The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-01-11
Scored by Gardner for Evas-
ion of Question, Willy Scot
Looks Terrorized and Says
"Oh, Spare Me-"
THINKS UNCLE SAM
SHOULD TAKE HAND
And Regulate Price of Com
modities to Protect Con-
sumer-This Is the Corpor-.
ation Age. He Says.
(National News Association

(National News Association)
WASHINGTON. Jan. 11.-Andrew;
Carnegie apparently enjoys reciting
the details of his absorbing life history
to the Stanley Steel investigating COM
mittee. and during his testimony to-
day his face was wreathed in smiles.
Many times he would swing around In
his chair and talk directly to the
large crowd present.
In response to questions Mr.. Car
negie declared that there had been
continual progress In the steel indus
try from 1860 up to 1900. When ask
ed If there had been the same de-
grees of progress since 1900 Mr.. Car
negie said that while he had NO figures
he believed there had been no such
important advances during the last de-
cade as were found In the preceding
decade, when the Bessemer process
and the open hearth were discovered.
He declared. however. that he thought
there had been some progress made.
AZ to Corporations.
Speaking of corporations in their
relation to development Mr.. Carnegie
said that he did not believe that .cor-
porations can manage q business like
pardners can. when we were pard-
ners," declared Mr. Carnegie. Il felt
that we could run around any corpora
ton, and that . corporation was not
in it with pardners managing their
own business"
There was decided stir when Rep.
Gardner OF Massachusetts, scored Mr..
Carnegie for his apparent unwilling
ness to give testimony bef0ro the
committee ssss.ss
In q concise statement Mr.. Gardner
accused Mr.. Carnegie of having failed
to answer the really important ques-
tions which have been put to him.
Mr.. Carnegie sat back In his chair
with an imperturable smile, confront
ing the representative, and In tones
of mock terror, he begged the con-
gressman to have mercy. Rep. Gard
ner hammered at Mr.. Carnegie con-
cerning what he believed to be fair
price for steel rails. and finally ask
ed him the question what his ideas
were on the subject. Carnegie re-
piled that he did not intend to sit In
judgment on his successors. and call
ed attention to the fact that he had
been out of business for twelve years.
IAN Profit ID. Fair"
Rep. Gardner amended his question
by asking Carnegie whether he be-
lieved a2S q. ton for rails would have
been a fair price when he was in bust
| ness. Il don't believe any profit II
unfair Fifty dollars ton for my
rails would have been fair II the pur-
chaser wanted them at that price.
Don't you think SOP said Carnegie.
Gardner said that he did not. 'Carne-
gle replied, laughingly. you are not
answering my question"
| II am not In your position. said
Gardner sharply. II am examining
you and you are ON the witness stand.
Mr.. Carnegie spread out his hands
in mock humility. Yes sir. and l wish
the position was reversed. Have mercy
on me-
Carnegie declared that he beloved
in competition. but hat the age oi
competition has passed. and the hour
has arrived when the federal govern.
ment must, Of necessity. to save the
consumer. take q hand In the regula,
ton of prices. He asserted this az
his belief because he knows that
manufacturers have been able to sit
down and agree ON prices and keeI
their agreement.
| Do you believe that it is necessary
lfoD the national government to stef
in and fix the maximum prices for ne
cessities!" - 1s
Il think the hour has arrived wher
this is necessary and point to the In
terstate Commerce Commission
which brought order out Of the wOrs
chaos that I have ever known"
Mr.. Carnegie declared his belle
that the consumers are now absolute
ly at the mercy Of the corporattOni
and that the government alone 10 fha
only force that can meet and van
quish the corporations.