The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-09-27


by which the duty on wool Appropriated
nearer to the DUTY on voolens; and was
finally contaminated under the protection
of the acts of 1928 and 80, by which the
duty on wool was made about equal to that
upon the principal articles oflts manufac-
ture.
1t is thus that the quality of our wool has
been improved, and the number of our sheep
increased, until we have, now,in the United
States probably more than trOenty fee mil
lions producing annually some ssEiy millions
of pounds of wool, of qualities suited to the
manufacture OF cloths of any fneness which
the wants Of our country may require.
And now Mr.. Chairman let Inc ask-why
abandon the policy in regard to the relative
protection 10 wool and the manufactures
from it, which has long been established in
our protecting legislation The bill before
US fixes duty OF 40 per cent on woollen
cloths and casslmers, while 1t reduces the
duty on wool TO 80 per cent Why this diff
ference They have hitherto been placed,
as | have shown, upon footing of equality;
at least ever since the capacity of the coun-
try to produce the quantity and the qualities
necessary for our consumption has been
developed. | ask those who would now
destroy that equality to give reason for it.
do not deem 1t necessary TO 90 into a min
ute calculation, TO show that equal preiee'
fIon to the wool grower, and the manufac-
turer, requires an equal duty on wool and
woollens. 1t is enough for me to say that
an equality of duties has been established
by the legislation Of Congress, and 10 put II
to those who would disturb that equality TO
give reasons for it. Until reasons are given,
strong and oyerpOwerng. must insist that
the equality be maintained And insist
upon it the more urgently, because of the
great amount Of capital which has been in
vested in the wool growing business, and
the embarrassment and distress which will
be produced among very numerous and
merItorous class of our people, by the sud-
den change in regard TO the prott c:ion Of
wool which this bill contemplates.
stated, on a former occasion. that the
capital invested in the wool growing bust
ness, including the land for the subsistence
of 20,00o,0OO Of Sheep, and the invest
ments necessary for the support of those
engaged in the care of the sheep, the clip
ping of the wool and its transportation to
market, amounted to Sl3O,OOO,OoO. Tha,
estimate was, probably too low, including
as it did, the land at twelve dollars only per
acre, when it should am inclined to think,
upon more full information, have been esti-
mated as high as twenty. Taking the lat
ter estimate, and allowing for the increased
number of sheep since the enumeration in
1910, and the whole investment probably
falls but little short of Too hundred miIhons
of dollars.
Now sir, it should be remembered that
every dollar of these investments will be af-
futed by our legislation. They have been
made in the confidence that equal protection
to wool and woollens would be continued.
And now it is proposed to establish differ
ence between them of ten per cent. Have
we considered the sacrifices which will re-
suit from this change of policy7 Have we
computed the portion of this vast amount
of capital which will be sunk under its op-
Grafton And it is capital, let it be re-
membered, that has not been accumulated
by single turn Of good fortune, but BY years
of patient care and labor. There are causes
which have depressed, and which will pro-
badly continue to keep down the price of
wool, aud reduce the profit of the capital
employed IN its growth, which are indepen-
dent of the amount Of protecting duties. and
which are sufficiently embarrassing TO the
wool growers, without superadding the
elimination of duty which this bill contein-
plates.
The committee who reported the bill may
have deemed the diminution necessary in
order to enable the wOOllen establishments
to recover from their prostrarion, and re-
sumo their operations with reasonable hope
of SUCCESS success indispensable, it Is adj
mtted. to the maintenance Of profitable
market for our wool.
1t was necessary in the infancy of our
woolien manufacturing establishments, to
make difference between wool and wool
lens. By the tariff of 1916, that difference
was 10 per cent. But it was founded main
ly in the fact, that the supply of domestic
wool of suitable qualities was not adequate
to our wants. Our woollen establishments
had. moreover, to be created and carried h
long through the perilous period ofinfancy.
The case is new different. They are in ex-
istence. Their machinery is perfected.--
The skill to use il has been acquired /; and
there is in the country. an ample supply Of
wool, ofthe finest qualities. That supply it
is believed amounts, at this moment, TO one
hundred millions of pounds, while we have,
probably, twenty FIVE millions of sheep for
future production. All this is, obviously
sufficient guaranty against such exorbitant
prices of wool as shall prevent the resusci
tatlon of our manufacturing establishments
and the placing of them upen sable foot
ing.
No intelligent manufacturer can, IT seems
to me, ask that the duty on wool shall be less
than the duty on woolens aud sofar as am
acquainted with the views of the manufac- !
turers of my owl State, they claim no such 1
D stInctOn. They ask, indeed. and urge,
that they may be protected not however,by
a difference of ten per cent between wool
and woolens, but by such duty on the lat
ter. as shall enable them. while they pay
price for wool, TO compete sue
cessfully with the manufacturers OF foreign
and maintain their establishments
upon firm basis. Asd this protection, II IS
hardly necessary to say, is essential to the
IL -N.rr-