The Washington herald., 1909-05-07


ent manufacturers OF iron and steel
against the steel corporation
Il believe" Senator Cummins added
that the independent manufacturers
can manufacture iron ap5 steel as
cheapiy as the United States Steel Cor
pOration- As q matter Of fact. they
are not independent in the proper
sense OF the word I do not mean that
they are in association with the steei
cOrPpration. But the dominating posi-
tion Of the United States Steel Cor
pOration enables IL to control the in
dependent manufacturers. II the stee,
corporation raises prices, the inde-
pendsnts gladly follow. II the steel
corporation lowers It's Srices. the inde-
pendent manufacturers have TO follow
its lead They are powerless 10 regu-
late the prices OF the steel corpora
ton"
Senator Depew wanted TO know what
would happen II the duty were placed
so low that the independent operators
were entirely driven out OF bushes.
and The whole American people left
at the mercy Of the steel corporation
when such a time arrives when the
whole American people are subjected
10 Industrial slavery by any gigantic
corporation. the lsmp-post viii still
remain" Senator Cummins commented
Senator Cummins explained that he
did not recommend such procedure
but that that method had been used
IN the past whenever the law has beer
powerless 10 redress the wrongs OF the
people
You and I will be traitors to ou1
obligations" said Mr.. Cummins. ad-
dressing Senator AIdrich. eff we frame
q tariff law that viii insure profits
such as I have suggested-Ss.2 a tor
on steel products more than they
should have sold for"
Rebukes Senator AIerieh.
Senator Aldrich interposed a question
which Mr.. CIummIns resented. for he re-
piled with warmth: Il suppose the Sen
ator from Rhode Island wants 20 exercis,
his wit I had supposed we were discus
sing a serious subject"
IF steel rails were put on the free list
the steel company would stiII be makins
a dollar ton." said Mr.. Aldrich.
Mr. Cummins insisted that he did not
care how much profits the company made
He was not legisiating to reduce profits
but simply 10 protect the industry with
out burdening the consumer.
Asked what he proposed, Mr.. Cummins
replied that duties could be cut IN hall
and still yield profit
Mr. Aldrich. al one point, after trying
20 quote Mr.. Cummins. and being cor
rected. said.
Il misunderstood the Senator
1t seems that the Senator from Rhode
Island easily misunderstanding me- replied
Mr. Cummins
At another time when Mr.. Aldrich pro
pounded an inquiry. the Senator from
Iowa replied,
II the Lord had endowed me with the
simple ingenuity with which the Senator
from Rhode Island is always armed. ]
might answer the sor; OF question he
asks" He intimated that Mr.. Aldrich
lacked candor-
Did Not Want 10 'sRaise Ghost"
Charging that the steel trust con-
troiled over 50 per cent Of the products
and fixed prices. Mr.. Cummins was re-
minded by Senator Ganinger that he had
admitted earlier in his speech that thu
trust controlled less than Sc per cent
ANCNls tlASs 4Al CAN4lliAlS S8ll. Nleu ]
made that admission. Il was TO avoid
bringing into the discussion the Tennes-
see Coal and Iron Company. Thai IS
a sore spot with Republicans. and I did
not want % raise that ghost
Mr.. Cummins IN conclusion said the
total pay roll. including salaries OF tv0
S100.0oo yesr Presidents was only SI20.
5I8S29. OF but about s.. .050.0o0 a year more
than the net profits. The average paw
ment OF employees. including salaries. was
by the cOmpany's own report. $50 a year.
After Mr. Cummins had concluded. Sen
ator Newlsnds asked him IL the twenty
progressive Republicans had q plan "a
submit 20 the th,rty-one Democrats IN
the Senate for concerted action in favor
OF reducing duties
Does toe Senator speak for thlrty-ons
Democratic SenatorsT" inquired Mr.. Cum
Minis. and the Republicans broke into
laughter.
Mr.. NeElsrds thought he did. but NJ.
Cumnains reminded him that the most
ardent prOtectionists developed By ths
tariff debate had speared % the Demo-
cratic side.