The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-03
PUBLIC Vs. PITTsBURG PLUS

Pittsburg Plus is the name of the culprit on trial before the federal trade commission at it's session in Chicago beginning December 12. Pittsburg Plus is very expressive term as regards what it is, but ex- tremely inadequate as an index of its widespread effects upon the cost of living. People are apt to regard their living expenses as confined to the cost of food, clothing, light, heat and 1 transportation. AS matter of fact, there is nothing that enters more in- timately into the cost of our daily lives than steel in it's various applications to our necessities, whether it be the in the cars in which we ride, or in the vehicles which bring us our commod- ities from afar. Pittsburg plus means that, regardless of where produced, the price of steel at any point outside of Pittsburg is the Pittsburg price plus the freight to that point from Pitts burg. This means that Pittsburg has stranglehold on the steel industry irrespective of the fact that it is no longer the main or even major steel-producing center in the country.
 Chicago has lately been the center of the fight against this price-basing policy because Chicago as leading steel-manufacturing center finds that it is badly handicapped in competing for steel business. Indeed, it is dis covered that steel products cost the people of Chicago on articles for their own use from eighteen to forty per cent. more than the same articles would cost the people of Pittsburg. This must be the case also in other steel-manufacturing centers. The diff ference is due to Pittsburg Plus, de- fendant on many counts and on trial for its life before the federal trade commission. Even if its doom is not spelled by the forthcoming decision, there is general belief that the end is not far off. So unjust and generally burdensome a system cannot much longer prevail, even were there no essential unfairness in the preference given Pittsburg as a passing point.
 Birmingham is interested in this hearing, because Judge Gary is quoted as authority for the statement in July, 1918, that Birmingham can pro- duce steel twenty-six per cent. cheaper than Pittsburg. Yet Birmingham steel must be sold at the Pittsburg price plus the freight from there to Bir- mingham. With such handicap it is marvellous that Birmingham can still compete far and wide. Cheap trans portation from this district to world markets must spell the difference. Judge Gary is also quoted as saying that eventually Birmingham and Chi cago must become passing points for steel. MT. Corey, then president of the steel interests, remarked in 1918 that "there is no doubt some justice in the contention of the Southern people not to be required to pay the Pitts burg base price plus the Pittsburg freight rate, and at some later date it may be thought advisable to make Birmingham passing point" but that under the then conditions this was ''not warranted"
 Fortunately, this is later date, and the corporations opinion in the matter is not the controlling one. There is the right of competitive points to recognition and there is to be con- sidered the public welfare and the manner in which all consumers of steel and steel products are taxed to protect Pittsburg in it's high costs of production, plus the freight. It is not generally believed that the federal commission can find Pittsburg Plus 2 good and worthy citizen deserving Of further enjoyment of that liberty which has been turned into license.
 A Texas contemporary observes that the Lone Star State needs some new