The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-26
ATTACKING
SCHEDULE, BEGINS
BATTLE ON STEEL
Pennsylvania Royal Palace
of Metal King, He Says
In House Speech.

Inc tarrin battle In the House was
begun this afternoon when Congress-
man Palmer Of Pennsylvania, a Demo-
cratic member Of the Ways and Means
Committee. opened the debate on the
Dill revising the steel schedule. Tariff
VIII occupy the center Of the legisla-
tive stage for months, for the steel bin
is the first Of several tariff revision
measures to be reported by the Ways
and Means Committee Of the House.
Debate on the steel bill. which cuts
existing duties 80 to 80 per cent. will
continue for several days as there are
dozens Of members who want to de-
fend or attack the Democratic meas
ure
In the opening defense of the steel
bill this afternoon. Congressman Pal
mer admitted that for q Pennsylvan.
Ian, representing q rich Industrial dis
trict, to openly and strongly advocate
a reduction in the duties on steel and
iron and their various products, presents
an anomaly which would have been
stranger to contemplate generation
ago than 1t is now"
steel is king and Pennsylvania the
royal palace" but he said the people
In his district and throughout the coun-
try had abandoned their old fear of
Pittsburgh Vote Converters.
The Pittsburgh millionaires." said
Palmer. have been able heretofore to
convert the smoke Of their chimneys,
which gauges the rapid strides in their
own accumulation OF wealth, into Re-
publican votes only because labor has
been slow to awaken to the fact that II
mas not received its due share Of pros
Now that that illusion is rapid,S he.
Ing consigned to the realms OF ancient
history the people Of the State, regard
less OF party, are losing their fear Of the
distress they had been taught TO believe
the tariff" VIZ"
Mr. Palmer referred tc a recent decla-
ration Of Andrew Carnegie that the
steel Industry does no, now reed prs
Charles NJ. Schwab had declared a
tariff necessary. "A difference in view
point from the way they look at bust
ness :, was Mr.. Palmer's comment on
this disagreement Of Mr.. Carnegie and
Mr.. Schwah.
The one is the statement of a teach
er VINO has made his pile and safely
tbe other away " ,h MT. Palmer continued
Pupil. whose activities in the harvest
held are employed more in reapin,:
,ii checks than in cutting col,,
Schwab Slow on Wages,
Mr. Palmer accused Mr.. Schwab OF
'sna'llikc advances" in the wages paid
his employees.
Mr.. Schwab's reasons for demanding
tarin protection are interesting" said
Mr. Palmer. especially when the rapid
pace with which the profits Of hi. soxa
poration have increased under ytgs4]
operation of the amply protective sys-
tenn are compared with the snailike ad-
vances In wages which he has grudg-
ingly accorded the men in his employ.
Ills plaintive appeals for labor lose
much of their power to persuade wnen
met by his own statements as to the
cost of production hero and abroad.
and by bis actions. under the tariff. OF
keeping labor down to tho condition de-
rcribed In the report Of the Commits
s n,an. OF o, labor. who Investigated his
Mr.; Palmer defended the system of
ing bill.
..'The stronger the friendship for
nigh rates the louder has been the
orem system" said the Pennsylvania
member turning to the Republican
He then entered into a technical
by. the Ways and Means Committee,
taking every Item from iron ore to
finished steel tacks and showing the
necessity for the reductions propos-
ed In the Democratic measure.
Bids for Insurgents.
The bill was presented. Mr.. Palmer
said. in the confident expectation that
1t would become q law. He made q
bid for insurgent support in the Sem
ate, declaring 1t to be the only Sec
ton of tho Republican party to which
the public can look for any assist
ance whatever.
"The pending bill does not travel
far enough beyond the destination Of
the Cummins amendment Of last SEES
. sion to frighten the supporters Of
that proposition. II they will now
to be silenced by the accomplish
ment Of that for which they have so
theoretically worked. they will find
a united Democratic party in that
body ready to take at least one tar
IN Issue out Of the realm of politics."
Referring to the Presidents atti-
tnde that steel revision should await
Palmer. enumerated the vast statisti-
cal data already possessed by the
Ways and Means Committee relating
TO the steel industry here and abroad,
auding the work of no tariff board,
either advisory to the Executive or
auxiliary to Congress, will add to
the sum of knowledge now available
for writing q law to revise the metal
schedule, whether the purpose be to
establish a prohi6itive or competitive
Proper Tariff Board