Years after the war, demands for a reduction of the tariff arose and it was my lot to be drawn into the controversy.

It was often charged that bribery of Congressmen by manufacturers was common.

So far as I know there was no foundation for this.

Certainly the manufacturers never raised any sums beyond those needed to maintain the Iron and Steel Association, a matter of a few thousand dollars per year.

They did, however, subscribe freely to a campaign when the issue was Protection _versus_ Free Trade.
The duties upon steel were successively reduced, with my cordial support, until the twenty-eight dollars duty on rails became only one fourth or seven dollars per ton.