of the Senate
Party Lines Broken.
One short speech after another was
made by Senators defining their positions
| with reference to the proposed protection
of % cents a ton on iron ore. Mr.. Mel
son, republican, In whose state of Mime
sofa there is much iron ore. favored the
free entry of that product and Mr.. Dan
iel, democrat, wanted it TO pay the duty
of % cents, as he wanted the revenue.
and as there was a great deal of iron
land in his state not owned by the steel
trust.
Mr.. Tillman inquired whether ANYTHING
was ever to be done about the Illegal
absorption of the Tennessee Coal and
Iron Company by the United States steel
corporation, and Mr.. Cuberson replied
that if the Attorney General had not in
formation to show the illegal nature OF
that combination he could furnish it to
him.
FALL BEFORE ROOSEVELT.