The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-22
Says He Believes His Con- stituents Will Uphold
 His Attitude
TT MEANS CHEAPER
 FOOD FOR EVERYONE
Judge Gary Told Committee If All Steel Products Were on Free List Corporation Would Still
 Do Business
ny wATrERsoN sTEALEY

BY PATTERSON STEALEY
 Washington, April 21-(Special.)- ports from Birmingham that the Unitel States Steel corporation had ceased con : struction of the new wire plant there owing to the so-called free list bill' pending before the House. called forth an extended statement from Congress- man Underwood tonight.
 MT. Underwood is in receipt of many teegrams opposing his course, but a far greater number have reached him com mending his attitude. In response to au inquiry from Birmingham, MT. Under wood tonight made the subjoined state ment:
 The free list bill was made up by the committee .on ways and means an l reported to the democratic caucus an1 approved by the caucus as a party meas ure. Every democrat In the caucus Is pledged to vote for the bill without amendment When the bill comes be- fore the House, in conformity with the caucus action, intend to vote for 1. without amendment
 q regret very much to hear the re- ported news coming from Birmingham that the United States Steel corpora ton has stopped it's work on any of IS plants or discharged any men employed by it because of the tariff legislation now pending in the House of Representatives. I do not believe that the passage of the free list bill will in any way seriously affect the wire and steel industry of that corporation.
 Judge Gary's Attitude
 ''When Judge Gary appeared before the ways and means committee two years ago he stated, in substance. that if the entire iron and steel products of the country were placed on the free list that the United States Steel corporation would continue to do business successfully.
 'The only thing affected by the free list bill that is made in the Birmingham district is wire for fencing. The larger proportion of the wire production of the mills is not used for this purpose and Is not affected by the bill. The wire man ufacturers of the United States as shown by the treasury report, are exporting six times as much wire to foreign markets as is imporsed into this country. The importation of fencing wire is very slight When the manufacturers are able to ex- port wire, pay the freight to foreign markets and compete with the foreigners 1t certainly cannot be claimed that they petition at home.
 Cost of Pig Iron
 Pig iron Is being made in the Bir- mngham district as low as s7.5o per ton today. as cheap as it is anywhere in the world. The cost of finishing the product in the Birmingham market into wire fencing will not materially exceed the cost abroad. On the other hand, the home producer has very heavy freight rate on wire fencing that operates in his favor and with wire fencing on the free list do not believe there would be any material amount of importation into the southern and western market, where the manufactures of Birmingham will be sold.
 The United States Steel corporation Is as capable of handling its wire bus mess and can do so In my judgment on as successful terms as it does ip the manufacture of rails. The homv price for steel rails is $2S per ton and yet am reliably informed that at very recent date the United States Steel corporation through Its export company has sold as much as 60.000 tons of steel rail at SIS ton in Argentine.
 Will Not Stop Plants
 Although the corporation may close It's plants at present and turn it's men out of employment as threat to Con- gross, have no doubt in my mind that after the bill becomes law the plants will be completed In the Birmingham district.
 There are no cotton ties manufac- tured in the Birmingham district, but understand the corporation Is a large manufacturer of cotton ties in the north. The freight rate from the north ern markets to the south on cotton ties amounts to as much as $5 a ton. If these plants are moved to the Birming- ham district. the center of the cotton belt, the saving In the freight alone will be a considerable profit, and I have no doubt the day Is not far distant when the manufacturer of cotton ties will seek a location in the Birmingham mar ket adjacent to the cotton fields. Put ting the cotton ties on the free list. 1t seems to me, will have tendency to bring the plants to Birmingham rather than keep them away.
 T do not desire to do anything radi- cal or unfair to any of the great in- dustries of this country, but the bill that the corporation seems to object to. places meat, bread, flour. boots and shoes on the free list for the benefit of the men who work in the mills and the factories of Birmingham and when we gave free food and endeavored to reduce the cost of living for the masses of the people it was only just to make some concession for the ben eft of the farmer whose products were put on the free list. They were given free pagging. and ties, free agricul- ing. It seems U me that the reductions made on the iron and steel products were very small compared with the ben efits that their men will derive from cheaper food products.
 Message to Constituents
 My own constituents must realize that I cannot claim all and give noth- ing, that in order to obtain concessions for them I must make some conces- sions myself. I believe. the bills in troduced in the House are just and fair and they will receive my support for that reason. sa
 we intend before this session closes to send to the Senate bills reducing the exceedingly high tariff on woolen and cotton goods that will cheapen the cost of clothing if they become law. and greatly aid In the reduction of the cost of living My duties Gere are so ex- acting at the present time that I cam not leave to explean fully my position to my constituents, but when the times comes and I am able to return home, I am satisfied that l can justify the po-