146 THE GREEN RISING 



Capitol News and quoted in a speech by Congress- 

 man C. C. Dickerson: 



"The United States has the richest and greatest 

 iron-ore reserves, the largest coal reserves, best 

 skilled labor, and best business management. 



"In the face of all these facts and conditions, new 

 and uncalled-for higher tariffs are given the steel 

 industries, so that their enormous profits can be 

 further increased and higher prices exacted from all 

 people compelled to buy the products of steel and 

 iron. The cutlery tariffs averaged 107 per cent, 

 pocket knives 146 per cent, the cheaper grades 179 

 per cent, scissors and shears 185 per cent. These 

 amazing rates cost the people $50,000,000 annually. 



"The railroads consumed 22% per cent of iron 

 and steel products, or 5,986,000 tons, during 1925. 

 On these and other products purchased for all pur- 

 poses the railroads pay increased tariff prices of 

 nearly $200,000,000 annually, which they pass on to 

 the shippers in the form of higher freight rates. The 

 farmer not only pays his share of this, but he is also 

 a consumer of iron and steel products in the amount 

 of nearly 20 per cent of the entire output. So he 

 falls heir to this additional tariff burden. The build- 

 ing and bridge trades consume 18 per cent, thereby 

 unduly enhancing the cost of building." 7 



The method of balancing the farmer's accounts 

 as his financial operations are affected by the tariff 

 is illustrated in the following quotation from a 



T The Congressional Record, Vol. 67, No. 131 for May 17, 1926. 



