The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-11

fractured products. what is the coca
sion for the statcmen; recently made
by men prominent in public life that
hereafter American manufacturers
must cultivate high efficiency. great
economies, the prevention of waste or
the utilization, of it. and very skiIlful
saIesmanship that our manufacturers
may be able to compete in the markets
OF the world with those of Great Brit
ain and the Continent OF Europe With
out relying upon protective tariff?
Apparently, according to the recent
statement of Secretary Redfcld. the
efhciency of American manufacturers
now matches, If il docs not even sur
pass. the efficiency OF manufacturers
OF Great Britain and the Continent OF
Europe. What more can be done
therefore, under any tariT policy,
whether ii be based. upon the tariff
for-revenue- only principle or upon the
principle of reasonable protection is n
question frequently heard in the dis
cussions which followed Secretary
Redfield's statements.
'Of course it is recognized that
American efficiency must pe relied
upon 10 retain our foreign markets,
and to increase them after the pending
tariff bill becomes a law, but the uucs-
ton is, how can our efficiency be in
creased? What can our manufacture
ers do in order TO secure greater ef-
hcicncy: Some OF the larger corpora
tons have developed great statesmen
unsurpassed by any who have been
trained by Great Britain OF Germany.
Mny BE Indifferent to Tariff.
1T may be that some of the man
ufacturers Of steel and iron products
may, by initiating the example set by
the United States Steel Corporation
attain such high degree of efficiency
and practice such perfectly s:tema-
tized economics as Will make them in
dinercnt to any tariff.
Al the time the Steel Corporation
decided to spend $4,000. 900 in what
was called 'harmonzing' its variou.
plants the question was asked one OF
the executive officers how so grea,
an expenditure as s4o,OuO,0O0 coulJ
be justified. The reply was almos,
exactly in these words: BY the OK
penditure OF s4O,0O0,00O we can sc
cure great economies. We can save
the cost of transportation OF our pro-
ducts so that instead Of orders going
to Pittsburgh for commodities that
are to be used in tho far West or in
the South. these orders will go to
Cary or to other convenient plants.
One of the chief considerations our
people have had while discussing this
"harmoniGing' proposition. WAS the
ability TO get the Steel Corporations
business in such shape that we should
be wholly satisfied with any tariff that
is satisfactory TO the independent
companies
1T has not escaped observation that
in the discussions which have foi
lowed the introduction OF the now tar;n
bill in Congress. the United States
Steel Corporation seems to have been
almost Indifferent. For the most part
it is the independent manufacturers
who are speaking in protest OF some
OF the schedules of this bill.
Good Time to Make Test.
One of the ablest business men OF
this city said this morning:
"Tt may be that the wonderful in
crease in our expectation OF manu-
featured commodities within few
years, and especially since the Payne
Aldrich tariff law was enacted. can be
attributed to the effect OF that law.
but no man can prove that this is so.
II may he that the same command for
foreign markets would have been Sc
cured had an entirely different tarih
law been enacted, but ITO man can
prove IT, But if the present hill be
enacted into law. practically in the
form which IT came from the Ways
and Means Committee Of Congress
without affecting the command OF for
cign markets by our manufacturers
then we shall at last haye} demon