The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-13
CONGRESS- CANNOT
ARRANGE FAIR !
TARIFF RATES
coNeREssMeN ARE NOT EQUIP
PED WITH NECESSARY kNowL-
EDoE-AsKs MANUFACTURERS.
TO ATTEND MEETING. 81
ANDREW. CARNEGIE,

NEW YORK, Feb. 13.-Andrew Car.
negie in an interview with repre-
sentative OF American Industries. the
official publication OF the Aperies' . AS 4
ISOLATION of Manufacturers, declared
that congress is not capable of liking
just tariff schedule and that per-
manent bipartisan commission OF ex-
perts Is the only solution OF the prob
lem.
Mr.. Carnegie suggested that the
manufacturers OF the country attend
the National Tariff Commission con-
venton. which will assemble at In
diana polls. Feb. Is. Ho asserted that
the average congressman is not equip
ped with the necessary technical
knowledge To deal fairly with the tarin
question. He said
THE difficulty With tariff commits
sions or regulators composed OF menu
| bers of congress is that these gentle
men are necessarily uninformed 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. this is In
evitable. such is human nature. They
may not wish to deceive. They ara
themselves deceived.
Conares srnen Not Familiar.
! "Coagressnren hearing evidence on
the technical points of an industry ara
not familiar with the language. They
cannot understand the bearing of 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 OF both
domestic and foreign manufactures.
u There should be a permanent stan
of able, disinterested men, charged
with studying conditions in all manu-
featuring countries. The industrial.
world is about to undergo the most
momentous change known In its his:
tofy, even more far-reaehing than the
Echange from the individual domestic
manufactures, manufacturing at home.
to the factory system and the huge
establishments of today.
Virtual Monopoies.
we are rapidly losing that COM
petition In articles OF general consump-
ton upon which nations have hitherto
depended TO insure reasonable prices
| LOT lleo COuSuulCIS. SOIHe Oh our fuOot
important industries today are only
nominally competitive and IN reality
are monopolies so far as an under
standing exists as 10 prices that will
prevail
These virtual monopolies must be
controlled III some way or other. A
supreme industrial court will have to
be created and eventually will have
TO pass upon prices-disguise this as
we may. This Is even larger ques-
tion than the tariff but our trouble
with reyisions- 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 Wilt grad
ually create traditions and make decis-
ions which will be guides for the. fil-
ture. r.
1t would be well for our Ga plains
OF industry generally 20 attend the
forthcoming convention and get a true
understanding of the problems involv-
ed that they may be prepared 10 pass
upon the suggested remedies"